Port information & tips for New Island
New Island is a pristine natural paradise in the far west of the Falkland Islands and is considered one of the most spectacular destinations for expedition cruises in the South Atlantic. The island impresses with its rugged beauty and dramatic cliff formations and offers an incomparable nature experience thanks to one of the most diverse wildlife populations in the region. Fascinating highlights include the extensive colonies of rockhopper penguins and black-browed albatrosses on the cliffs as well as the historical museum in Barnard’s Building. As the island is a protected reserve, ships anchor in the bay of Coffin’s Harbour, from where guests arrive safely by Zodiac at the New Island Settlement pier. Thanks to the central location of the landing stage, the spectacular wildlife viewing sites and hiking trails are directly and conveniently accessible on foot.
The journey to New Island in the Falkland Islands is an adventure in itself and is primarily possible by air to the Falkland Islands and subsequently as part of an expedition cruise. New Island itself is an uninhabited nature reserve and is mainly visited by smaller ships and zodiacs.
Airplane
The international airport of the Falkland Islands is Mount Pleasant Airport (MPN). It is located on East Falkland, approximately 55 kilometers southwest of the capital, Stanley. From Europe, air travel usually involves several stopovers, often via Santiago de Chile (SCL) or Punta Arenas (PUQ) in Chile. Travelers from the DACH region should arrive in the Falkland Islands at least one day before the start of the cruise due to the long flight time and limited flight frequencies to ensure a relaxed start.
Onward travel in the Falkland Islands
Shuttle buses and taxis run from Mount Pleasant Airport (MPN) to the capital, Stanley, which make the approximately one-hour journey comfortable. New Island is generally not used directly as an embarkation port by cruise ships, but rather as a port of call during an Antarctic or Falkland Islands expedition cruise. Embarkation therefore usually takes place in Stanley or another port in the region, from where New Island is reached by ship and the island is then explored with zodiacs.
Pre-cruise stay & Embarkation
Given the remote location and often irregular flight connections, an overnight stay in Stanley before the start of your expedition cruise is strongly recommended. Stanley offers charming accommodations and the opportunity to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the island's capital before you set off. Embarkation for voyages calling at New Island usually takes place directly at the port of Stanley.
Check-in & Embarkation
Please note that you will usually receive a fixed time slot for check-in with your travel documents, which is binding for your embarkation. Plan sufficient time for the journey to the port accordingly and take into account that the latest embarkation time - depending on the shipping company and destination area - is usually scheduled about one hour before the planned departure.
The same applies during the voyage: for shore excursions, you should be back on board no later than one hour before departure. Always pay attention to the current announcements as well as the notices on board, as mooring and departure times can change at short notice.
The journey to New Island in the Falkland Islands is an adventure in itself and is primarily possible by air to the Falkland Islands and subsequently as part of an expedition cruise. New Island itself is an uninhabited nature reserve and is mainly visited by smaller ships and zodiacs.
Airplane
The international airport of the Falkland Islands is Mount Pleasant Airport (MPN). It is located on East Falkland, approximately 55 kilometers southwest of the capital, Stanley. From Europe, air travel usually involves several stopovers, often via Santiago de Chile (SCL) or Punta Arenas (PUQ) in Chile. Travelers from the DACH region should arrive in the Falkland Islands at least one day before the start of the cruise due to the long flight time and limited flight frequencies to ensure a relaxed start.
Onward travel in the Falkland Islands
Shuttle buses and taxis run from Mount Pleasant Airport (MPN) to the capital, Stanley, which make the approximately one-hour journey comfortable. New Island is generally not used directly as an embarkation port by cruise ships, but rather as a port of call during an Antarctic or Falkland Islands expedition cruise. Embarkation therefore usually takes place in Stanley or another port in the region, from where New Island is reached by ship and the island is then explored with zodiacs.
Pre-cruise stay & Embarkation
Given the remote location and often irregular flight connections, an overnight stay in Stanley before the start of your expedition cruise is strongly recommended. Stanley offers charming accommodations and the opportunity to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the island's capital before you set off. Embarkation for voyages calling at New Island usually takes place directly at the port of Stanley.
Check-in & Embarkation
Please note that you will usually receive a fixed time slot for check-in with your travel documents, which is binding for your embarkation. Plan sufficient time for the journey to the port accordingly and take into account that the latest embarkation time - depending on the shipping company and destination area - is usually scheduled about one hour before the planned departure.
The same applies during the voyage: for shore excursions, you should be back on board no later than one hour before departure. Always pay attention to the current announcements as well as the notices on board, as mooring and departure times can change at short notice.
New Island is a pristine natural paradise and, thanks to landings by boat, offers direct access to the island's spectacular hiking trails and wildlife colonies.
Tender Boats and Zodiacs
The journey from the ship to the small landing stage in Coffin's Harbour is made using the ship's own tender boats or Zodiacs, providing you with a magnificent view of the coastal landscape as you enter the bay.
On Foot
All sights and wildlife observation points are accessible on foot and are often just a short walk of 10 to 20 minutes from the landing site.
Nature Trails
The island has a network of natural paths and trails that connect the various observation points directly with one another and allow for easy orientation in the expansive landscape.
To make the best use of your limited time on New Island, we recommend exploring the spectacular wildlife colonies in combination with the historic settlement located directly at the harbor.
Rockhopper & Albatross Colonies
A short walk leads to the dramatic cliffs of the west coast, where thousands of Rockhopper penguins and Black-browed albatrosses breed side by side, offering a globally unique spectacle thanks to the untouched nature.
Charles Barnard Museum
Located in the historic settlement, this charming museum provides fascinating insights into the pioneer days and maritime history of the island, making it perfect for a cultural stopover.
Coffin’s Harbour
This picturesque bay impresses with its white sandy beaches and clear, azure blue water, inviting you to enjoy relaxing walks in an almost untouched wilderness thanks to its direct location at the landing site.
The Albatross Colonies of Settlement Bay
Settlement Bay on New Island is easily accessible thanks to the ship's own Zodiac transfers and offers a short, picturesque hiking trail directly to the impressive breeding grounds of the black-browed albatrosses and rockhopper penguins. Here, you can experience the untouched nature of the Falkland Islands up close and also enjoy a fascinating tour of the small island museum in a historic barn. Ideally, start your excursion with one of the first Zodiac groups in the morning to observe the wildlife in peace and plan your return to the pier relaxed for the lunchtime.
The return journey to the landing site on New Island is particularly easy and relaxed to manage due to the island's manageable size and clear paths. Since the island is a pristine nature reserve, return transport focuses on the central pier at the Settlement.
On Foot
The clearly visible hiking trails lead you from the penguin colonies and the small island museum directly back to the beach of the settlement. Thanks to the unobstructed view of the bay and the ship anchored there, orientation is provided at all times, and you can stroll at your own pace to the agreed meeting point on the shore.
4WD Shuttle
For a comfortable return journey from more distant observation points, island-typical off-road vehicles are often available, coordinated by the expedition team on-site. These vehicles bring you safely over the unpaved paths directly to the landing site and are precisely timed to the boat departures.
Tender Boats
From the stone pier at the Settlement, the ship's own tender boats operate regularly and bring you quickly back on board. Pay attention to the instructions from the crew on the shore so that you can comfortably use the last crossing and be back on the ship in good time before departure.
