Norfolk Island is just a short flight from both Sydney and Brisbane, but it feels a world away — rich in history, warm in hospitality, and full of delicious surprises. Here’s how my four-day island journey unfolded.
🌅 Day 1 – Arrival & First Flavours
After arriving on a Qantas flight from Sydney, we settled into Aloha Apartments in the heart of Burnt Pine — spacious, self-contained, and a perfect base.
Lunch was casual at the Salty Beer Garden, just 50m from our door. Calamari and chips with an Aperol Spritz hit the spot. Later, we sampled craft beers on the deck at Norfolk Island Brewery — I tried both the XPA and the Golden Ale, both excellent in the island sunshine.
Dinner that evening was a feast at Bounty Bar & Grill: a rosemary & honey baked camembert, local kingfish pâté, then a 500g rib-eye off the bone with vegetables, finished with a rich sticky date pudding. All paired with local white and red wines — the perfect welcome to Norfolk.
🌄 Day 2 – Orientation & Dining with Locals
We joined the Half Day Orientation Tour with Pine Tree Tours, taking in sweeping views from Queen Elizabeth Lookout and the famous Lone Pine.
Lunch was at The Olive Café, where a homemade beef burger stood out. Drinks later at The Bowlo Bistro were another highlight — beers here are unbelievably cheap, and according to our host David from Norfolk Select Marketing, the food offering at the Bowlo is excellent too (he dines there regularly).
That evening we experienced the Progressive Dinner — dining across three island homes, moving from entrée to main to dessert while hearing stories about Norfolk life.
🏝 Day 3 – Convict History, Shopping & a Cliffside Feast
After a morning of inspections and a light lunch at High Tide Café, we joined the Convict Settlement Tour. The Norfolk Cemetery, military barracks and jail ruins told moving stories of the island’s past.
We also made time for shopping — picking up LEGO (cheaper than on the mainland) and stocking up at the island’s bottle shops, where liquor prices are unbelievably low.
Dinner was the iconic Island Fish Fry, perched on a clifftop. The star of the night was freshly caught Red Emperor — juicy, tender and cooked to perfection — served alongside island-style sides and a sweet coconut tart. Entertainment from Polynesian dancers and the sunset backdrop made it truly unforgettable.
🌿 Day 4 – Inspections, Pizza Lunch & Farewell
Our final day included a last round of accommodation inspections and some quick last-minute shopping.
We then returned to Bounty Bar & Grill for lunch, sharing pizzas — Margherita, Meat Lovers, Hawaiian and Garlic Prawn — paired with a bottle of wine. A relaxed, delicious way to finish our Norfolk Island stay before the Qantas flight home.
🌺 Why You Should Visit
What surprised me most about Norfolk Island was just how much it has to offer. The island is simply beautiful — rolling green hills, towering pines, pristine beaches and dramatic cliffs at every turn. Everywhere we went, the locals were incredibly friendly, always ready with a smile, a story, or a recommendation.
The history here runs deep, from the haunting convict ruins to the living legacy of the Pitcairn descendants, and it feels like every corner of the island has a story waiting to be uncovered. In just four days, we barely scratched the surface of what Norfolk has to offer — there are walking trails, snorkelling bays, local markets, cultural performances and so much more still to explore.
Norfolk Island truly is a hidden gem: close enough for an easy getaway, yet rich enough to feel like a whole new world.
Click here to check out the full photo gallery and all the hotels inspected during my Norfolk Island trip.
👉 Let Global Travel Co plan your Norfolk escape — with flights, tours and accommodation all wrapped into one seamless holiday — so you can experience this incredible island for yourself.