New Zealand’s five groups of subantarctic islands – rugged, lonely and uninhabited – literally drop off the map, unknown to most Kiwis, let alone the rest of the world. Further south, indeed halfway to the Antarctic itself, lies Australia's Macquarie Island, uniquely situated on a boundary between the earth's tectonic plates.

Equally rich in natural values, these islands also number amongst the world's wildest places yet lack the mystique of their inhospitable Australian neighbour. They deserve much wider understanding.

Enderby Island teems with albatross, assorted penguins, petrels, parakeets, gulls, shags and skuas, and its treeless meadows are ablaze with distinctive flowering plants, particularly the subantarctic megaherbs like Bulbinella, with its striking yellow flowers. These are the world's southernmost plants, evolution pushed to its limits in this punishing environment.

An easy walk on Campbell Island climbs away from Perseverance Harbour, following a wooden boardwalk across hillsides carpeted with tussocks, to reach a high saddle. Many southern royal albatross, snow white, spread across the windswept slopes, hunkered down on their nests to mind an egg whilst their partner is out foraging.

These images were taken with Nikon D300 using RAW format, and are available for licensing.