Savour luxurious sleep-ins, late breakfasts and lingering lunches, and don’t neglect romantic gourmet dinners at the many fine dining restaurants. Gather up all sorts of low-tax shopping bargains and immerse yourself in the island’s numerous annual events and festivals.Whatever your pleasure, you’ll find Norfolk’s laid back lifestyle completely infectious.  Come for a holiday and in no time you’ll feel like a part of the place yourself.  Norfolk Island is undoubtedly the South Pacific’s best kept secret.

THE PAST:
Discovered by Captain James Cook in 1774 and described as "paradise", it was claimed by him for Great Britain and named in honour of the Duchess of Norfolk.  Cook's crew was struck by the island's beauty and the abundance of pine trees.  Since then the island has seen two penal settlements come and go, the second of which was the most brutal ever established by Britain.  The last convict settlement was closed in 1855 and in June of 1856 the descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives arrived from Pitcairn island.  During the nineteenth century a further influx of immigrants arrived on Norfolk - American whalers - who add their own cultural perspective to Norfolk's interesting past.

THE PRESENT: 
Norfolk is an external territory under the authority of Australia, but with it's own Legislative Assembly, Police, Customs, Immigration  and Quarantine.  There is no stress, traffic problems, unemployment or income tax.  For visitors, Norfolk offers an enticing mix of old world charm, spectacular scenery and a host of activites - plus a warm welcome from the locals in their unique language - a mix of old English and Tahitian.

LOCATION:
Norfolk Island is 1610 km from Sydney and 1456 km from Brisbane, 1075 km from Auckland and 772km from Noumea. Norfolk island is 1.5 hours ahead of Australian EST.

CLIMATE:
Subtropical.  Lovely summer days with an avearge temperature of 26 degrees.  Idyllic days mid winter with temperatures ranging from 12 degrees at night to 19-21 degrees during the day.

CURRENCY:
The currency is the Australian Dollar.  The Commonwealth and Westpac Banks have branches on the island. 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Australian citizens require a valid passport to travel to Norfolk island.  The departure fee is AUD$30 which is payable at Norfolk island airport on day of departure.

TRANSPORT:
There is no public transport on Norfolk Island.  Car Hire is recommended.

HEALTH:
Norfolk Island is NOT covered by medicare.  Please arrange suitable travel insurance.