Antipodes Island
Pyroclastic cone(s) · 359m · New Zealand
About Antipodes Island
Antipodes Island is a pyroclastic cone(s) rising to 359 meters (1,178 feet) in New Zealand's Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Antipodes Island is located in New Zealand, within the Campbell Plateau Volcanic Province of the broader Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. Situated at 49.68° S, 178.78° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. At just 359 meters above sea level, Antipodes Island is a relatively low-elevation volcanic feature. Despite its modest height, it remains an active geological formation with the same underlying magmatic processes as its taller counterparts. The volcanic landform is characterized as a minor, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
The isolated, uninhabited Antipodes Islands are located in the south Pacific, 770 km SE of New Zealand. Volcanism has been dominantly pyroclastic, and the presence of well-preserved scoria cones suggests a Holocene age (LeMasurier and Thomson, 1990). The most recent eruptions occurred on the cone forming Mount Galloway and Mount Waterhouse at the center of 4-km-wide main island. Marine erosion has exposed sections through tuff cones at Perpendicular Head and Albatross Point at the NE and SE tips of the island, respectively. Radiometric dates indicated basalts that are younger than 1 million years (250-500 ka with high uncertainty W of Reef Point), and Cullen (1969) also speculated that volcanism may have begun in the Tertiary and persisted "almost to the present day."
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Antipodes Island.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Antipodes Island
Is Antipodes Island an active volcano?+
Antipodes Island is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "unknown." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Antipodes Island?+
Antipodes Island has a summit elevation of 359 meters (1,178 feet) above sea level. At 359 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Antipodes Island?+
Antipodes Island is classified as a Pyroclastic cone(s). Pyroclastic cones (or cinder cones) are small, steep-sided volcanic cones built from fragments of lava blasted into the air. They are the simplest type of volcano and often form in groups.
Where is Antipodes Island located?+
Antipodes Island is located in New Zealand, in the Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Campbell Plateau Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are -49.684° latitude, 178.781° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Antipodes Island?+
Antipodes Island can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. New Zealand may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
