Wild. Be it animals, weather or behaviour we’d rather not see in humans, it’s a word that tends to invoke specific images. Perhaps it’s untamed vegetation complemented by fantastic beasts (and I don’t mind them). Thanks to a smidgeon of fortune, I can now say “I’ve been there”. It’s the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands. All of these islands are bestowed with the highest possible conservation status; National Nature Reserves. From Auckland and Enderby Islands, through to Campbell and a detour encompassing the Antipodes and Bounty Islands, the beyond-rugged scenery and abundance of wildlife was dramatic, to say the least.

This is what I saw. This is what I felt. And this is what we’re fighting to preserve.

Auckland and Enderby Islands

Campbell Island

The Antipodes

Bounty Islands

Although this looks like one of those classic sequence overlay shots, I fluked this moment and we have four individual erect-crested penguins putting on a wonderful display!