Geography & Climate of the Chatham Islands
Located east of the South Island are the rugged and windswept Chatham Islands. The 'Chathams' consist of around 40 islands and islets, two of which are populated. The largest island, Chatham Island, is flanked by towering cliffs to the south and waterways, peat bogs and sandy beaches to the north. The other main island, Pitt Island, is known for its forest centre and coast of wild cliffs, headlands and beaches. It is this combination of rugged coastline, beaches, forests and waterways that makes the Chathams such an intriguing and exciting destination. Extreme isolation and fierce conservation rules have ensured that rare plant and bird species have survived on these hostile, yet beautiful, islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Although officially part of the
Canterbury region, the 860-kilometre distance between the Chathams and the mainland puts the islands 45 minutes ahead of standard New Zealand time. While the islands are exposed and surrounded by rough seas, the temperature still ranges between 12 and 23°C.