7 days of history, culture and nature on Norfolk Island

Take a drive through Burnt Pine town centre, the heart of Norfolk Island. Drop into the Visitor Information Centre, browse independent duty-free shops and pick up freshly brewed coffee and a sweet treat at a friendly café.

Jump on board a Discover Norfolk Island guided tour to get your bearings. Led by informative locals, you’ll discover the island’s key landmarks and destinations, including intriguing historic sites and spectacular lookouts.

Join Christian’s Glass Bottom Boat Tour to experience the island’s enchanting underwater world from above. Gaze over kaleidoscopic coral gardens teeming with neon-coloured fish, and spot resident marine life in the calm waters of “Norfjuks Laguun”.

Immerse yourself in the culture of Norfolk Island, passed down from mutineers and their Tahitian wives, on the Forebears Island Culture Tour. Discover the traditional arts of weaving, cooking and Tahitian dance.

Feast on a paddock-to-plate dinner at the famous family-run Homestead Restaurant, set in a traditional 1930s island house. Chef Kurt pairs fire smoke with seasonal produce, intensifying the flavours of Norfolk’s local meat and fresh fish.

Drive to Mount Pitt Lookout, Norfolk Island’s second largest summit, to gaze over a 360-degree panorama of the island. Here, a blanket of green pines meets the blue hues of the Pacific Ocean and the ochre-coated Phillip Island.

Stand in awe at the mother-of-pearl inlays, stained-glass windows and ship-inspired timber ceilings that make up the 19th-century St Barnabas Chapel. Enter with a guide to discover the chapel’s rich history.

Play a round of golf framed by majestic Norfolk pines and the Pacific Ocean at Norfolk Island Golf Club, one of the world’s only courses set on a World Heritage site. Afterwards, grab a Japanese bite at the club’s café, the Olive Branch.

Wind down from your day with a bottle of wine and picnic dinner at Puppy's Point, a great spot to watch the sunset from the clifftop. Make it extra memorable and book a Platters by Paige picnic for a stunning setup and lavish food and drink.

If you’re a certified diver, don your gear and head out with Norfolk Island Diving to discover some of the most untouched diving sites in the South Pacific. Marvel at caves, chasms and coral and teeming with marine life.

Snorkel with iridescent fish, colourful corals and if you’re lucky, a chilled-out turtle. Swim out into the sparkling waters of Emily Bay Lagoon or Slaughter Bay, which is home to a fringing reef just metres from the shore.

Ride perfect peaks, long left-handers and beautiful barrels around Norfolk Island’s surf beaches. Paddle out with a handful of locals to unspoiled reef breaks, like Slaughter Bay and Cemetery Beach, or have some fun at the remote Anson Bay beach break. 

Cast your line and be rewarded with a bounty of fish like you’ve never seen before. It’s so easy to reel in a prize here, it’s referred to as ‘catching’ rather than fishing. Hop on a half-day charter for the ultimate fishing day out.

Dine island-style with an Island Fish Fry complete with Tahitian dancing and sunset views. Enjoy a smorgasbord of local dishes including fresh fried fish, traditional coconut bread, “Pilhi” (a banana slice) and coconut dessert pie. 

Start your day by watching the sunrise peek its head over the horizon from the top of Flagstaff Hill. There are 200 steps between you and the summit, but the vantage point is well worth the effort.

If you’re an experienced hiker, join a guided trek to the outer Phillip Island. It’s known as the ‘Uluru of the South Pacific’ due to its volcanic landscape reminiscent of the Red Centre’s iconic monolith.

Head to Captain Cook Monument and Lookout in Norfolk Island’s National Park to marvel at the offshore natural rock formations of Elephant Rock and Bird Rock. Walk along the coastal Bridle track, looking out for green parrots and Pacific robins.

Wander beneath the towering canopy of Norfolk Island’s iconic Moreton Bay fig trees. With roots that resemble giant octopus-like tentacles, these two-hundred-plus-year-old trees are truly captivating.

Lace up your trainers and explore the enchanting 2.3km (1.4mi) walking track, which winds through the thick forest of Hundred Acres Reserve towards Rocky Point. Expect to see soaring seabirds, wild waves and the burnt-orange Phillip Island.

Take a self-guided tour around the old gaol ruins and picturesque Georgian buildings of Kingston and Arthur’s Vale UNESCO World Heritage Site, where banished British convicts were imprisoned during colonial times.

Purchase a museum pass to peruse Kingston’s four historic museums and their intriguing artefacts. Be sure to visit the Sirius Museum, dedicated to the HMS Sirius flagship of the First Fleet, wrecked on the Kingston reef in 1790. 

Enjoy locally caught seafood and fresh produce at the quaint Hilli Restaurant. Then head next door to view the award-winning Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorama, a 360-degree mural depicting the Pitcairn Islanders who arrived on Norfolk Island in 1856.

If you dare, join a spooky Lantern Lit Ghost Tour to explore Norfolk’s convict cemetery, ruins and Australia’s most haunted house after dark. Feel the chill in your bones as you listen to spine-tingling stories under the mysterious star-lit sky.

Many locals grow vegetables and share their bounty in roadside 'Honesty Boxes.' Pick up a ‘hunt and gather’ map at the Visitor Information Centre to find these stalls dotted around the island. On a Saturday, be sure to visit the Farmer’s Markets.

Paddock-to-plate has been a way of life on Norfolk Island for over 200 years. Learn about the island’s sustainable practices during a Paddock to Plate Tour, where you’ll visit local farms and a market garden, and enjoy two courses of seasonal fare.

Take a seat on the sun-drenched deck and enjoy seasonal produce, wood-fired pizzas (if it’s a Friday) and refreshing craft beers at Castaway Restaurant and Bar. Here you’ll find the island’s only brewery, Norfolk Island Brewing.

At Forrester Court, the fare is just as beautiful as the views. On a Wednesday or Sunday, treat yourself to a decadent and seasonal-inspired High Tea Luncheon, located on cliff top gardens overlooking the blue hues of Cascade Bay. 

Experience Norfolk’s local life with Baunti’s Progressive Dinner. You’ll be warmly welcomed into three family homes, each serving a mouthwatering home-cooked meal. It’s an evening of relaxed dining, local stories and an authentic taste of island life.

Unwind island-style with a beach picnic or a swim in the calm, crystal-clear waters of Emily Bay Lagoon. Framed by golden sand and grand Norfolk Pines, there’s little wonder it's rated within the top ten beaches in the South Pacific.

Feel rejuvenated with a soothing treatment at Serenity Day Spa (try the 90-minute ‘Emily Bay Escape’ for a full-body glow) or stretch out in your best downwards dog during a private or group yoga session in town.

Sample exquisite wines on the sun-kissed verandah of the family-run Two Chimneys Winery. Savour a lunch platter loaded with fresh cheeses and local meats with a glass (or bottle) of wine.

Find stillness between giant ferns and the subtropical rainforest of Norfolk’s Botanical Gardens, teeming with endemic plants and wildlife. Drop into the Discovery Centre to delve into the history of these unique island species.

Norfolk Island boasts a Gold Level Dark Sky status, offering a night sky unlike anything you've experienced. Join a guided stargazing tour to look through a telescope that reveals the moon, lunar craters and Saturn’s rings.