Norfolk Island is a travel destination in Australia and New Zealand. Its capital is Kingston. October and November are its two best months to visit, ranked on 1991–2020 climate averages.
Top places to visit in Norfolk Island
Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area (landmark) — UNESCO World Heritage Site — the early penal settlement buildings, convict barracks, guards' quarters, and commissariat stores are among the best-preserved examples of 19th-century British colonial architecture in the Pacific; set on a grassy headland above quality surfing and reef diving.
Norfolk Island National Park (natural) — Subtropical rainforest covering a third of the island — towering Norfolk Island pines overhang fern gullies with resident green parrots, boobook owls, and scarlet robins found nowhere else on Earth; marked trails weave past volcanic basalt outcrops.
Emily Bay (natural) — Sheltered lagoon protected by a reef — the warmest and calmest swimming water in the island's territorial sea; the glassy lagoon is a favourite of sea turtles, rays, and families seeking safe snorkelling in crystal-clear water.
Cemetery Bay (Puppy's Point) (natural) — Dramatic clifftop viewpoint above a rocky cove — grey terns wheel overhead, humpback whales are often spotted offshore in winter, and the headland walk through coastal scrub passes one of Norfolk's most photogenic sections of sea-cliff.
Bounty descendants & Pitcairn Culture (landmark) — Norfolk's most extraordinary heritage — 194 descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and Tahitian women relocated here from overcrowded Pitcairn in 1856; their unique Norf'k language and continued Bounty traditions are celebrated at the Cyclorama shows and family open days.
Anson Bay Lookout (natural) — Wild west-coast viewpoint above a boulder beach pounded by open Pacific swell — the volcanic basalt sea stacks, crashing surf, and unobstructed horizon make this Norfolk's most dramatic coastal panorama, best at sunset.
Bloody Bridge (landmark) — A small stone convict-era arch bridge over a tidal gully — local legend holds the mortar was mixed with blood of convict workers; the sheltered beach below is excellent for beginner snorkelling and fossil-hunting on the reef flat.
Burnt Pine (Town Centre) (city) — Norfolk's compact commercial hub — the island's only town with a supermarket, bakeries, and the unique duty-free shops catering to the twice-weekly aircraft arrivals; the weekly craft market is the best place to find Bounty-inspired artwork and woven pandanus goods.
Mount Bates (319 m) (natural) — Highest point on Norfolk Island — the forested summit rewards a short hike with sweeping 360° views of the island's farmland, deep valleys, and the surrounding expanse of Tasman Sea; especially dramatic at dawn with low cloud in the valleys.
Whale & Dolphin Watching (natural) — Norfolk's waters host humpback whales on their northern migration May–October, spinner dolphin pods riding bow waves year-round, and occasional orcas; small-boat operators offer close-approach encounters in one of the South Pacific's least-trafficked whale corridors.