10 things you must experience while on Norfolk Island

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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There’s something special about Norfolk Island. This paradise has a unique appeal that draws visitors again and again. Here are 10 things on Norfolk Island you must experience.

1. Discover convict history

The convict settlement site located at Kingston is World Heritage listed and the oldest of Australia’s 11 convict sites. There are four museums depicting the four layers of the island’s history.

2. Hire a mini-moke

Have fun driving around the island taking in the beautiful scenery. Practise the Norfolk wave as you pass vehicles and give way to the roaming cows and chooks!

3. Get twitching

Norfolk Island is the home of five birds that are endemic to the island: the green parrot, the boobook owl, the grey gerygone, the Pacific robin and the slender-billed silver eye. You may spot one
of these birds whilst bushwalking in the parks and reserves.

4. Experience authentic paddock-to-plate

There’s no food miles here; rather food metres with most things grown on the island. Enjoy fresh in-season fruit and vegetables, indulge in local cheeses, wines, coffee and honey. Taste Norfolk Island Food Festival is held in November and incorporates Thanksgiving Day, a legacy left by American whalers during the 1960s.

5. Visit ‘Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorama’

The cyclorama is a 360-degree painting created by local artists Sue Draper and Tracey Yager depicting the Mutiny on the Bounty story and the descendants settling on Norfolk Island in 1856.

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6. Take a lagoon dip

Emily Bay has a safe beach with surrounding reef, teeming with amazing fish life and corals. It’s perfect for snorkelling.

7. Play a round of golf

Near the seaside at Kingston, this will probably be the cheapest week of golf you’ll ever play. The golf club and pro shop are located in an historical convict building.

8. Capture the moment

Norfolk Island is a photographer’s paradise, with a rugged coastline, the majestic Norfolk pinetrees and more than 30 per cent of the island being national parks and public reserves.

9. Watch the sun rise and set

Witness the best sunsets and sunrises at one of the cliff top vantage points.

10. Immerse yourself in culture

The Norfolk Islanders inherited from their Tahitian foremothers the art of island cooking and weaving. You can see demonstrations on an island culture tour. You might also hear the local language – “Watawieh" means hello.

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A must-visit list of Victoria’s most iconic spots

    Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
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    From natural wonders to historical sites, we’ve rounded up Victoria’s most epic icons that deserve a place on your itinerary.

    Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

    Mount William peak in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park
    Mount William is the highest peak in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. (Image: Matt Donovan)

    From towering mountains to crystal cascades and ancient rock art sites, the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is a playground for both outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. Don’t miss the views from the highest peak Mount William or the iconic Pinnacle.

    Murray River

    A paddle steamer down the Murray in Echuca
    The wonders of the Murray are best experienced on board a paddle steamer. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    A natural icon of majestic proportions, the Murray River flows for a staggering 2700 kilometres, making it one of the world’s longest navigable rivers. Meandering through Victoria before flowing out to sea at Goolwa in South Australia, the river is home to diverse wildlife, picturesque towns and secluded creeks and beaches.

    Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell

    the Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road
    The Twelve Apostles are a star attraction on the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    These limestone sea stacks are arguably Victoria’s most famous icon. After an $8-million upgrade to its lookout, The Blowhole near Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool (meaning breath of the whale) has recently reopened. A brand-new Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, complete with rooftop lookout, will open in 2026.

    You Yangs, Geelong

    kangaroos in You Yangs
    Kangaroos enjoy dusk in the You Yangs. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Rising 300-plus metres from the flat volcanic plains between Melbourne/Naarm and Geelong, the You Yangs are massive granite boulders named for the local Wadawurrung word ‘Youang’, meaning ‘big hills’. Hiking, biking, rock climbing and horse-riding are popular within this regional park.

    Redwood Forest, Yarra Valley

    Redwood Forest, Yarra Valley
    Yarra Valley’s soaring Redwood Forest. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Near the town of Warburton, an extraordinary forest of some 1500 Californian Redwoods stands among native orchids, eucalypt trees and rich birdlife. Planted in the 1930s, these 55-metre-plus trees can live for 2000 years and will grow to be some of the world’s tallest.

    Wilsons Promontory, Gippsland

    the Wilsons Promontory
    Wilsons Promontory is home to the incredible Skull Rock formation. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The Prom, as it’s known locally, is the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. This 50,000-hectare reserve comprises granite mountains and forest, fringed by sandy beaches and surrounded by a marine park rich in marine biodiversity. It’s also home to the incredible and imposing Skull Rock formation.

    Hanging Rock Reserve, Macedon Ranges

    the Hanging Rock Reserve, Macedon Ranges
    Enigmatic Hanging Rock. (Image: Visit Victoria/ Rob Blackburn)

    This six-million-year-old volcanic rock was thrown into the national spotlight thanks to the 1967 novel and consequent 1975 film based on the fictional disappearance of schoolgirls in 1901. Mystery aside, visitors can walk the steep 105-metre summit, fish for trout and go twitching.

    Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

    exploring Sovereign Hill
    Step back in time at Sovereign Hill. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Cry ‘eureka!’ at Sovereign Hill, a living museum to the prosperous Gold Rush era of the 1850s, during which Ballarat produced the most gold in the world. Visitors to this much-loved attraction can walk historic  streets, enter a gold mine and try panning for the good stuff, too.

    The Great Stupa, Bendigo

    Great Stupa, Bendigo
    The Great Stupa in Bendigo. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Who’d have thought the largest Buddhist temple in the Western world would be tucked away in Bendigo’s bushland? Welcoming visitors to explore, this sacred Buddhist pagoda is an epicentre for Tibetan culture, architecture, art and interfaith harmony.

    Cape Schanck Lighthouse, Mornington Peninsula

    the Cape Schanck Lighthouse from above
    Heritage-listed Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    Ensuring the safe passage of ships in the notoriously treacherous Bass Strait since 1859, this heritage-listed lighthouse overlooks dramatic volcanic coast and wild beaches. The surrounding reserve is home to a plethora of wildlife including little penguins, seals and echidnas.