Possession Islands

Remote outposts in the Ross Sea

Curated by Vinod Kumar Jain & Amit Jain · All Frontier Global · free, no login · reviewed 2026-07-05

The journal

Ross himself landed here in 1841, and we barely managed it — idling offshore in a Zodiac while Adélie penguins studied us from impossible ledges. The islands looked stitched from black rock and guano-white snow, a place that seemed to tolerate visitors rather than welcome them.

Things to do

Adélie Penguin Colonies · Wildlife colony

Observe vast Adélie penguin colonies clinging to these remote Ross Sea islands amid pack ice. Best: Nov–Jan

Ross Sea Pack Ice · Marine environment

Navigate the spectacular pack-ice formations that surround the Possession Islands. Best: Dec–Feb

Leopard Seal Ice Floes · Marine mammals

Spot leopard seals hunting around icebergs and ice floes near the penguin colonies. Best: Nov–Jan

Southern Ocean Whales · Marine mammals

Spot minke, humpback, and fin whales feeding in the nutrient-rich Ross Sea waters. Best: Dec–Feb

Possession Islands Seal Haul-out Sites · Park

Congregating areas for Antarctic fur and Weddell seals on ice and rocky shores. Best: Nov–Mar

Arrival

Airport

Christchurch, New Zealand (CHC) — Sail from Christchurch to these remote Ross Sea islets.

SIM / data

NZ SIM/eSIM before departure; no signal once at sea.

Money on arrival

Carry NZ dollars and USD; onboard costs are prepaid.

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