Our Top 5 things to do on Norfolk Island
If you’re thinking of making the trip to Norfolk Island - congratulations on stumbling across one of the top hidden gems Australia has to offer!
Norfolk Island is so close to New Zealand, New Caledonia and other South Pacific islands that many people don’t even realise it’s part of Australia.
If you’re interested in history, food, culture, shopping or nature, you’re in luck. Norfolk has it all, it really is the perfect holiday destination.
The best part? If you’re Australian, you won’t even need a passport to explore this incredibly diverse island which feels like a totally different country!
Explore the historic convict sites, take a bushwalk, taste fresh produce and meet the descendants of the Bounty Mutineers and their Tahitian wives.
In this article we will share some of the best that Norfolk Island has to offer. And the best way to see it? With Pinetree Tours of course!
While we love all our tours, here are just a few to give you a taste. Enjoy!
Sample local produce and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean - All at once!
Norfolk Island has an incredible history which mixed many different cultures to create something that is quite unique. As much of the island’s produce is grown and caught locally, you are in for a treat if you want to experience some deliciously fresh food.
The best way to experience the culture and the food here is to join our Original Island Fish Fry.
Norfolk Island is renowned for its fishing and the famous Pinetree Tours Fish Fry. Savour the taste of freshly caught fish as you enjoy live music and traditional dancing by the Baunti Byuutis dancing group while dining on a banquet of traditional island dishes.
While all this is happening, be sure to take a moment to absorb the beautiful sunset occurring around you.
Being an island, Norfolk is a great place to experience the beautiful colours of an incredible sunset. And if you’re an Aussie, just appreciate how it looks going down over an ocean - something the majority of us never see!
Experience life on Norfolk first hand
If you’re looking for an experience that gives you a first hand insight into island living, the Progressive Dinner tour is a must.
Learning about a new place is best done by listening to the locals. Here you will join a group of other island visitors to enjoy a delicious 3 course meal, progressing to different homes as the night goes on.
As you enter each carefully selected Island home, you feel instantly welcome. Every meal comes with a sensational story about their family’s history and life on the island.
Your night will be filled with laughs and food. It’s a great way to meet the locals and gain a true perspective of life here on Norfolk Island and our people.
Visit a World Heritage Site at Australia’s oldest Convict Settlement
Whether you’re a history buff or not, it won’t take you long to get swept up in Norfolk Island’s fascinating past.
Our culture and history are intricately entwined. From our very first Polynesian settlers, to the British convicts who followed, and the Bounty mutineer descendants who shaped us.
It’s understandable that the World Heritage listed Georgian settlement of Kingston is absolutely a must see while you’re visiting. Not only is Kingston the Capital of Norfolk Island and a UNESCO world heritage site, it is also the oldest convict settlement in Australia.
The site has artefacts and remnants not just from the convict past, but from every settlement of the island.
You could spend days exploring all the history of Norfolk on your own in this small place, however, we highly recommend joining the Convict Settlement Tour to hear all the extra tails of the island’s beginnings from a local.
The tour will also take you through the cemetery where many influential founders were buried, the new Gaol, to see the pier Store, Boat Shed and the Crank Mill - all of which have to be seen to be believed!
Explore the great outdoors
Norfolk Island is an outdoor lover’s absolute dream with towering cliffs covered in lush pinetrees overlooking crystal clear waters. There are over 200 native plants of which 40 are unique to Norfolk. See incredible views from all angles on this beautiful island.
To ensure you see the best parts, why not try a bushwalking tour?
Here at Pinetree Tours, we offer an excellent experience catering to all fitness levels, so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with the added bonus of a delicious breakfast at the end!
You have two options here depending on how energetic you’re feeling. Either take a stroll through beautiful Palm Glen Reserve, or, if you’re feeling a little more spritely, take the 3.5km walk through scenic Mt. Bates (the highest point of the island!) via stunning coastal views to Captain Cook Monument.
Try something spooky
If you’re looking to do something a little different while visiting Norfolk Island, why not try a ghost tour and dinner?
Perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind when looking for things to do on a holiday, however you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this one!
As the night sets in and the long shadows fall, take a lantern lit ride to the other side. The island's unique history makes for some great spooky stories that will delight, sadden and unnerve you all at the same time.
Before the lantern walk through the historic Kingston Ruins, enjoy dinner in a beautiful Georgian Building.
Want to learn more?
There is so much to do on Norfolk Island you’re going to wish you stayed longer. To make the most of your stay here, get in touch with us here at Pinetree Tours. Our guides will bring the history to life, contrasting them with the sights, sounds and people of Norfolk today.