The Austral Islands are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, sometimes also called the "Tubuai Islands", after one of the main islands. They progress from the uninhabited Īles Maria at 155°W-21°40'S in the northwest to the small island of Marotiri, at 144°22'W-27°41'S in the southeast. Several of the islands have uninhabited small islets or rocks off their coastlines. The main islands, from northwest to southeast are, Īles Maria, Rimatara , Rurutu , Tubuai, Raevavae , Rapa and Marotiri, of which Īles Maria and Marotiri are uninhabited (and not capable of sustaining permanent habitation).
Note that Rapa and Marotiri are technically not part of the Austral Islands, and are included only for matters of political and geographical expediency. They are actually more accurately a separate group, the Bass Islands.
