It rises above sea level with a coastline consisting of cliffs and scree slopes, all described as being ‘steep’, to a summit at 49 metres (161 feet) which has a relatively flat profile and ‘which carries a crust of soil and a few diminutive sand dunes’.

[7] Geologically, Ward Island is the remnant of a small hill with a volcanic plug core which had solidified to granite more than 1500 Ma ago and whose summit was buried under sand that consolidated to calcarenite, and that has been extensively eroded by wave action since the commencement of sea level rise.

South Ward Island is vegetated with marsh saltbush as are a number of large rocks which are permanently exposed above low water.

[4][8] Vertebrate animals observed on the island group include Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals and the following bird species: short tailed shearwater, white faced storm petrel, osprey, white-bellied sea-eagle, Richard’s pipit, sooty oystercatcher, silver gull, Pacific gull and rock parrot.

Since 2012, the waters adjoining the Ward Islands have been part of a habitat protection zone in the Investigator Marine Park.