A captivating 8-day expedition filled with adventure, cultural immersion, and natural wonders!
8-Day Norfolk Island | 30 November – 07 December 2024
🌿 Day 1: Welcome to Norfolk Island
Saturday, 30 November 2024
With our pickups complete we are transferred to the airport for our direct flight to Norfolk Island. Warmly greeted upon arrival, Pinetree Tours will escort us to our accommodation at the lovely South Pacific Resort. The resort is set in lush subtropical gardens with mountain and valley views. It is ideally located within the township of Burnt Pine, so we don’t have far to go to appreciate the shops when not on tour. Settling into our rooms, enjoy a rest or perhaps take a wander around the resort to see what’s on offer. We re-group at an agreed time a little later for dinner at the Resort.
- Flight: QF183 Dep BNE 1135 / Arrive NLK 1545
- Door-to-door airport transfers included from the Sunshine Coast
🍽️ Day 2: Markets and Convicts
Sunday, 01 December 2024
Following breakfast, we have the morning to enjoy a wander through the Sunday Markets with plenty of time to snap up a bargain or two, or the opportunity to participate in a morning church service. This afternoon we will embark on the Convict Settlement Tour. This is an ‘In Depth’ Tour of the historic Georgian settlement of Kingston. Walk through the cemetery & hear the history of interesting convict and colonial headstones, through the ruins of the New Gaol; visit All Saints Church which was, in convict times, the Commissariat Store. After a great day we return to the resort for dinner.
🏖️ Day 3: Get to Know Norfolk
Monday, 02 December 2024
This morning we are collected by Pinetree Tours for a Half Day Island Sightseeing Tour –a must for every visitor! We visit historic Kingston, Cascade, Longridge and much more. See and hear about the famous convict buildings, beautiful beaches and the golf course, the renowned Melanesian Chapel, their government, laws and lifestyle. We stop for a delicious morning tea in the garden of an island home, then return to our resort. The remainder of the afternoon is at our leisure and tonight we participate in a fixture of Norfolk Island, the Progressive Dinner. It is the perfect way to get a taste of the real Norfolk lifestyle. The first stop will be at the northern tip of the island to enjoy pre-dinner nibbles at a clifftop home with amazing ocean views.
The evening finishes with the main course and dessert at a large family home on the southern side of the island. Our host will also entertain us with some of his island experiences and share some of the historical practices and industries.
- Breakfast in the resort
- Lunch own arrangements and costs
- Progressive dinner
🌱 Day 4: Meet the Locals
Tuesday, 03 December 2024
After breakfast Pinetree Tours take us on their Over the Cattlestops Tour. Norfolk Island has a large number of small businesses making different local products that we are able to see – and maybe have a taste of! Our afternoon tour is the Farm and Industry Tour, where we’ll see a selection of local industries – the island’s largest market garden and piggery, Kentia Palm nursery exports to Europe and experience the island’s only soft drink manufacturer.
By the evening, Pinetree Tours will take us out to enjoy the delightful Island Fish Fry – a traditional Island Fish Feast with local fish, island dishes, salads and desserts. Overlooking breathtaking coastal scenery as the sun sets – with live music in the background by local entertainment from the Baunti Byuutis dancing group. What a fabulous way to end our day!
🍵 Day 5: Refreshing High Tea
Wednesday, 04 December 2024
Following breakfast, Baunti Tours takes us to visit the property of the late Colleen McCullough. The world-renowned author of 24 books called Norfolk Island home for almost 36 years and today we have the opportunity to see into her world. She and her husband, Norfolk Islander, Ric Robinson, created a luxurious hideaway and maintained their privacy to ensure that Colleen had the perfect environment for her writing. Some of her most powerful titles were created in this much-loved sanctuary.
Her beloved property “Out Yenna” is now open and we are escorted through her magnificent home where we are able to view Ric and Colleen’s priceless collection of artefacts gathered on their travels all over the world. We will see where her books were researched and where she worked into the wee hours creating the incredible tales that have sold their millions in so many different languages.
Later, we are collected by Baunti Tours for our High Tea at Forresters Court. Originally built as a warm and welcoming home in the 1920’s the property has seen many changes over the years and now offers boutique accommodation, as well as being a wedding and function centre. The grounds are stunning and much of the interior still has its historical appearance. We complete our interesting day with a fun night out for all ages and join the Night as a Convict Dinner! Wedress as convicts and along with the Commandant, we are in for an evening of gaiety, feasting and singing. Great food! Great fun will be had by all!
🍳 Day 6: Clifftop Breakfast and Wonderland by Night
Thursday, 05 December 2024
Our breakfast setting will be a little different this morning, as we can either take a stroll or, for the more energetic, a leisurely 3.5km walk with Pinetree Tours. We’ll meet up for our Clifftop Breakfast together on Anson Bay. It will be a wonderful way to start our day and the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy all that Norfolk Island has to offer. At the end of the day, we meet over an early dinner back at the Resort and tonight we travel into the bushland of the island on a Wonderland by Night tour. The setting is 10 acres of magical Norfolk pines and bushland lit up like an enchanted forest. We’ll meander along (or ride in the ‘Moon Buggy’) a winding pathway with Archie, a descendant of the Bounty Mutineers, as he recites his poems and lights up the dioramas throughout the bush. Afterwards, we enjoy a light supper.
- Clifftop breakfast after bush walk
- Lunch at own expense
- Dinner at South Pacific Resort
🚤 Day 7: Cruising and Discovery
Friday, 06 December 2024
We embark on a unique Glass Bottom Boat tour. Once we’ve “walked the plank” with these ‘mutineer descendants’ it takes a minute to get to the Reef. View beautiful coral gardens and tropical fish inside the calm crystal waters of Norfolk’s lagoon. Our guide will provide interesting commentary on this environmental tour. Later this afternoon we visit the stunning 360° panoramic painting at Cyclorama which continues to impress with its ‘wow’ factor. It brings to life the Bounty mutiny and the history of the Norfolk Island people and is a great way to finish our tour. Returning to our hotel we have time to freshen up before a delicious farewell BBQ Dinner at the Resort.
- Breakfast at the resort
- Lunch own arrangements and cost
- BBQ buffet dinner at the resort
🍵 Day 8: Heading Back to Sunshine Coast
Saturday, 07 December 2024
Packing our belongings, we farewell our lovely hosts. Before heading to the airport, we take in a treasure chest of history. The Bounty Museum is an Aladdin’s Cave of inspiring stories stretching back to 1788. Learn how the Norfolk Island flag came to be and pour over bounty memorabilia building a picture of how life looked in those early days compared to that of Norfolk Island today. Arriving at the Norfolk Island Airport we prepare for our return flight to Brisbane. Once our flight lands, we head home with bags packed full of memories. What a lovely time we have had on beautiful Norfolk Island travelling with old and new friends.
- Flight: QF184 Depart NLK 1645 / Arrive BNE 1710
How much does it cost?
| SINGLE | $4,995 |
| TWIN/DOUBLE | $4,395 |
Join Us on this Unforgettable Journey
With a maximum of 15 guests, secure your spot today and let us be your guide to adventure and camaraderie. Embark on an adventure tailored for the mature traveller, where every moment is filled with wonder. Reserve your place and let the Norfolk Island unfold before your eyes! 🌟
You’ll be staying at South Pacific Resort
Tour Inclusions
- 7 night’s accommodation at South Pacific Resort
- Entry and afternoon tea at the Abbey Museum of Art & Archaeology
- Norfolk Island Welcome Package including Meet & Greet, Orientation Tour and Hotel Transfers
- 3 course Dinner at South Pacific Resort, day 2
- Return transfers to Sunday Markets
- Light lunch at the South Pacific Resort, day 3
- Half-day Convict Settlement Tour
- Half-day General Norfolk Tour
- Progressive Dinner, day 4
- Half-Day Over the Cattlestops Tour
- Light lunch at the South Pacific Resort, day 3
- Half-day Farm & Industry Tour
- Island Fish Fry dinner, day 5
- Colleen McCullough Home Tour
- Forrester Court High tea lunch, day 6
- Night as a Convict Dinner and Show, day 6
- Clifftop Breakfast
- 2 course Dinner at South Pacific Resort, day 7
- Wonderland by Night tour
- Glass Bottom Boat tour
- Visit to Cyclorama
- Entry to Baunti Folk Museum