Norfolk Island Travel Guide
Norfolk Island Travel Guide
The Norfolk Island is located in the Pacific and is part of Australia. In the north of the Norfolk Island is New Caledonia, in the west Australia (about 1,500 kilometers away) and in the south New Zealand. Most of the island is surrounded by cliffs, the only exception being the south with the capital Kingston. The highest peaks are the two volcanic peaks Bates (318 m) and Pitt (316 m). In addition to the main island, the Norfolk Island also includes the small, uninhabited islands of Nepean and Philip. All three islands were created by volcanic activity.
Tourism is the most important economic sector on the Norfolk Island. The most popular attractions include the former convict settlement in Kingston and the nature reserves that cover about a quarter of the island (including a bird sanctuary on Philip Island). A limit on the maximum number of visitors has been set on the Norfolk Island so that you never run into tourist crowds. You can only get to the island by plane, as there are no major ports. Smaller jetties can only be found in Kingston and Cascade.
Every year on March 6th, Norfolk Island celebrates the founding day with a huge festival. On this day in 1788, the first convict boats landed on Norfolk Island.
The national holiday, known as Bounty Day, is celebrated on June 8th. The former residents of Pitcairn Island reached Norfolk Island on June 8, 1856. Of course there is also a big festival on this day. In addition, numerous public holidays in the English and Australian calendars are also observed.
One of the highlights when visiting Norfolk Island is the Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorame, a realistic circular painting. Here the famous story of the world famous Bounty Mutiny is presented. Some islanders were also involved at the time. This is taken up scenically in the painting. Even the Norfolk Iceland National Park should not be missed.
Norfolk Island – key data
Area: 36 km²
Population: 2,169 residents (July 2011 estimate, CIA). Descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australians, New Zealanders and Polynesians.
Population density: 60 residents per km²
Population growth: 0.006% per year (2011, CIA)
Capital: Kingston (de jure, the de facto capital and largest settlement of the Norfolk Island is Burnt Pine)
Highest point: Mount Bates, 319 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean, 0 m
Form of government: Norfolk Island is an Australian island, the island is administered by the Australian Ministry of the Environment, Sports and Territories. The Norfolk Island Act of 1979 is considered a constitution, here the Norfolk Island is granted a certain degree of independence internally.
Head of State: British Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6, 1952), represented on Norfolk Island by Administrator Neil Pope (since April 1, 20012)
Head of Government: Chief Minister Lisle Denis Snell, since March 20, 2013
Language: The official languages on Norfolk Island are English and Norfuk (similar to Pitcairn English)
Religion: Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christians 5.6%, no religion 19.9%, no information 16.6% (2006 census)
Local time: CET + 10½ hrs.
There is no change between summer and winter time on Norfolk Island.
The time difference to Central Europe is + 10½ h in winter and + 9½ h in summer.
International phone code: + 6723
Internet code:.nf Mains
voltage: 220/240 V, 50 Hz
Norfolk Island
The Norfolk Island, which is part of Australian territory, is located in the southern Pacific Ocean, outside the tropical zone. The distance from this island to Auckland in New Zealand is only around 1,000 kilometers and to the Australian continent around 1,500 kilometers. In addition to New Zealand in the south and Australia in the west, the New Caledonia archipelago in the north is also a “neighbor” to Norfolk Island. The total area of the island is no more than 36 square kilometers; the capital of the Norfolk Island is Kingston.
Except for the area around the capital Kingston, Norfolk Island is almost entirely made up of steep and inaccessible cliffsframed. The island’s coastline is about 32 kilometers long. The mountains Bates with 319 meters and Pitt with 316 meters are the two highest peaks of the volcanic island. The island’s volcanic soil is used intensively for agriculture ; however, almost all food for the approximately 1,800 residents of the Norfolk Island and the vacationers staying in the hotels and guest houses of New Zealand are imported.
The two uninhabited islands Nepean and Phillip also belong to the area of the Norfolk Island.
Norfolk Island – how to get there
Airplane: Norfolk Air flies several times a week from Brisbane and in summer also from Sydney to Norfolk Island. Air New Zealand also flies to and from Auckland several times a week.
Norfolk Island – traveling in the country
Car / rental car: There are rental vehicles at the island’s airport. Most parts of the Norfolk Island have a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour. Travelers should also note that cows always have “right of way”. Anyone who hits an animal must expect severe fines.
Bicycle: the island’s visitor center offers bicycle rental.
Norfolk Island – landmarks
As a country located in Oceania defined by ethnicityology.com, the Norfolk Island is mainly known to tourists for its fantastic flora and fauna. There are fewer man-made sights to discover here.
The highlight of the island are the now restored buildings of an old convict settlement in Kingston and the many nature reserves. For example, the Philip Island Bird Reserve attracts a multitude of different tourists every year. You should also know that the number of visitors to Norfolk Island is restricted by the government. This guarantees the locals a high quality of tourism all year round.
There are no real harbors on Norfolk Island and the island can only be reached by plane.
The second source of income for the locals is agriculture, so that as a tourist you can be almost sure to eat a home-grown cow, chicken or eggs.