A mere speck in the South Pacific, overlooked by most cruise ships, unknown to many Australians, lies tiny Norfolk Island. Surrounded by pristine waters that beckon visitors to dip their toes in and boasting an expansive national park with its own winding walking tracks all offering spectacular views, it is mostly free of development and has it’s very own language. Yes, this little isle is the type of place most of us dream about visiting yet it remains elusive, failing to make it on to most Bucket Lists.
Of course, we’re never ones to follow what everyone else is doing so when we learned that Norfolk Island was home to one of the UNESCO convict sites it quickly found its way on to our Bucket List. We were warned that it was an island visited mostly by those of retirement age, had little to offer a travelling family and that we would soon grow bored of this 8km by 5km island. We set about proving everyone wrong, revelling in the delights that should make it one of the places you all should visit.
Holidays on Norfolk Island : Weather, Accommodation and Flights
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Norfolk Island Weather
Norfolk Island boasts fairly consistent weather all year round with the temperature usually sitting between 10 to 26 degrees celcius. April to August tends to be the wetter months with summer in December-March providing the best weather for swimming.
Flying to Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is isolated but it is easily accessible. During the summer months, Air New Zealand flies direct to the island from Sydney and Brisbane a number of times each week. By stalking the flights over a couple of months we were ready to pounce when return trips dropped to around $500 each return. Our tickets did not include check-in baggage, food or seat selection, although we felt we could cope as the flight is just over 2 hours in length.
Whilst Norfolk Island is considered a territory of Australia, flights depart from the international terminal in Sydney and you are required to go through both immigration and customs. Despite the extra time needed to check in, this does offer an opportunity to take advantage of the duty-free shopping!
Currently, Air New Zealand is the only commercial carrier to and from Norfolk Island. The Australian government subsidises some of the airfare but not all of it, making the flight more expensive than some destinations a little further from Sydney. However, the experience that is Norfolk Island makes it worth it!
Accommodation on Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small place and has not yet experienced a tourism boom. For many years it has been a destination popular for older travellers and the accommodation options seems to have catered for this group rather than focusing on future travellers.
Accommodation options on the island range from self-catering cottages and apartments through to boutique hotel and resort options. Many bookings come with a rental car (including insurance) and a mobile phone. Others have this as an add-on. Almost all accommodation on Norfolk Island includes a meet and greet at the airport and transfers.
On our trip to Norfolk Island, we booked a 2 bedroom cottage called Broad Leaf Villas which was close to the main township and was inclusive of a car and mobile phone. (You can book them here) Many accommodation options also include a free half day tour of the island which will help you orientate yourself to where everything is and the possibility of adventures for your trip. If we return, I hope we can stay at the Tin Sheds next time!
Where to eat on Norfolk Island
As we mentioned earlier, Norfolk Island is small at only 8km by 5km in size. It is here that you can indulge in an authentic paddock to plate experience at almost every meal. Due to strict quarantine rules and regulations, almost all fruit and vegetables (only garlic, onion, potatoes & ginger are imported) on the island are locally grown. The fish is caught in the waters surrounding the island by local fisherman and most meat products are also local.
On our trip to Norfolk Island we made sure to visit almost all of the 25 eateries on the island and quickly developed a few favourites. We ate perhaps the BEST steak of our lives here, and indulged in fresh sashimi caught that morning. It’s foodie heaven!
Dino’s at Bumboras
Dino’s at Bumboras was our favourite restaurant on the island. It is a special place for the locals too so will need a booking ahead of time to ensure you get a seat. The homestead itself was built in the late 1800’s, providing a rustic feel as you feast on the delights served at this restaurant. This was the spot where we ate of the best steaks of our entire lives! Seriously….it was that good!
Open for dinner from 5.00pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Open for lunch from 11.30am on Sundays.
Hilli Goat Cheese Tour
There was once a girl called Emily living on Norfolk Island who dreamed of raising goats for their milk and cheese. Armed with a Churchill Scholarship she set about researching exactly what she needed, how to make it sustainable and how to ensure it worked….so became the Hilli Goat, an incredible local venture where Emily creates beautiful cheeses along with goat creams and lotions.
I strongly urge all visitors to the island to book a Hilli Goat Cheese Tour where you can witness the production phase of the Hilli Goat products before indulging in some of the best taste plates on the whole island.
Tours are typically in the afternoon once or twice a week. Book early so you don’t miss out.
The Olive Cafe
We kept heading back to the Olive Cafe for lunch each day! It’s quite possibly the busiest cafe on the whole island so there is often a line and a wait! We loved everything we tasted. Highly recommended.
Open 7 days from 6.30am – 3pm for breakfast, brunch, lunch, morning & afternoon teas.
Driving around the island you will no doubt spot all of the other restaurants, cafes and take away venues. For those hoping to self cater, Norfolk Island has one supermarket, a butcher and a bakery where you can purchase items. As most packaged products are imported you will note that they do come with an inflated price in comparison to mainland Australia. I suggest sticking to locally sourced products – it yummier!
Exploring Norfolk Island
Whilst small, Norfolk Island has plenty to see and do. We stayed for 7 days and I still feel that we didnt see it all!
Emily Bay
Emily Bay is considered to be one of Australia’s top 10 beaches. It is definitely one of our favourites. Featuring a double reef, the bay is protected from the ocean’s waves, providing a haven for sealife including a resident sea turtle that you may spot when snorkelling. Looking out across the water you will spot a lone pine on the left side of the bay. It features in some of Captain James Cook’s original sketches having stood before Europeans ever stepped foot on the island.
If you like history, you can also see the spot where stone tools and structure remains have been discovered from a historic Polynesian settlement that was built in the area between AD 1200 and AD 1600.
Slaughter Bay
If snorkelling is your think you need to head to Slaughter Bay which is not far from Emily Bay. The visibility across the island is pretty incredible so you are sure to spot an abundance of sea life here.
Kingston and Arthurs Vale Historic Area (KAVHA)
If history is your thing you will want to set aside some time to visit and explore the UNESCO listed Kingston and Arthurs Vale Historic Area. Settled by the English shortly after the First Fleet arrived in Sydney, KAVHA will step you through the era of transportation to eastern Australia between 1788-1855 where you can explore perhaps one of the harshest and cruelest of all the Australian penal settlements. Augment your exploration with the Light and Sound Show tour.
Anson Bay
Touted as one of Norfolk Island’s most spectacular secluded beaches, a rugged steep pathway leads down to Anson Bay where you can enjoy its gorgeous waters.
Captain Cooks Lookout
If you love a good view you must head to Captain Cooks Lookout at least once as it is breathtaking.
St Barnabas chapel
Built as a memorial to Bishop Patterson who was killed by natives in the Solomon Islands in 1871, St Barnabas Chapel’s foundation stone was laid back in 1875. It is a stunning church and one of the most spectacular buildings on the entire island. St Barnabas chapel is open all hours so you can visit whenever you wish. The kids absolutely loved the giant fig trees at the back of the church which feature a swing.
Norfolk Island Tours
Norfolk Island has a number of tour companies offering a plethora of tours for you to enjoy, each providing insight into different aspects of the islands history, geography, science or culture. We enjoyed a number of tours over the course of our trip and can now recommend a number of these.
Sound and Light Show
If you are keen to hear about Norfolk Islands convict history you may enjoy the sound and light show. After picking you up from your accommodation, you are swept down to Kingston as night falls. It is here that you watch a theatre performance outside the bus that takes you through the historic ruins as a story from the convict era unfolds. The kids absolutely loved this tour and learned about the late 1700s on the island through this trip.
Island Fish Fry
The Island Fish Fry is one tour that I hear almost every visitor to Norfolk Island rave about. Set on the cliffs of Puppys Point, you are able to marvel at the sunset while enjoying a feast of island dishes, salads, homemade bread & fresh fried fish while local girls dance to traditional songs. On a clear night you will even see a shooting star or two.
Pitcairn Settlers Village Tour
Running on Wednesday & Saturday from 9.30am and 1.30pm, the Pitcairn Settlers Village Tour is so much fun for families who love a little history. As you tour the grounds in an old 1928 A Model Ford, you will learn about the Pitcairn Settlers of Norfolk Island and try first hand some of the items they used including the oldest working forge in the entire Pacific!
Mutiny on the Bounty
You can’t really visit Norfolk Island without heading to the Mutiny on the Bounty Show. Descendants of the mutineers act out the story of the mutiny and the events that led them to Pitcairn Island.
Culture Tour
If you are curious about the culture of Norfolk Island this is the tour for you! You will learn (and taste) some of the traditional foods of the island, learn how to weave and even see some wood turning. It takes a few hours but at the end of the tour you will have a better understanding of some of the traditional handcrafts of the island.
A trip to Norfolk Island is an adventure worth taking. A few days on the island provides a detox from busy! When can you visit? Head to the Norfolk Island website for full details of all tours and accommodation options.
We self funded our airfares, accommodation and food on this trip. Norfolk Island Tourism organised some of our tours on the trip.
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A brilliant read. Love your writing style. So many tips and choices, much appreciated. Lorraine