# Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HM) **Capital:** none **Currency:** Australian Dollar (AUD) (AUD) **Area:** 412 km² > Heard Island and McDonald Islands are an uninhabited Australian external territory in the southern Indian Ocean. There is no permanent population, no port, no airport and no commercial trade. The only logistics activity is the supply of scientific expeditions by ship and the fishery (Patagonian toothfish, mackerel icefish) in the surrounding Australian EEZ, managed under CCAMLR and AFMA. The entire area is a strictly protected Commonwealth marine reserve; access is only possible with an EPBC permit issued by the Australian Antarctic Division. The currency is the Australian dollar. Heard Island and McDonald Islands (ISO code: HM) are uninhabited subantarctic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about 4,100 km southwest of Perth. They are an external territory of Australia, administered directly by the Australian Antarctic Division within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Heard Island holds Australia's only active volcanoes, including Mawson Peak on the Big Ben massif (2,745 m), the highest point in Australian territory outside the Antarctic. The islands and surrounding waters form a strictly protected Commonwealth marine reserve under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and are a UNESCO World Heritage site (inscribed 1997). There is no permanent population, no port and no airport, and no commercial trade takes place on the islands. Economic relevance is limited to scientific research and to the commercial fishery for Patagonian toothfish and mackerel icefish in the Australian exclusive economic zone, managed by AFMA under CCAMLR. The currency is the Australian dollar (AUD); access requires an EPBC permit. **Top Import Partners:** keine **Top Export Partners:** keine **Top Import Goods:** Equipment for scientific expeditions **Top Export Goods:** None **Key Airports:** - [Atlas Cove Station Helipad](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/atlas-cove-station-helipad-airport-1907) - [Spit Bay Helipad](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/spit-bay-helipad-airport-31611) ## Customs & Import **Import VAT:** No local GST: the external territory lies outside the Australian Indirect Tax Zone (mainland GST 10 percent). As of 2026. **Customs complexity:** Special case (no regular trade) **Customs system:** No local customs operation. Uninhabited area with no port or airport infrastructure; goods arrive only by ship for research and supply. Australian external territory outside the GST zone. **Customs authority:** [No local customs authority; Australian Border Force (ABF) responsible for Australia, territory administered by the Australian Antarctic Division (DCCEEW)](https://www.antarctica.gov.au) ## Logistics & Risk **Logistics role:** Uninhabited nature reserve / CCAMLR fishing zone **Economic area:** Australian External Territory (outside the GST zone) **Logistics risk:** high (natural hazards, no infrastructure) **Dangerous goods relevance:** low **Pharma/cold chain:** None ## FAQ ### Can goods be imported to or exported from Heard and McDonald Islands? No. The islands are uninhabited and have no port, airport or customs operation. No commercial trade takes place. Only research expeditions are supplied by ship, and only under permit. ### Who administers the territory and how do you get there? It is an Australian external territory administered directly by the Australian Antarctic Division (DCCEEW). Access is only by ship from Hobart or Fremantle and requires an EPBC permit. ### Does Australian GST or customs duty apply? The external territory lies outside Australia's indirect tax zone, so no local GST applies (mainland rate 10 percent). With no trade or customs operation on site there are no regular import charges. As of 2026. ### Is there a fishery and how is it regulated? Yes, in the Australian EEZ around the islands. The target species are Patagonian toothfish and mackerel icefish. The fishery is managed by AFMA under CCAMLR catch limits and is MSC-certified; catches are landed on the Australian mainland. ### What risks exist for vessels in the region? Very high natural hazards: subantarctic storms, heavy seas, drift ice and glaciers, plus the active Big Ben volcano. There is no infrastructure and no rescue services on site. Landings are only possible in short summer windows. ### What protection and sanctions rules apply? The entire area is a strictly protected Commonwealth marine reserve under the EPBC Act 1999 and a UNESCO World Heritage site; every activity requires a permit. As Australian territory, Australian sanctions (DFAT) and export controls also apply. ## Sources & Last Verified - [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations-and-field-locations/heard-island/](https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations-and-field-locations/heard-island/) - [https://www.antarctica.gov.au](https://www.antarctica.gov.au) - [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations-and-field-locations/heard-island/protection-and-management/marine-reserve/](https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations-and-field-locations/heard-island/protection-and-management/marine-reserve/) - [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations-and-field-locations/heard-island/protection-and-management/management-plan/permits/](https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations-and-field-locations/heard-island/protection-and-management/management-plan/permits/) - [https://www.afma.gov.au/fisheries/heard-island-and-mcdonald-islands-fishery](https://www.afma.gov.au/fisheries/heard-island-and-mcdonald-islands-fishery) - [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/law-and-treaty/ccamlr/australias-fisheries-in-the-heard-island-and-mcdonald-islands-region/](https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/law-and-treaty/ccamlr/australias-fisheries-in-the-heard-island-and-mcdonald-islands-region/) - [https://www.dcceew.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/places/world/heard-mcdonald](https://www.dcceew.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/places/world/heard-mcdonald) - [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/577/](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/577/) *Last verified: 2026-06-23* --- *Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hm](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hm)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/hm](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/hm)*