More than 3,000km from the mainland, lined with endemic pine trees and with a fiercely proud community of locals, Norfolk Island is undoubtedly one of Australia’s best-kept secrets. From the unique culture inspired by Tahitian, mutineer and British colonial beginnings to the burgeoning food scene that will keep even the most enthusiastic gourmands happy, this idyllic island getaway will keep you entertained, having fun and wanting more.
Norfolk Island may look like a tropical island paradise now, but following its colonisation by the British in 1788 the island was a very different place for the convicts that called the island home. The worst offenders from every jail in new South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land were sent to Norfolk Island and put to work on the roads, bridges and the elegant Georgian heritage-listed buildings that still line the streets of Kingston today.
Be sure to visit the Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area during your visit. There are more than 40 buildings here including archaeological ruins and buildings, all built by local convicts. But it’s not just the British who settled on Norfolk Island, the seafaring folk from Polynesia considered Norfolk Island a great stopping point during their voyages, and artefacts and remains thought to be from the period between 800 and 1400 AD suggest that Polynesians settled on the island, too.
Being more than 3,000km from the mainland, it’s no wonder the people of Norfolk Island are a self-sufficient bunch, but they have turned their resourcefulness into a thriving food scene that would make any gourmand weak at the knees. Thanksgiving is big on the island due to the large American population that migrated to the island in the 1800s and most of the produce eaten on the island is grown on the land, so it’s as fresh and healthy as it can get.
There are more than 25 restaurants, cafes and take-out options to choose from on the island and they specialise in anything from a traditional Tahitian seafood feasts from Bedrock Boutique Fish Feast to delicioius homemade pizzas. But if you’re looking to really get to know the local produce and producers, stop by the Christian Brothers Cheese Company, where siblings Glen and John make a delicious range of cheeses.
Lieutenant Fletcher Christian along with 18 Tahitians and eight mutineers left Captain Bligh and his crew in 1790 and made Pitcairn Island their home. The island remained largely undisturbed by outsiders until 1825 when the community made a request to the Queen of England to relocate their 194-strong settlement. Norfolk Island was eventually offered as an alternative and became the Pitcairn Island population’s new home.
Norfolk Island’s population today is made up of the Pitcainer’s descendants and they are a fiercely proud bunch. Almost half of the Island’s residents can trace their ancestry back to Fletcher Christian and his Pitcairn Island community. Each year for more than 160 years, the island has come together to celebrate the anniversary of their ancestors’ arrival. Celebrated each year on June 8, Bounty Day is a testament to the rich sense of pride the community continues to have. The celebration includes a reenactment of the event, a parade, singing, a community picnic with traditional foods and a wreath laying ceremony.
Norfolk Island was once a self-governing territory until the Australian parliament made the bipartisan decision to bring the autonomous rule to an end, something the locals have been petitioning against since it was instated in 2015.
The unique cultural nuances are many and extend right through to the local language. It’s called Norfulk and is a mix of Deutsch, 18th-century English and Tahitian. Other customs that can be experienced on the island include stone cutting, rope making and shingle splitting. Oh, and if you’re driving around the island, it’s worth noting that cows have right of way.
Unsurprisingly, the natural landscapes on this remote Pacific Island are unique and it is as clean as it is beautiful. It’s no wonder the locals have kept it a secret for so long. The Norfolk Island territory flag features the pine tree, which is endemic to the region and can be spotted throughout the island.
There is a sense of appreciation for the land here and that is reflected in the hotel and accommodation options on offer, including the sustainable Governor’s Lodge Resort, perfect for the environmentally conscioius traveller. The resort is dotted with beautiful Norfolk pines and the chirping of playful blackbirds is the only sound you’ll hear.