Volunteer Point

Volunteer Point, a remote headland on the northern coast of East Falkland, is the jewel of the islands' wildlife and one of the most magnificent penguin spectacles on earth. Set behind a sweeping arc of pristine white sand and turquoise sea, it is home to the largest colony of king penguins in the Falklands, hundreds of these tall, regal birds with their golden-orange markings, standing, calling, courting and tending fluffy brown chicks in a great gathering on the tussock grass. Gentoo and Magellanic penguins share the site, along with other seabirds, and visitors can stand remarkably close to the unbothered birds. Reached only by a long overland journey, this unforgettable place rewards the effort magnificently.

History

Volunteer Point takes its name from the ship Volunteer, which visited the islands in 1815. It was declared a National Nature Reserve in 1968 and is listed by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area; it lies within the privately owned Johnson's Harbour Farm, its 3.2 km white sand beach backed by grassy banks, and its headland is made of hard quartz-sandstone, among the oldest sedimentary rocks in the Falklands (Wikipedia, Volunteer Point).

What's there

• The king penguins - the largest colony in the Falklands.
• The chicks - the fluffy brown king penguin chicks.
• The white beach - the sweeping arc of pristine sand.
• The other penguins - the gentoo and Magellanic penguins.

When to go

November to March, the southern summer, is the best time, when the king penguins are breeding, chicks are present and the weather is at its mildest; the colony is present year-round but summer offers the fullest spectacle and easiest access. Wildlife is active throughout the long southern days.

What to expect

Volunteer Point is reached only by a long, rough off-road journey of several hours from Stanley, usually with an experienced local driver, so getting there is a genuine expedition, and the weather can be windy and changeable. As the home of the Falklands' largest king penguin colony on a magnificent white beach, one of the great wildlife spectacles of the South Atlantic, though, it richly rewards the effort.

Nearby

The capital Stanley and the wider East Falkland lie to the south.

Key facts