Discover Norfolk Island

From the terrace of my apartment above Kingston on Norfolk Island I can clearly see Norfolk’s smaller cousin, Phillip Island. My intended plan to trek to its peak, on the other hand, is fading from view – as Cyclone Winston, sitting 1600 kilometres north east, has left the sea way too big for my tiny transport to leave harbour. As for my plan to kayak around Norfolk . . .

Thankfully, Norfolk’s charms are many – and on an island of just 35 square kilometres, handily nearby. Time to start exploring.

 
Hit The Beach

Your legs will enjoy a solid workout on the steep cliffside path that leads down to (and, of course, up from) pristine Anson Bay. But the exertion will be worth it – there’s every chance you’ll be rewarded with Castaway levels of solitude to enjoy one of Norfolk’s most spectacular beaches. And if you’re willing to cart your surfboard down, your reward will come in the form of outstanding, uncrowded wave action.

Dive In

With its sweeping arc of golden sand backed by stands of gloriously green Norfolk pines and glimpses of Kingston’s historic colonial architecture, it’s easy to see why Emily Bay has been voted one of Australia’s top 100 beaches. And it’s more than just a pretty face: a coral reef protects it from the Pacific Ocean – even one at the mercy of a cyclone – and its warm, calm, sealife-filled waters make me very glad I packed my snorkel.

Take In The View

The cliff-top walk that begins at the Captain Cook Lookout in lush, green Norfolk Island National Park packs enough jaw-dropping vistas to more than compensate for its lung-busting, quads-testing dips and climbs. And again there’s every chance you’ll have the scenery to yourself, save for the hundreds of seabirds swooping and soaring overhead. Local tip: keep an eye out for the Norfolk Island parakeet and the white-chested
white-eye, found only on the island.

Fill Your Belly

Paddock-to-plate eating may sometimes be not much more than a hipster fad on mainland Australia; on Norfolk, with its boat-delivered supplies at the mercy of the sea state, it’s a way of life. Head to the award-winning Dino’s at Bumboras for local seafood and meat, all served with fresh produce from chef Dino’s garden. Or get your protein hit courtesy of the local Norfolk Blue beef at Hilli Restaurant.

At The Hilli Goat farm, owner Emily Ryves will introduce you to her free-roaming goats, then feed you the very freshest goats’ milk cheese. Head on over to Steeles Point to wash it all down with a chardonnay, semillion, verdelho, merlot or chambourcin from Two Chimneys Wines, Norfolk’s only winery and cellar door. And if you want to fend for yourself, pay a visit to the weekly farmer’s market at the Bicentennial Complex in Burnt Pine or fill up from the dozens of honesty boxes showcasing local produce that you’ll find dotted all over the island.