Also worth discovering: New Zealand, Waiheke, Great Barrier and Stewart Island.
⚠️ Timetables, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.
About 800 km east of the South Island, the Chatham Islands — Rēkohu to the Moriori, Wharekauri to Māori — are New Zealand's most remote inhabited archipelago. Around ten islands, only two of them inhabited, Chatham and Pitt, with about 600 people. Life runs 45 minutes ahead of the rest of the country, and these are among the first inhabited places on Earth to see the sunrise each day.
The edge of the world, two hours by plane
Everything starts in Waitangi, the only real village, with its harbour, hotel, museum and store. The main island is fairly flat, made of pasture, peat bogs and lakes, and nearly a fifth of it is taken up by the huge Te Whanga Lagoon. To the south-east, Pitt Island (Rangiaotea) has only about forty residents.
It is also a land of history: the Moriori, the first inhabitants, built a society founded on an oath of peace, Nunuku's law. Their heritage can be explored at Kōpinga Marae and in the carved trees of the Hāpūpū reserve.
Lagoon, basalt columns and rare birds
The highlights: Te Whanga Lagoon, the coastal basalt columns, the seal colony at Point Munning, native forest reserves such as Ocean Mail, and the Chatham Islands Museum in Waitangi. The Hāpūpū reserve can only be visited with a guide.
The islands are home to birds found nowhere else, such as the Chatham Island black robin, saved from extinction from just five birds. At sea, fishing is king: crayfish, pāua and blue cod. On Pitt Island, Mt Hakepa offers 360° views over the archipelago.
Only one way in: by plane
Air Chathams links Tuuta Airport with Wellington (about 1 h 45), Christchurch and Auckland (about 2 h 15) several times a week, with extra flights in summer. There is no passenger ferry. On the islands there are no buses or taxis: hire a vehicle or choose accommodation that picks you up at the airport. Some roads are unsealed.
October to April, booking early
The tourist season runs from October to April. The climate is cool, damp and windy all year: winters are milder than on the South Island, summers rarely hot. Flights and beds are limited: book several weeks ahead, especially in summer.
The Chatham Islands at a glance
| Location | South Pacific, about 800 km east of the South Island |
|---|---|
| Inhabited islands | Chatham (Rēkohu) and Pitt (Rangiaotea) |
| Population | ≈ 600 |
| Main village | Waitangi |
| Time difference | + 45 min on the rest of New Zealand |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
| Access | Air Chathams flights from Wellington, Christchurch or Auckland |
| Entry requirements (French citizens) | NZeTA + IVL levy, no visa for up to 3 months |
Our answers
Do French citizens need a visa?
No for stays under 3 months, but you need an NZeTA (NZD 17 via the official app) and must pay the NZD 100 IVL levy before departure. The Chatham Islands are part of New Zealand: no other formalities are required.
Can you get there by boat?
No: the ships serving the archipelago carry freight only. The only way in is an Air Chathams flight from Wellington, Christchurch or Auckland.
How many days should I plan?
At least 4 to 5 days: flights are not daily and there is no same-day return. A week lets you add a trip to Pitt Island.
Why the 45-minute time difference?
The archipelago has its own time zone, 45 minutes ahead of the rest of New Zealand (UTC+12:45, UTC+13:45 in summer). Keep it in mind for your connections.
Header photo: Long Beach, Petre Bay — Johnragla, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
← Discover all the islands