Tour Description
Norfolk Island
(Combined Departure)
Ten Days: 7th – 16th June 2024
Twin Share: $6849 per person. Sole Use: $7669 per person.
- Home pick-ups & set downs (most metro areas – please contact us for details)
- Picnic-style morning teas & all meals
- All accommodation & admissions to all attractions
- Experienced & informative tour driver/guide.
A tiny island in the South Pacific Ocean off the coast of Sydney, Norfolk Island is defined by its stately pine trees, jagged cliffs and sandy beaches with reef-protected waters. Despite its size and remote location, this beautiful island has so much to offer, from the sub-tropical climate and landscapes to the history, culture and food – there is no place like it in the world for a holiday. Enjoy the history and hospitality as we celebrate Bounty Day in Kingston with the Norfolk Island community.
Day One – FRIDAY 7 JUNE 2024
After being picked up from our homes, we are taken to the Adelaide Airport terminal. On arrival we are met by an Endeavour Tours representative who assists with our group check-in, helps us through the security procedures and takes us to the gate, ready to board our Qantas Flight to Brisbane.
On arrival, our Endeavour Tours escort helps with reclaiming our luggage and takes us to meet the bus that will be transferring us to our accommodation.
Tonight we are staying at the Ibis Brisbane Airport (Ph. 07 3139 8100), just a short distance from the terminal, to help make our departure easier tomorrow. We take time to settle in before coming together for dinner where we have time to get to know our fellow travellers.
Day Two – SATURDAY 8 JUNE 2024
After an early breakfast we are taken to Brisbane’s International Terminal ready for our Qantas flight to Norfolk Island.
Our flight arrives in the early afternoon and we are met by Baunti Tours and transferred to our accommodation for the next seven nights at the South Pacific Resort (Ph. +6723 22166). Set in lush subtropical gardens with mountain and valley views, the resort is centrally located in Burnt Pine, the largest town and commercial hub of the Island. We’ll enjoy a late lunch and have plenty of time to unpack, settle into our rooms and explore the Island a little.
The Island’s position between New Caledonia and New Zealand is thought to have made it the perfect stopover for Polynesian seafarers, and the first white settlers found evidence of this in the Island’s flora and fauna. Captain Cook had plans for Norfolk Island when he first saw it in 1774. However, it was twice settled and twice abandoned as a convict settlement, before permanent settlement finally came with the relocation of the descendants of the famous mutineers of the Bounty. All of this history makes for an intriguing story, as we will discover during our tour.
We will have time to relax before making our way to dinner.
Day Three – SUNDAY 9 JUNE 2024
After breakfast, we head off on our Discover Our World tour, where we will be introduced to the island, ‘setting the scene’ for our stay. Our tour includes a visit to the convict buildings in historic Kingston and St Barnabas Chapel, built from the ruins of the New Gaol. Kingston is the capital of Norfolk Island, an Australian South Pacific Territory, and the second-oldest town in Australia. It is of great historic and cultural significance with its outstanding Georgian buildings and structures that are still in community use today.
Around lunchtime, we set off for a special treat – a visit the clifftop property of Forresters Court, overlooking Cascade Bay. On the magnificent lawns we’ll be served a delicious High Tea with decadent food and a glass of sparkling wine. A beautifully presented setting with linen and fine china, we enjoy our tea and coffee and a selection of local liqueurs to round out our indulgent afternoon.
We then head back to our accommodation, where we will have time to relax before dinner.
Day Four– MONDAY 10 JUNE 2024
Today we celebrate Anniversary (Bounty) Day with the locals. June 8th marks the arrival of the Pitcairners to Norfolk Island.
We depart on our Bounty Day Picnic tour to discover the story of this Island and watch the Bounty Mutineer descendants as they re-enact the landing of their forefathers. The landing takes place at the Kingston Pier, the oldest pier in the Southern Hemisphere. We can follow the procession of the descendants dressed in period costume, to the Cenotaph to pay respects to fallen heroes.
It is then onto the Cemetery where wreaths are laid, local hymns and the Pitcairn Anthem, (Norfolk Island’s national anthem) are sung. The descendants then make their way to the All-Saints Church for the judging of the best dressed families. We will also observe the tradition of the children of the descendants rolling down the Government House hill!
We will also enjoy the traditional Island picnic lunch. Before lunch, the Norfolk grace will be sung and we will have the opportunity to sample some traditional Norfolk ‘wettles’ and enjoy complimentary red and white wine, orange juice, tea, and coffee.
Having spent a unique day on Norfolk today, we return to the resort.
Day Five – TUESDAY 11 JUNE 2024
After a big day of exploring yesterday, we have a free morning, with time to relax at the resort or stroll along the shopping precinct at our leisure.
Lunch will be at the resort before joining the Farm and Industry Tour to learn about some of the local enterprises sustaining the Norfolk Island community. These might include raising meat-producing sheep, market gardening, pig farming, manufacturing soft drinks and liqueurs or exporting of Kentia seedlings.
After returning to the resort to freshen up, we enjoy a unique, ‘must-do’ activity this evening. The Progressive Dinner is the perfect way to get a taste of the real Norfolk lifestyle. Our first stop is at the northern tip of the island to enjoy pre-dinner nibbles at a clifftop home with amazing ocean views. The evening continues with main course and dessert at a large family home on the southern side of the island. Our hosts will also entertain us with some of their island experiences and share stories of the history and culture of Norfolk.
Day Six – WEDNESDAY 12 JUNE 2024
After breakfast we join the Norfolk Today Tour. We learn how Norfolk Islanders live in the 21st century and make life on this tiny South Pacific Island possible. How is petrol and gas brought to the island? How is the island powered? This is a behind the scenes tour where we will meet the locals and see how Norfolk plays a role in the worldwide weather monitoring as well as visiting the community radio station.
We enjoy lunch at the resort before our afternoon excursion on the Convict Kingston Tour. Taken to Kingston, we hear about the first settlers, the Polynesians who came 900 years ago and the facts and legends associated with the first and second convict settlements.
After discovering a lot about the island today, we return to the resort for dinner
Day Seven – THURSDAY 13 JUNE 2024
We have a different breakfast setting this morning as we are taken on a gentle-paced walk through a diverse habitat from rainforest to the Captain Cook Memorial. As we stroll along the track our guide will identify local grasses, ferns, shrubs as well as bird species. Our efforts will be rewarded with a delicious breakfast on the clifftop. It will be a wonderful way to start our day.
The remainder of our day is free to relax and enjoy as we wish.
Late afternoon, we freshen up and travel to the western side of the island for the wonderful Island Fish Feast. Perched on the clifftop above Anson Bay we will have an eagle-eyed view of the tiny crescent shaped beach and the magnificent spread of ocean stretching to the far horizon. We appreciate paddock to plate freshness including local fish, prepared the local way! As we dine we enjoy performances from local entertainers and Tahitian-style dancers.
Day Eight – FRIDAY 14 JUNE 2024
This morning we journey out on the water for our Glass Bottomed 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 informative commentary on this environmental tour.
Later this afternoon we visit Cyclorama. Here we will walk inside a continuous 360 degree panoramic painting and feel as though we are standing on a pier or ship’s deck. A spectacular 3D effect is achieved with realistic perspective and detailed artwork stretching all the way to our feet. Storyboards, lists and maps explain the history in an easy to understand way.
Returning to our hotel we have some free time before dinner
Day Nine – SATURDAY 15 JUNE 2024
We pack our bags and check out of our accommodation this morning. We have some free time this morning to explore the island one last time and farewell the locals.
Following lunch we head to the airport for our Qantas Flight to Brisbane.
We check into our accommodation for the night at the Ibis Brisbane Airport (Ph. 07 3139 8100) and there will be time to relax and freshen up prior to dinner.
Day Ten – SUNDAY 16 JUNE 2024
After breakfast we board the coach and transfer through to the Brisbane airport. We are assisted with check-in, guided through security and make our way to the gate ready for our Qantas flight back to Adelaide.
After touching down, we are met by the drivers who will take us home after a fantastic holiday on beautiful Norfolk Island, celebrating with the locals. The experiences we have enjoyed and the knowledge we have gained on this tour will be special memories shared only by a lucky few.
Please note: This itinerary is subject to conditions which can be adversely affected by weather or closures on Norfolk Island. Alternative activities are planned should some of our intended itinerary not be possible. Due to the nature of tourism on Norfolk Island, all transfers and touring is conducted by different operators in their vehicles, and so this tour will be different from a typical Endeavour Tour. These operators also reserve the right to vary itineraries and substitute inclusions. However, you will be escorted by one of our excellent Endeavour Tours staff who will provide the care and attention that you expect from Endeavour Tours.
