NORFOLK ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS
- A morning discovery orientation tour across the island
- Colleen McCullough's Home visit & tour (not included with December 2021 itinerary)
- Taste of Norfolk tour
- Visit three family homes for a progressive dinner, hearing stories from descendants of the original island families
- A morning and afternoon tour of historic Kingston, including museum visits
- Commandants dinner and show evening
- A morning bush walk with a barbeque breakfast
- An island Fish Fry
- Gardener’s Delight tour
- Local dining including a highlight dinner at one of the island’s best local restaurants
- Return home with a full appreciation of this unique island with its own language and profound history
- Hear stories from real bounty mutineer descendants
- Free time to wander the local area and main town street, and other local discoveries
SAMPLE ITINERARY
This is an indicative itinerary. The days or timing for excursions conducted may vary for your tour but the same inclusions will be included (unless for reasons out of our control). The final itinerary for each departure is issued with documentation.
DIRECT FLIGHTS TO/FROM BRISBANE
The itinerary connects with the Air New Zealand direct flight to/from Sydney. If opting for the direct flight, Brisbane to Norfolk Island additional nights of stay pre and post tour dates are required.. Additional accommodation cost applies.
DAY 1
Arrive Norfolk Island | ex Sydney
Flights from Sydney arrive in the afternoon. The rest of your day is at leisure. At the end of the day our on-island representative will meet the group at the hotel for an introduction and group briefing. Dinner tonight is in house for relaxed evening before touring the island starts tomorrow.
Meals: Dinner
FREE TIME EXTRAS:
You may like to take the opportunity to visit the nearby Cyclorama; see the island’s story and cast your eye over the local shop where you arrange entry to see Cyclorama (small entry fee applies).
DAY 2
Discover Norfolk
Morning Tour: Discover Our World Tour
The Discover our World Tour is an introductory tour to Norfolk Island. In other words, its best taken early in a Norfolk Island holiday. Informative local guides will take you on an Island wide route covering the main points of interest. They’ll briefly commentate on the early island and peoples’ history as well as the current day environment. Refreshments are provided.
A group dinner will follow with your fellow solo travellers at one of the islands best local restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3
Colleen McCullough Home. Taste of Norfolk
Morning Visit: Colleen McCullough Home
The Colleen McCullough Tour gives you a glimpse into the life of this modern-day literary icon. The world-renowned author called Norfolk Island home for almost 36 years. She and husband, maintained their privacy to ensure Colleen had the perfect environment for her writing. And it worked, she created some of her most powerful titles in their little sanctuary. Her beloved property “Out Yenna” is now open exclusively to Baunti Tours customers. Colleen authored some 24 books during her lifetime. Some of the more noteworthy, for instance, include “Tim”, “The Thornbirds” and “Morgan’s Run”. So, if you have read her amazing books, you will love the experience of sharing her world on the Colleen McCullough Tour.
Exclusion Note December 2021 tour: The Colleen McCullough Home tour is not included with the December 2021 tour. This due to there being a public holiday for New Year’s Day and it effects the scheduling of the program.
Afternoon Tour: Taste of Norfolk Tour
[Brisbane flights arrivals do not meet this tour. Arrivals to island day prior required]
Taste of Norfolk will take you to a beekeeper’s home where you will view flow hives. Here you’ll learn about the fascinating local honeybees and view their incredible flight path to their hives. Next stop a local farm and the last visit will be a cooking demonstration. Here you will create green banana fritters flavoured with local honey, sit back and relax and enjoy. Today, enjoy meeting some of the passionate locals.
Progressive Dinner
The Progressive Dinner is legendary, and a fixture on Norfolk Island itineraries. So, it’s the perfect way to get a taste of the real Norfolk lifestyle. The progressive dinner, takes you to three lovely homes in three completely different parts of the island. Firstly we take you to the northern tip of the island to enjoy predinner nibbles at a clifftop home with amazing ocean views. Your host, a Bounty mutineer descendant, will entertain you with his story of life on Norfolk and his fascinating adventures. Entrée is served at an old family Island home renovated by its current owner for her young family. As you enjoy her home cooked ‘wettles’ (food), she will tell you about her family and share her detailed research into the island’s remarkable history and cultural heritage. Finally, at a large family home in the south-east corner of Norfolk is your main course and dessert. While your hosts serve your meal and make you comfortable, a close family friend and local identity will reveal some of his island experiences and tell you about some of the historical Norfolk practices and industries. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the home-cooked food, bursting with the goodness of fresh island produce. Chat with your fellow diners and soak up the stories of your island hosts. They’ll share their passion for their little island paradise.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4
Discovery Tour. Convict Tour. Dinner & Show.
Morning Tour: Convict Kingston Tour
On the Convict Kingston Tour you’ll learn about World Heritage Listed Kingston. You’ll hear about our first settlers, the Polynesians who came 900 years ago. And gain an insight into our first and second settlements as well as the facts and legends associated with each. After that you’ll learn how Norfolk became home to the descendants of the infamous Bounty mutiny. Walk through the historic cemetery. Refreshments provided.
Some downtime and time to refresh before an evening out.
Afternoon Visit: Norfolk Island Museums
Located in four of Kingston’s World Heritage buildings, visiting three Museums and the restored home at number #10 helps you discover the turbulent past and today’s living culture. A Museum Pass lets you explore at your own pace with multiple entries and guided tours.
Evening: Commandants Dinner and Show
The Commandants Dinner and Show is a night of great entertainment, delectable food and loads of fun. This factual yet fun dinner theater is Norfolk Island’s newest interactive show and a great way to learn about Norfolk’s history. The cast of actors will take you on an entertaining journey back in time. The Commandant’s stories about the notorious Convict Settlements on Norfolk Island will have you enthralled. During the evening, hear how the convicts were treated by sadists and reformers alike. Listen to a chilling recall of one of the infamous rebellions. Then marvel at how the Commandants and their families adapted to life in a Norfolk Island penal colony, recreating a little piece of England in the Pacific. Explore their great challenges, impressive successes and shameful secrets. The venue, has created a special three course dinner menu of traditional English fare to compliment the theatrical setting. Hearty, wholesome, British tucker fit for a Commandant and his good lady wife – fortunately prepared by free men in a modern kitchen not a poor convict over a wood stove!
After Dinner: Lantern Lit Ghost Tour
Real ghost stories and real hauntings… Something is out there. As the night sets in and the long shadows fall, come and take a lantern lit ride to the other side. Step thought the veil into the worst of all possible worlds. Explore the crooked, cobbled nether world of Norfolk Island’s dark and troubled past. We’ll visit real haunted sites and hear real ghost stories which have for generations lain forgotten and abandoned until now.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (with show)
DAY 5
Bushwalk. Settlers Village. Island Fish Feast
Morning: Breakfast Bushwalk
This morning we take a breakfast bushwalk. The walk caters for varied fitness levels with a barbeque breakfast waiting at the end. The Breakfast Bushwalk is a relaxed ramble through the National Park. You’ll walk along the Bridle Track which runs from Red Road to Captain Cook’s Memorial. Your local guide can help you identify local grasses, ferns, shrubs and trees as well as bird species. For those that want to sleep in or the walk does not suit we can arrange a pick up a bit later to join the walkers for the BBQ breakfast. Walkers depart 7:30am
Returning from your walk, the rest of the morning is at your leisure until your afternoon tour.
AFTERNOON: Pitcairn Settlers Village
Visit the Pitcairn Settlers Village. Here you’ll experience the proud history of the Pitcairn Island Settlers. Your guided tour will take you through the gracious original Bailey homestead & gardens. Then on to a stroll through the barn, dairy and out-buildings. Wander through the Museum filled with items of nostalgic and historic interest. See the oldest working forge in the Pacific. After that there’s an Ex New Zealand Army hut, with war-time memorabilia. And finally, there’s an exclusive film of Norfolk Island interest and complimentary refreshments.
Early Evening: Island Fish Feast
You will have an eagle-eyed view of the tiny crescent-shaped beach and the magnificent spread of ocean stretching to the far horizon. The beautifully set tables will delight you – it’s the most glamorous picnic you will ever attend! Scrumptiously fresh, local fish is prepared the local way and accompanied with a range of seasonal island dishes including those passed down from Polynesian fore-mothers. This extends even to dessert. The feast kicks off with entertainment, by a local singer and Tahitian-style dancers.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6
Gardeners Tour.
MORNING: Gardeners Delight Tour
Visit the gardens of Bounty Mutineer Descendants. This tour takes you on a journey behind the scenes to experience a market garden complete with a flower garden and an orchard. Secondly, visit a secluded old Island home surrounded by the most amazing gardens. A convict era, hand dug well irrigates these gardens. The next stop is the labour of love garden which is inspirational. Finally, you will also visit the picturesque gardens with amazing views. In addition, morning tea will be served at scenic location. The Gardeners Delight tour visits four amazing gardens, and these gardens have been well received by gardening Australia.
An afternoon at your leisure. Tonight, a farewell group dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7
Depart Norfolk Island | to Sydney
Your beautiful discovery of this special island will come to an end after breakfast. There is the option to extend your stay at the time of booking your place on the tour.
Meals: Breakfast
POST TOUR - DAY 8
Depart Norfolk Island | to Brisbane
For Brisbane travellers - depart today for the direct flight Norfolk Island to Brisbane (cost of additional night of stay day 7 applies)
Meals: Breakfast
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
