Campbell Island Landscapes

Panorama looking toward Tucker Cove and Garden Cove with Beeman Hill to the left
Panorama looking toward Tucker Cove and Garden Cove with Beeman Hill to the left

I always have to think twice about the term “high latitudes”. At 52.5 degrees south, Campbell Island sits at the high end of the middle latitudes but is low on the globe. From a botanical point of view higher latitude equates to higher altitude and Campbell Island is a great example of this with plants usually associated with Alpine environments thriving at sea level. This provides some unique and lovely landscapes with tussock and dracophyllum which we expect to encounter at high altitudes far from the sea being available as foregrounds to a maritime background.

Looking out toward the entrance to Perseverance Harbour from the Col Lyall Boardwalk
Looking out toward the entrance to Perseverance Harbour from the Col Lyall Boardwalk

Readers of my previous posts will know that Campbell Island made a big impression on me. The expected albatross were as lovely as imagined but the megaherbs and landscapes were a, partially unanticipated, revelation. This week’s post is simply a visual celebration of the lovely Campbell Island landscapes.

Albatross nestled in amongst the tussock and Bulbinella rossii
Albatross nestled against the wind amongst the tussock and Bulbinella rossii
Albatross on the nest surrounded by megaherbs. North East Bay to the right.
Albatross on the nest surrounded by megaherbs. North East Bay to the right.
Looking from the top of the Col Lyall Boardwalk into Northwest Bay. Dent Island to the right
Looking from the top of the Col Lyall Boardwalk into Northwest Bay. The snaggletooth of Dent Island to the right

Dent Island has a special place in the story of Campbell Island. Named for its toothlike appearance,  it was here that a tiny surviving population of Campbell Island Teal were discovered in 1973. A subsequent captive breeding program allowed their reintroduction to Campbell Island after the eradication of rats in 2004-2006.

Mixed Dracophyllum scrub and tussock. This could be nowhere but Campbell Island.
Mixed Dracophyllum scrub and tussock running down to sea level. A garden of megaherbs to the right. This could be nowhere but Campbell Island.

All photos with Nikon D3s and Nikon 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 lens. Panorama images stitched from 2 frames in Adobe Lightroom CC.

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This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Kinsa Hays

    26 Jul 2016

    I am green with envy! At least it would match those breathtaking shots of Campbell Island.

    1. tony

      26 Jul 2016

      Thanks, Kinsa. Only 2 problems with Campbell Island – you can get a bit green travelling there through the Southern Ocean and it leaves you with a longing to return which is difficult to achieve 🙂

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