Volcano Live

New Zealand

49.68 S, 178.77 E
summit elevation 402 m
Pyroclastic cones

The Antipodes Islands are an isolated and uninhabited group of volcanic islands lying approximately 770 km SE of New Zealand.

The Antipodes group consists of Antipodes Island, with an area of about 25 sq km, and maximum height of 402 meters. Bollons Island is a small (2 sq km) pyroclastic cone, 1.5 km NE of Antipodes. There are also a number of smaller, rugged, offshore islands, islets, and stacks.

The island group is composed mainly of pyroclastic debris, with thick interbedded lava sheets. Partially eroded pyroclastic cones are visible on the northwest coast of Antipodes Island.

Mt Galloway and Conical Hill dominate the centre of Antipodes Island, and are major pyroclastic cones. Smaller, symmetrical cones are located on the flanks of the main cones. Columnar jointing is visible in exposed lava at the southern end of Stack Bay.

The most recent eruptions occurred at Mt Galloway and Mt Waterhouse.

Further reading
Scott, J.M. and Turnbull, I.M., 2019. Geology of New Zealand’s Sub-Antarctic Islands. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 62(3), pp.291-317.

Scott, J.M., Turnbull, I.M., Auer, A. and Palin, J.M., 2013. The sub-Antarctic Antipodes Volcano: a< 0.5 Ma HIMU-like Surtseyan volcanic outpost on the edge of the Campbell Plateau, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 56(3), pp.134-153.