Campbell Island is the southernmost part of New Zealand. The island covers 115 km², surrounded by numerous stacks and rocks. One of these, Jacquemart Island , is the southernmost extremity of New Zealand, at approximately . The island is barren and rocky, rising to over 500 metres in the south. A long fjord, Perseverance Harbour, nearly bisects the island, exiting to the sea on the east coast.

The island was discovered in 1810 by Captain Hasselburgh and his ship Perseverance, which was owned by Campbell & Co. (hence the island's name). It became a seal hunting base, and the island's seal population was almost totally eradicated.

Until 1995 a meteorological station near the north shore of Perseverance Harbour was manned permanently. Today, human presence is limited to periodical visits of research and conservation expeditions.