NORFOLK ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS
- A morning discovery orientation tour across the island including
- Visit family homes for a progressive dinner, hearing stories from descendants of the original island families
- Tour the historic Kingston site, including museum visits
- Commandants’ dinner and show evening
- A morning bush walk with a barbeque breakfast
- A foodies tour ‘Taste of Norfolk Island’
- n island Fish Fry
- Local dining including a highlight dinner at one of the island’s best local restaurants
- Gain a full appreciation of this unique island with its own language and profound history
- Hear stories from real bounty mutineer descendants
- Free time to wander the local area and main town street and other local discoveries
- A day at leisure to make your own local discoveries
SAMPLE ITINERARY
The days or timing for excursions conducted may vary for your tour but the inclusions remain the same (unless for reasons out of our control). The final itinerary for each departure is issued with documentation.
DIRECT FLIGHTS
The itinerary connects with the direct flight to/from Sydney. If opting for the direct flight, Brisbane to Norfolk Island additional nights of stay pre and post tour dates are required. Additional accommodation cost applies.
DAY 1
Arrive Norfolk Island
Flights (from Sydney) arrive in the afternoon and a transfer is provided from the airport to our group hotel. In the afternoon, our on-island host will meet the group at the hotel for an introduction. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for a group dinner, before touring the island starts tomorrow.
Meals: Dinner
FREE TIME EXTRAS:
If you have arrived prior to day one, you may like to take the opportunity to visit the nearby Cyclorama; see the island’s story and cast your eye over the local shop where you arrange entry to see Cyclorama (small entry fee applies).
DAY 2
Discover Norfolk
At breakfast our local host will be on hand to answer any queries and recap the day’s excursion’s ahead before you set off on your morning tour with your local driver-guide.
Morning Tour: Discover Our World Tour
An introductory tour taking you on an Island wide route covering the main points of interest including commentary on the early island and peoples’ history as well as the current day environment.
Afternoon Tour: Norfolk Culture Tour
Showcases the rich and diverse cultural heritage, from the Polynesian and Tahitian fore-mothers, the Bounty Mutineer forefathers through to early influences of religion, and seafaring settlers joining our community including American Indians, African Americans, Irish, English, Sami and New Zealand Maori.
You will be welcomed to an Island home steeped in history and gratitude for our forbears, see artifacts passed down through the generations, listen to and learn about our local language, fishing, whaling, weaving, cooking, and our service to conflict and how these influences have shaped our community as Norfolk Islanders today. You will get to sample some of the traditional seasonal dishes and try your hand at weaving, while relaxing in a tranquil laid back atmosphere.
Progressive Dinner
A legendary fixture on Norfolk Island itineraries - get a taste of the real Norfolk lifestyle. Dine at three homes in three completely different parts of the island. The evening includes a Bounty mutineer descendant entertaining you with his story of life on Norfolk, and locals of the island’s sharing remarkable history, the cultural heritage, practices and industries of the island. An evening to relax and enjoy the home-cooked food, bursting with the goodness of fresh island produce. Chat with your fellow diners and soak up the stories of your island hosts. They’ll share their passion for their little island paradise.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3
Colleen McCullough Home. Convict History.
An easy paced morning with the option to join the Glass Bottom Boat trip.
Afternoon Tour: Convict Kingston Tour
Learn about World Heritage Listed Kingston. You’ll hear about the first settlers, the Polynesians who came 900 years ago. And gain an insight into our first and second settlements as well as the facts and legends associated with each. After that you’ll learn how Norfolk became home to the descendants of the infamous Bounty mutiny and there’s time to walk through the historic cemetery.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4
At Your Leisure.
A day set aside to make your own local discoveries.
Evening: Commandants Dinner and Show
This factual yet fun dinner theatre is and a great way to learn about Norfolk’s history. Hear how the convicts were treated by sadists and reformers alike. Listen to a chilling recall of one of the infamous rebellions. Then marvel at how the Commandants and their families adapted to life in a Norfolk Island penal colony, recreating a little piece of England in the Pacific. Take in the show with a three course dinner created with traditional English fare to compliment the theatrical setting. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5
An Amble In Nature & Foodie's Tour
Morning: Breakfast Bushwalk
The walk caters for varied fitness levels with a barbeque breakfast waiting at the end; a relaxed ramble through the National Park. You’ll walk along the Bridle Track which runs from Red Road to Captain Cook’s Memorial. Your local guide can help you identify local grasses, ferns, shrubs and trees as well as bird species. For those that want to sleep in, or the walk does not suit we can arrange a pick up later to join the walkers for the BBQ breakfast. Walkers depart around 7:15am. Returning from your walk, the rest of the morning is at your leisure until your afternoon tour.
Afternoon Tour: Taste of Norfolk
Enjoy meeting some passionate locals. Visit a beekeeper’s home where you will view flow hives. Here you’ll learn about the fascinating local honeybees and view their incredible flight path to their hives. Next stop a local farm and the last visit will be a cooking demonstration. Here you will create green banana fritters flavoured with local honey, sit back and relax and enjoy.
Early Evening: Island Fish Feast
Set with the magnificent backdrop of the ocean stretching to the far horizon a relaxed dinner of scrumptiously fresh, local fish prepared the local way and accompanied with a range of seasonal island dishes including those passed down from Polynesian fore-mothers. The feast kicks off with entertainment, by a local singer and Tahitian-style dancers. Meals: Breakfast (on walk), Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6
A Literary Icon & Museums
Morning Visit: Colleen McCullough Home
A glimpse into the life of this modern-day literary icon. The world-renowned author called Norfolk Island home for almost 36 years. It is here that she created some of her most powerful books, at her beloved property “Out Yenna”. Colleen authored some 24 books during her lifetime. Some of the more noteworthy, for instance, include “Tim”, “The Thornbirds” and “Morgan’s Run”.
Afternoon Visit: Norfolk Island Museums
Located in four of Kingston’s World Heritage buildings, visiting three Museums and the restored home at number #10 helps you discover the turbulent past and today’s living culture. A Museum Pass lets you explore at your own pace with multiple entries and guided tours. Some hours free later in the day before meeting up for dinner.
Dinner: A Local Favourite
Another dining occasion with a wonderful meal. It’s just across the road rom your hotel. Enjoy a two course menu and make your way back to the hotel at your leisure after the meal.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7
A Settler’s Insight
Morning: Pitcairn Settlers Village
Experience the proud history of the Pitcairn Island Settlers. Your guided tour will take you through the gracious original Bailey homestead & gardens. Then on to a stroll through the barn, dairy and out-buildings. Wander through the Museum filled with items of nostalgic and historic interest. See the oldest working forge in the Pacific. After that there’s an Ex New Zealand Army hut, with war-time memorabilia. And finally, there’s an exclusive film of Norfolk Island interest and complimentary refreshments.
Afternoon: The Lookout and Botanical Gardens
From our hotel there’s a transfer to the renowned Mt Pitt Lookout for a sweeping view across the island. The Botanical Gardens of Norfolk Island are beautiful and worthy of a wander and we stop for some time to enjoy them this afternoon. We also pay a visit to a local potters studio for an insight into the craft industry on the island.
Dinner: Highlight
One of the island’s favourites is the host to your three course dinner this evening. After dinner, you may meet some new ghostly friends – a transfer is provided from your restaurant to your ghost tour destination.
After Dinner: Lantern Lit Ghost Tour
Real ghost stories and real hauntings… Something is out there. As the night sets in and the long shadows fall, come and take a lantern lit ride to the other side. Step thought the veil into the worst of all possible worlds. Explore the crooked, cobbled nether world of Norfolk Island’s dark and troubled past. We’ll visit real haunted sites and hear real ghost stories which have for generations lain forgotten and abandoned until now.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
DAY 8
Depart Norfolk Island | to Sydney
Your beautiful discovery of this special island will come to an end after breakfast. There is the option to extend your stay at the time of booking your place on the tour.
Meals: Breakfast
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
