Destination overview

Norfolk Island has an area of only 34 square kilometres and is part of the Norfolk Ridge, a large piece of submerged continental crust located approximately 1,600 kilometres off the east coast of Australia and 600 kilometres north-west of New Zealand. 

This is a world where you can be as laid back or busy as you want to be. And you won't find fast food outlets here. The food is either pulled fresh from the sea or grown in the area's lush soil. There aren't any traffic lights. Time moves slowly and strangers wave as you pass them by. The modern world barely intrudes on Norfolk.

There are over 40 unique plant species and the world's tallest tree fern. As you make your way around the island you'll encounter many beautiful gardens that welcome visitors. Even their names conjure up images - Camelot, Music Valley, Strawberry Fields and Walk in the Wild, to name a few. Approximately one-third of the island is dedicated to National Parks and Reserves, with over 10 spectacular trails that take you through temperate and tropical forests. You can follow these trails to lookouts such as Flagstaff Hill, Bird Rock or Puppy's Point with spectacular coastal views, or picnic among the pines or convict ruins.

The island's highest point is Mount Bates, which is 319 metres above sea level and located in the north-west quadrant of the island. The pristine Pacific Ocean is central to all things on Norfolk Island. Immense schools of fish journey here on currents from the deep ocean, and with no commercial fishing allowed, the waters are always teeming. Along the diverse coastline are sheltered bays that are ideal for swimming, diving and boating. The weather and water temperatures are usually mild and inviting. The climate is sub-tropical, with little seasonal differentiation. If it's snorkelling or diving that you're interested in, then the coral and sea life have to be seen to be believed. You can tour with a sea scooter, which is the fastest way to get around under the surface, or kick back on a cruise, or even get your own sea kayak and explore to your heart's content. If you enjoy a spot of fishing you can hire a rod and cast from the pier or take to the seas with an expert.

There's also plenty to do on Norfolk without getting your feet wet. Surrender yourself to all manner of luxurious pampering packages and spa treatments or wine and dine on the fresh local produce and enjoy the freshest seafood imaginable, complemented by locally grown ingredients to make the most delicious salads. Climb mountains, explore the history and culture through the many ruins or elegant Georgian buildings, seek out the unusual wildlife, or hunt for souvenirs and bargains at the arts and crafts market. There's even a golf course with some of the most spectacular views in the South Pacific.

In the convict cemetery, headstones tell of an horrific era in the island's history, while artefacts from the wreck of HMS Sirius, the mighty flagship of the first fleet, tell another story. Even the tradition of weaving, handed down from the original Tahitian foremothers, is still practised on the island today. There are some wonderful opportunities on Norfolk for you to experience its cultural heritage - you'll be surprised at the historic significance Norfolk holds for European settlement of Australia.

The coastline of Norfolk Island consists, to varying degrees, of cliff faces. A downward slope exists towards Slaughter Bay and Emily Bay, the site of the original colonial settlement of Kingston. There are no safe harbour facilities on Norfolk Island, with loading jetties existing at Kingston and Cascade Bay. All goods not domestically produced are brought in by ship, usually to Cascade Bay. Emily Bay, protected from the Pacific Ocean by a small coral reef, is the only safe area for recreational swimming, although surfing waves can be found at Anson and Ball Bays. The area surrounding Mount Bates is preserved as the Norfolk Island National Park. The Park, covering around 10% of the land of the island, contains remnants of the forests which originally covered the island, including stands of subtropical rainforest.

Things to do on Norfolk Island

There are literally hundreds of activities to while away your holiday on Norfolk Island. You can go swimming, snorkelling, diving, cycling, fishing, climbing and sightseeing. Visit a museum or have a picnic. Or, you can just relax and eat out at one of Norfolk's 40+restaurants. The Pitcairn Settlers Villiage is located in Queen Elizabeth Avenue on the land granted by Queen Victoria in 1877 to Emily Christian (born on Pitcairn Island in 1852 and who was a great granddaughter of Fletcher Christian) and her husband George Bailey, the Island Blacksmith. It is now owned by their granddaughter Marie, who invites you to view the possessions and treasures of the early settlers. Last, but certainly by no means least, you must take advantage of the Island's tax-free shopping!

Getting Around

Hiring a car is the best way to get around the island, which is very hilly. There are approximately 190 kilometres of roads, almost all of which are sealed, and the speed limit is 50 kilometres per hour. All livestock has right-of-way on roads and seat belts are not compulsory. Driving is on the left hand side of the road. To hire a car you must be at least 21 years of age, and hold a valid driver's licence in your country of residence. There is no public transport on the island, and only a small number of taxis for hire.World Heritage Area. The Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area (KAVHA) on Norfolk Island is of outstanding significance to the nation as a convict settlement spanning the era of transportation to eastern Australia between 1788 and 1855. It is also significant as the only site in Australia to display evidence of early Polynesian settlement and the place where the Pitcairn Island descendants of the Bounty mutineers were resettled in 1856. In 2010 the World Heritage Committee announced that Norfolk Island's Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area had been included on the World Heritage List as part of the Australian Convict Sites inscription.

Norfolk Island history

After the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, Norfolk Island was placed under the authority of the new Commonwealth Government to be administered as an external territory. During World War II, the island became a key air base and refuelling depot between Australia and New Zealand, and New Zealand and the Solomon Islands. In 1979, Norfolk was granted limited self-government by Australia, under which the island elects a government that runs most of the island's affairs. As such, residents of Norfolk Island are not represented in the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia, making them the only group of residents of an Australian state or territory not represented there. While the island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, it enjoys a large degree of self-governance. Together with two neighbouring islands, it forms one of Australia's external territories.