The best things to do on Norfolk Island
Discover the Fascinating History and Natural Beauty of Norfolk Island
By James Davies in Australia Guides.
A tiny island sat in the Pacific Ocean, Norfolk Island is officially an external territory of Australia. Being blessed with stunning natural beauty an endlessly fascinating history means that there are plenty of things to do on Norfolk Island.
Norfolk Island - Table of Contents
Only a couple of hours away by plane from either Sydney or Brisbane, Norfolk Island is around 400 miles from the north of New Zealand and 800 miles off the east coast of Australia. Today the island is home to just over 2,000 people.
Norfolk Island - A Potted History
A major part of Norfolk Island’s appeal is its unique history.
Though there is evidence that Polynesian settlers lived on the island around the 13th century, Norfolk Island was unoccupied when it was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. Cook named the island after the Duchess of Norfolk.
Norfolk Island’s Becomes a Penal Settlement
After the founding of the colony of New South Wales in what is now Sydney in 1788, Norfolk Island was established as a penal colony for convicts deported from Britain.
The first penal colony grew around the newly-founded town of Kingston. The settlement was in operation for 26 years until it was eventually deemed as too remote and difficult to supply with the essential goods by sea.
The Establishment of a Second Penal Colony
Norfolk Island’s first penal colony was abandoned in 1814. The island remained uninhabited for 11 years until a second penal colony was established in 1825.
The second penal colony consisted of a newly built prison along with army barracks for soldiers. The second settlement also saw the construction of a hospital, housing for engineers, several mills and a new pier at Kingston.
Norfolk Island’s second prison settlement was known for its barbarity and the incredibly harsh living conditions endured by its prisoners.
By the early 1850s, Britain had ended the practice of deporting convicts to Australia, and Norfolk Island’s second penal colony eventually closed in 1855.
The New Home for the Descendants of the Mutiny of the Bounty
Following the closure of the second penal colony, Norfolk Island would become part of the story of one of the most famous seafaring tales of all time, the mutiny on the Bounty.
After seizing control of the HMS Bounty in the Pacific Ocean, the ship’s mutineers sailed to Pitcairn Island in 1790, taking with them a group of men and women from Tahiti.
The mutineers and Tahitian settlers remained on Pitcairn Island for over 60 years. However, by the mid 1850s the rising population of Pitcairn had outgrown the island.
Looking for a new place to settle, the people of Pitcairn were offered the opportunity to move to Norfolk Island. In 1856, 193 people left Pitcairn and sailed over 3,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean to start a new life on Norfolk Island.
Norfolk Island Today
Many of the people who live on Norfolk Island can still trace their roots back to the mutiny of the HMS Bounty and to the Pitcairn Islands.
Incredibly proud of their unique history and heritage, you’ll still hear people on Norfolk Island speaking Norfuk, a unique dialect blending Tahitian and old English.
The remains of the second penal colony that still stand in Kingston are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and make up the Norfolk Island Museum, which documents and celebrates the island’s rich and diverse history.
Norfolk Island is also blessed with an astonishing amount of natural beauty. You’re never far from a staggering ocean view, where towering Norfolk Island pine trees frame bays and picturesque beaches and line the forest’s hiking trails.
Cows and chickens also roam freely across the island, where nothing is more than a 20 minute drive away.
The heart of the island is the main town of Burnt Pine, where you’ll find the majority of Norfolk Island’s cafes, shops and restaurants, as well as weekend markets.
The Best Things to Do on Norfolk Island
We cover all of the essential practical information at the end of this post, including how to get to Norfolk Island, where to eat and where to stay.
For now, let’s dive straight into all of the best things to do on Norfolk Island.
Discover Kingston’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Officially the capital of Norfolk Island, Kingston is not so much a town but more a collection of historic buildings and ruins located around Kingston Pier on the south coast of the island.
Kingston is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the 11 Australian Convict Sites that were collectively listed in 2010.
Most of the buildings in Kingston date from between 1824 to 1856, the time of the island’s second penal colony.
There is an entrance fee to each of the buildings in Kingston that make up the Norfolk Island Museum. These are 10 Quality Row, the Pier Store Museum, the HMS Sirius Museum, and the Commissariat Store.
A single entry ticket to these museums is AU$12 each. However, you can also buy a Museum Multi Pass ticket for AU$43, which allows multiple entries to all four buildings.
The Museum Multi Pass tickets also give you free access to two Tag-A-Long tours, which take place daily from 9:30am. These tours take around an hour and a half and take a deeper dive into some of the museum’s collections and the island’s history.
The Museum Multi Pass also gives you a AU$5 discount on the excellent Norfolk Island Cemetery tour.
Explore Kingston's Prison Ruins
The ruins of the jail built during the second settlement are the most visible reminder of Norfolk Island’s brutal period as a penal colony.
Built alongside the rough sea waters of Slaughter Bay, little remains of the jail besides the arched entrance gate, imposing prison walls and the crumbled remnants of the five prison wings that once stood on the site.
The ruins do still show the tiny footprint of the original cells, hinting at the incredibly harsh conditions and the brutal lives prisoners endured on Norfolk Island during the second settlement.
Opposite the entrance to the jail is the ruin of the settlement’s former hospital, where conditions were often just as terrible as inside the prison.
Pier Store Norfolk Island Museum
The Pier Store Museum documents the utterly fascinating tale of the mutiny of the HMS Bounty.
The museum also details the story of the mutineers’ descendants, firstly of their lives on Pitcairn Island, and then after relocating to Norfolk Island in the mid 19th century.
As well as recounting the remarkable tale of how a handful of sailors took control of the HMS Bounty, the Pier Store Museum also holds an incredible collection of historical artifacts.
Items on display include an original canon from the HMS Bounty that was rescued from the sea bed after the ship was destroyed.
- The Pier Store | 11:00am - 3:00pm daily
The R.E.O.
Opposite the Pier Store Museum is the R.E.O, formerly the Royal Engineer’s Office during the days of the second settlement.
As well as a great range of information and books about Norfolk Island, the R.E.O also has an excellent display of information charting life inside the island’s brutal prison.
Spread across a couple of rooms are several historic artifacts related to the prison, information boards recounting tales of life behind bars for both prisoners and guards, as well as a scale model of the second settlement’s original jail.
- The R.E.O. | 9:00am - 3:00pm daily
Flagstaff Hill
After exploring the area around Kingston Pier, take a leisurely stroll along the path that runs from behind the ruins of the former hospital to the top of Flagstaff Hill.
A trail of 200 steps leads to a magical view over the historic settlement at Kingston and out to Philip Island across Slaughter Bay.
HMS Sirius Museum
Another ship that is indelibly linked to Norfolk Island is the HMS Sirius. HMS Sirius was the flagship vessel of the First Fleet, the 11 ships that left Britain to settle in the new colony of New South Wales in 1788.
In 1790 HMS Sirius stopped at Norfolk Island while travelling from Sydney to China to collect supplies. In high winds and rough waters HMS Sirius sank just off Slaughter Bay.
Inside what was once the chapel at the second settlement’s ruined prison is the HMS Sirius Museum, which tells the story of how the once mighty ship met its end at Norfolk Island.
On display are several items rescued from the wreck of the Sirius, including canons, one of its anchors, and even stones taken from the banks of the River Thames in London in 1782 that were used as the ship’s ballast.
- HMS Sirius Museum | 11:00am - 3:00pm daily - closed Sunday
Explore Quality Row
Set away from the prison and the shoreline is picturesque Quality Row, which features a collection of fine Georgian homes and military buildings that date from the second settlement.
The street was originally called Military Row until it was renamed by the Pitcairn Islanders after they arrived in 1856.
Though the barracks are not open to the public, a handful of the original buildings and homes on Quality Row are open to the public as part of the Norfolk Island Museum.
10 Quality Row
The houses on Quality Row were built during the second settlement for homes for military officers, engineers and members of the clergy.
Around half of the houses are still used as private residences today, but 10 Quality Row is open to the public.
The house highlights the disparity in living conditions of the prisoners and those who worked for the colony during Norfolk Island’s time as a penal settlement.
The dining and living rooms inside 10 Quality Row
10 Quality Row was built in 1844 and was lived in until 1985. The house was first occupied by Thomas Seller, the Foreman of the Works for the second settlement.
Later, the house was occupied by descendants of the Bounty mutineers following their arrival from Pitcairn Island.
As it retained many of the original features, 10 Quality Row was restored and remodelled to look as it would have when Thomas Seller lived here in the mid 19th century.
This beautiful Georgian bungalow, with a typically Aussie verandah, is laid out with furniture typical of the period, as well as ceramics discovered during archeological digs.
- 10 Quality Row | 11:00am - 3:00pm daily - closed Sunday
Commissariat Store
Constructed in 1835 during the island’s notorious Second Penal Settlement, the Commissariat Store’s primary purpose was to function as the military and government provisions store, responsible for procuring, storing, and distributing food and other essential supplies to the convicts, jailers, and civil and military personnel in the remote compound.
Today, the Commissariat Store’s upper floors are home to All Saints Church, which was converted in 1874 for use by the settlers from Pitcairn Island.
The basement level now serves as part of the Norfolk Island Museum, and contains a collection of historical artifacts related to the earlier Polynesian settlement and the brutal life endured by convicts on the island during the era of the penal colonies.
- Commissariat Store| 11:00am - 3:00pm daily - closed Sunday
Government House
Perhaps the most impressive building in Kingston is Government House, a grand Georgian mansion built in 1829 as the home for the Commandant of Norfolk Island. Today Government House serves as the official residence of the Administrator of Norfolk Island.
Government House is open to the public only a few times a year, allowing visitors to see the grandeur and elegant style of this early example of classic colonial architecture.
A tour of the house also allows visitors to see the luxury that Norfolk Island’s Commandant enjoyed while convicts lived a life of unimaginable misery in the jail just a stone’s throw away.
Today, visitors can see a large number of the rooms in Government House during the open days, which are laid out with plenty of period furniture and paintings and photos relevant to Norfolk Island’s history.
Local guides are also dotted around the house and happy to answer any questions.
Government House is open to the public around once a month – open days will be listed here when confirmed.
Entry costs AU$20 per person (children under 15 enter for free). All money raised is donated to local charities.
Norfolk Island Cemetery
Located at the end of Quality Row, overlooking the beautiful golden sands of Cemetery Bay, Norfolk Island Cemetery paints a vivid picture of the island’s varied history.
The collection of historic headstones at Norfolk Island Cemetery commemorate a diverse range of people, many of whose lives began on the other side of the globe, who all illustrate Norfolk Island’s fascinating past.
The gravestones of Steve and Daniel Reardon, children of convicts sent to Australia on the First Fleet, alongside the grave of Stephen Smith, an overseer in the jail during the second settlement who was murdered during the Cooking Pot Uprising.
Among those buried at Norfolk Island cemetery are people from both penal settlements, including convicts from the First Fleet, executed prisoners, and military and prison staff.
Also buried here are many of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers who were born on Pitcairn and died after relocating to Norfolk Island.
A guided tour of the cemetery is highly recommended. Led by an incredibly knowledgeable local guide, the excellent tours offer a much greater insight into the lives and times of those buried within the cemetery and further help to illustrate the remarkable history of Norfolk Island.
Kingston’s Beaches - Slaughter Bay, Emily Bay and Cemetery Bay
As well as its UNESCO approved history, Kingston can also proudly claim three gorgeous beaches.
Facing the ruins of the old prison is Slaughter Bay, the site of the sinking of the HMS Sirius and a beautiful spot with a sandy beach that is a great place to take a dip.
Just along the coast are the calm and crystal clear waters of Emily Bay, whose long, curved beach is a popular place to relax and catch some sun. Emily Bay is also one of the most popular places on Norfolk Island to snorkel.
There are several benches nearby with wonderful views of the bay which make an idyllic spot for a picnic.
Just beyond the golf course a little further around the coastline is beautiful Cemetery Bay, with its long and golden sandy beach and wilder waters that lap in from the east.
With three beautiful beaches lying so close to the former penal settlements, it’s easy to see why convicts called Norfolk Island “hell in paradise“.
The Outskirts of Kingston
There are several spots of interest that are also worth seeing around the edges of Kingston.
Be sure to stop and take in the views from the Queen Elizabeth Lookout, just above Quality Row on Rooty Hill Road.
From here there is a superb view of the whole of Kingston, Slaughter Bay, Norfolk Island Cemetery and out towards Philip Island, a view that has barely changed in over 200 years.
Just beyond the entrance to the cemetery at the far end of Quality Row is the Bloody Bridge.
This stone bridge dates from sometime in the early 1800s, and the exact reason about how it got its name is not known. Tales from the time suggest the name could have come following the execution of a soldier here by convicts but there is no solid evidence to confirm this.
At the opposite end of Kingston, on Country Road, keep an eye out for other abandoned relics of the island’s penal colony days, including the ruins of convict huts and the old watermill, which is now largely a sanctuary for geese.
Outside Kingston
There’s much more to Norfolk Island than just the remains of the second penal settlement. Here are the best things to do on Norfolk Island away from Kingston.
Explore Norfolk Island National Park
Norfolk Island National Park takes up a sizable chunk of the northern half of the island. Throughout the park you’ll find a range of hiking trails, lookouts and plenty of spectacular natural scenery.
Mount Pitt Lookout
Offering some of the finest views on the entire island is Mount Pitt Lookout, one of the highest points on Norfolk Island.
From the lookout there are 360 degree views right across the island’s treetops as well as across to Phillip Island and beyond out into the Pacific Ocean.
The Mount Pitt Lookout is also a wonderful spot to watch the sunset in the evening or to gaze at the star-filled sky after dark. An essential stop while on Norfolk Island, Mount Pitt Lookout is easily reached by car thanks to the road that leads directly to it.
Mount Bates
A relatively easy 500 metre hiking trail leads from the Mount Pitt Lookout to the summit of Mount Bates, from where there are more magnificent island and ocean views.
Keep an eye out for some of the exotic local birdlife, as the trail passes through a diverse mix of lush mountain greenery and flowers.
Hit Norfolk Island's Hiking Trails
Also inside Norfolk Island National Park are several hiking trails, including the Palm Glen Track which cuts through a section of forest filled with Norfolk Island ferns and views that peer out south across towards Phillip Island.
A more challenging hike along the Bridle Track curbs the northern coastline and eventually leads to the Captain Cook Lookout.
As its name suggests, this lookout marks the spot where Captain Cook came ashore when he discovered Norfolk Island in 1774.
The viewpoint at the Captain Cook Lookout offers wonderful views of the series of islets that pepper the island’s northern coastline. Captain Cook Lookout can also be reached by car via the newly sealed Duncombe Bay Road.
Norfolk Island Botanic Gardens
Just a few minutes drive from the town of Burnt Pine on the far southern tip of Norfolk Island National Park is the island’s Botanic Garden.
Norfolk Island’s Botanic Garden was founded by Pat Moore, who moved to the island from New Zealand in 1949. After buying a plot of land, she began planting a variety of trees and plants that are native to the island.
Norfolk Island’s Botanic Garden
Today the Botanic Garden covers over 5 hectares of land. There are several elevated walkways and paths that cut through the wild and rugged garden, as well as an excellent discovery centre that includes displays about the wide range of nature found on Norfolk Island.
The Botanic Garden is also one of the best places to try to spot the rare and very elusive Norfolk parakeet, a green parrot that is endemic to the island.
Anson Bay and Puppys Point
The east coast of Norfolk Island is lined with some of the island’s most beautiful spots.
Among them is the idyllic Anson Bay, the most famous beach on Norfolk Island. There is a fantastic view of the beach’s golden sands from above from the clifftop picnic benches just off Anson Bay Road.
Anson Bay beach can be reached by a wide but fairly steep and winding trail that hugs the east coast’s cliff.
It’s around a 10 minute walk to the beach, which can be a bit bumpy. The best way to enjoy Anson Bay beach’s soft sands and wild sea views are with a picnic.
A little further south along Anson Bay Road is Puppys Point, another glorious lookout high on the clifftops with phenomenal views over the east coast and out to sea.
With picnic benches and public loos, Puppys Point is a particularly popular spot for watching Norfolk Island’s magnificent sunsets.
St Barnabas Chapel
Outside of Kingston, St Barnabas Chapel is one of Norfolk Island’s most famous landmarks.
The distinctive gothic chapel was built in the 1870s for the Melanesian Mission, which was established to spread the word of Anglicanism to the region (despite Norfolk Island not actually being a part of the region of Melanesia).
St Barnabas Chapel’s interior is as striking and decorative as its exterior, with elements made from the finest local and imported materials.
Inside the chapel you can admire the two sets of beautiful stained glass windows, one above the chapel’s entrance and another over the altar.
Also incorporated into the chapel’s pews are decorative details made from mother of pearl, while a black and white marble floor lead to the altar.
Rocky Point Reserve and Moreton Bay Fig Trees
At the southern end of Norfolk Island’s east coast is the Rocky Point Reserve, a beautiful area of untouched nature.
A moderately easy hiking trail cuts through the reserve’s towering pine trees and to more sweeping views over the Pacific Ocean and across to Phillip Island. Be aware that the trail can get very muddy after wet weather.
Access to the trail through Rocky Point Reserve can be found on Headstone Road, directly opposite another of Norfolk Island’s most famous natural landmarks, a row of giant Moreton Bay fig trees.
The Moreton Bay fig trees’ thick trunks and huge, swirling roots are a phenomenal sight. Some of the trees are believed to be around two hundred years old.
Bumbora Beach
On the southern tip of the island is the small but beautiful Bumbora Beach.
The beach is reached by a short boardwalk at the bottom of Bumbora Road which passes through a pristine patch of pine trees before opening out onto the sand and the gorgeous surrounding bay.
Banana trees and surfers at Bumbora Beach
Bumbora Beach is one of the most popular surfing beaches on Norfolk Island, thanks to the breaking waves that peak just off the shore.
The beach is also the perfect place to relax and soak up the magnificent views of the bay. It’s a great spot to take young children too, with plenty of reefs and rockpools to explore.
Burnt Pine
Burnt Pine is the main town on Norfolk Island, a stone’s throw from the airport and home to the vast majority of the island’s shops, cafes, restaurants and essential services. The town also has several must-see sights.
Bounty Museum
Despite its name, the tale of the HMS Bounty makes up only a small part of fascinating collection at The Bounty Museum.
The Bounty Museum contains an enormous treasure trove of historical antiquities and fascinating artifacts that are connected to the whole history of Norfolk Island.
To really get a great understanding of Norfolk Island, a visit to the Bounty Museum is a must.
Memorabilia at the Norfolk Island Bounty Museum, including an original ball and chain worn by convicts during the penal settlement
Spread across several rooms, the museum features a vast and eclectic array of objects, many of which have been donated or discovered by people from the island.
These include materials and instruments dating back to both penal settlements, including a ball and chains that were worn by convict prisoners.
The museum also details the story of the mutiny of the Bounty in detail, and also uses a vast collection of memorabilia and antiquities to document the lives and times of the people who have lived on Norfolk Island since arriving from Pitcairn in the 19th century.
- The Bounty Museum | 10:00am - 4:00pm daily
Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorama
Another unmissable attraction in Burnt Pine is Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorama. The beautifully hand painted cyclorama brings to life the drama of the mutiny on the HMS Bounty, as well as its initial journey from the UK, and its arrival in the Pitcairn Islands via Tahiti.
The cyclorama depicts the key stages of the Bounty’s story, from setting off on its initial voyage from the UK in 1787 to its ultimate destruction in Pitcairn three years later.
The incredibly realistic painted scenes also show how the crew’s brief settlement into a very good life in Tahiti before reluctantly returning to sea lead to the mutiny that the Bounty is now synonymous with.
- The Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorama | 10:00am - 3:00pm - closed Thursdays
The Pitcairn Settlers Story
The Pitcairn Settlers Story is a fascinating insight into life for the Bounty mutineers’ descendants once they arrived on Norfolk Island in 1856.
The museum is located inside a Pitcairn settler’s family homestead that has remained in the same family since it was built in 1879.
The Pitcairn Settlers Story centres around the beautifully preserved Bailey homestead, which includes a barn, a dairy, and a blacksmith forge, believed to be the oldest working forge in the Pacific.
The guided tours of the homestead highlight the resourcefulness as well as the difficulties faced by the settlers from Pitcairn, while highlighting the unique culture they developed on Norfolk Island.
Part of the tour also includes a ride on board a lovingly restored 1928 Model A Ford truck, the island’s first-ever tour bus.
- The Pitcairn Settlers Story | 9:30am - 12:00pm & 1:30 - 4:00pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
Pick Up Souvenirs and Treats at the Sunday Market
If you’re on Norfolk Island on a weekend do not miss the Sunday Market.
Held every weekend from 8:30am to 11:00am, the Sunday Market features a variety of stalls that offer all kinds of locally made goods, such as jewellery, art and crafts, plus a very tempting range of home-made sweet treats.
Jewellery and sweet treats on sale at Norfolk Island’s Sunday Market
The market is held every weekend come rain or shine around the Visitor Centre, and you can also find a good selection of hot snacks and freshly brewed coffee.
There is also a small farmers market held in the same spot every Saturday from 7:00am until around 11:00am where you’ll find the freshest island-grown fruits and vegetables, alongside freshly baked bread and artisan cheeses.
Visiting Norfolk Island - Practical and Planning Advice
How to Get to Norfolk Island
There are three direct flights to Norfolk Island from Sydney and Brisbane in Australia. Flights from Sydney and Brisbane take around two hours.
Flights to and from Norfolk Island and Sydney depart on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Flights between Norfolk Island and Brisbane operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Where to Stay on Norfolk Island
There is a wide range of places to stay on Norfolk Island, the majority of which being self-contained apartments and holiday homes.
The majority of options are based around Burnt Pine, but if you’re after something a bit more secluded then there are places to stay dotted all over the island.
You can search for a range of accommodation on Norfolk Island here.
If you need a little help on deciding where to stay on Norfolk Island, here are a few places that we recommend:
- Aloha Apartments – Located in the heart of Burnt Pine, Aloha Apartments offers a range of modern and well presented self-contained apartments that are ideal for solo travellers, couples, families or larger groups. Within walking distance of the town’s shops, cafes and bars, Aloha Apartments also has an outdoor pool, a kids playground and a barbeque area.
- Daydreamer Apartments – Only a couple of minutes drive from the airport, Daydreamer Apartments has a choice of extremely comfortable one and two-bedroomed apartments that make the perfect home from home on Norfolk Island.
- Shearwater Scenic Villas – Shearwater Scenic Villas is a great option for those looking for a luxurious and secluded stay on Norfolk Island. As well as the choice of gorgeous villas, Shearwater Scenic Villas also enjoys glorious views of Kingston’s World Heritage Site and Bumbora beach.
Where to Eat on Norfolk Island
Here are the best cafes to grab breakfast or brunch on Norfolk Island.
- The Olive – Situated just off Burnt Pine’s main street, The Olive specialises in modern takes on typical Aussie cafe classics, sweet treats and excellent coffee.
- The Golden Orb – Hidden away at the end of a tree-lined path, the spacious Golden Orb is a great spot for brunch or a slightly larger lunch. Open from 7.00am – closed Sunday to Tuesday.
- The Helm Cafe – With its sleek modern decor, the Helm Cafe specialises in fantastic coffee as well as a good menu of healthy main meals. Open 7 days a week from 7:00am
And these are the best restaurants on Norfolk Island.
- The Homestead Restaurant – For a truly exceptional meal in a gorgeous setting, book a table at the Homestead Restaurant, located opposite the island’s famous Moreton Bay fig trees.
- Bounty Bar and Grill – Head to the Bounty Bar and Grill for a welcoming atmosphere, excellent service, and a great selection of main dishes – the steaks are highly recommended.
- Salty Beer Garden – The chilled out Salty Beer Garden has a varied and reasonably-priced menu that has something for everyone. There’s also live music every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
- The Bowlo Bistro – No Aussie town is complete without a bowlo, and Burnt Pine is no different. The social heart of the island, the Bowlo Bistro is incredibly popular thanks to its great menu of belly-busting mains and tantalising desserts.
- Reef Takeaway – If you’re craving a classic fish supper to takeaway, call in to the Reef, Norfolk Island’s only fish and chip shop. The fact that it’s practically heaving as soon as it opens is a sign of how good the food is.
How to Get Around Norfolk Island
As there is no public transport on the island the best way to explore Norfolk Island is by hiring a car.
There are several car hire companies based on the island, most of which are located in Burnt Pine. These include Car Beat Et (who we used), NIHH Hire Cars, Aloha Rent a Car and Simons Water Rental Cars.
If you book a car to hire before arriving on Norfolk Island, the rental company will typically have it ready and waiting for you at the airport when you land.
When you fly out of Norfolk Island you’ll most likely be asked to return the car at the airport.
Driving on Norfolk Island
Driving on Norfolk Island is not without its quirks. Almost all of the roads outside of the main streets of Burnt Pine are plagued with pot holes which means driving with care is required.
Norfolk Island’s free-roaming cows are also a hazard, particularly after dark. If you’re driving on Norfolk Island at night always pay attention as cows do wander across roads and there is very little street lighting outside of Burnt Pine.
There are three petrol stations on Norfolk Island, all located on Taylors Road in the centre of Burnt Pine – Central Service Station, Cascade Motors and Paw Paws Pump Shed.
Though it’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever get close to running out of fuel, you will need to return your hire car with a full tank of petrol.
Norfolk Island tour companies
If you don’t want to drive then there are a number of tour companies based on Norfolk Island that provide a range of packages for seeing the island.
Among the most popular tour operators on Norfolk Island are Baunti Tours, Pinetree Tours and Norfolk Island Travel Centre.
Mobile Phone Signal on Norfolk Island
At present, Norfolk Island is not covered by Australia’s mobile phone network. This means that none of Australia’s main mobile network operators (such as Telstra or Optus) provide any signal on Norfolk Island.
E-sims that cover Australia (from the likes of Airolo or Holafly) are also unable to offer mobile phone signal on the island.
If you do need to make calls or mobile data then you’ll have to buy a local SIM card operated by Norfolk Telecom whilst on Norfolk Island. These can be bought from various locations in Burnt Pine, including the Norfolk Island Visitors Information Centre in Bounty Square.
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I’m James, the founder, editor, writer and photographer at Where You’re Between.
Currently based in Japan, I started Where You’re Between in 2017 to create detailed itineraries and in-depth travel guides for the places that I’m fortunate enough to visit. You can see all of our destinations here.
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