NORFOLK ISLAND

The tour starts at 5.00pm Sunday 30 March, at the Castaway Hotel, Norfolk Island.

The tour ends at 12.00pm on Friday 4 April, with a transfer to Norfolk Island Airport.

Flights arrive from the Australian mainland in the early afternoon. Academy Travel will organise the short transfer from Norfolk Island Airport to your accommodation. In the early evening, we meet for introductions in the hotel’s brewery before enjoying a welcome dinner in one of the island’s top restaurants. Overnight Norfolk Island (D)

The many “lives” of Norfolk Island are one of the reasons it is such a fascinating destination, and its small size belies its epic stories. This morning, Brad gives a talk in our hotel, providing an overview of the island’s diverse and often dark history. We then join our coach for an orientation tour of the island, visiting sites such as St Barnabas Chapel, Mount Pitt, and the picturesque Norfolk Island Botanic Garden. Returning to the inland, we enjoy lunch together at The Boatshed restaurant at Governor’s Lodge before continuing to the Bounty Museum. In 1789, Fletcher Christian and other disaffected sailors on HMS Bounty overthrew Lieutenant William Bligh, with nine survivors ultimately settling on remote Pitcairn Island and establishing a new community. By the mid 1800’s, the tiny island could no longer support the growing population, and the elders wrote to Queen Victoria begging for assistance. She offered them settlement on Norfolk Island, and all 196 inhabitants of Pitcairn arrived on Norfolk on 8 June 1856. Today, a little under half of the Norfolk Island population is descended from the Bounty mutineers. Following the guided museum visit, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to explore the Burnt Pine area. Overnight Norfolk Island (B, L)

Today we step back further in time to begin our detailed exploration of Norfolk’s grim convict history. First identified by Captain James Cook as a potential source of ships’ masts, using Norfolk’s towering pines, and flax for sails during his second voyage to the Pacific in 1774, from 1788 to 1814 the island was an outpost of the nascent British colony established in Port Jackson. Initial optimistic plans and hope for the success of the remote settlement were soon dashed and it was abandoned in 1814, and literally left to the dogs. A second settlement was established in 1825, to provide a place of transportation for the worst of the mainland’s convicts. For a generation, it earned a reputation as hell on earth for those that were doubly-convicted and transported to the remote colony. Many of the buildings of the second settlement remain, and today we explore the Kingston and Arthur’s Vale penal area. We visit the fascinating and beautifully positioned historic cemetery, and have a guided tour of Norfolk Island Museum, comprising four separate colonial buildings. During our visit to the historic area, we enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking stunning Emily Bay. In the evening, we meet for a group meal in a nearby restaurant. Overnight Norfolk Island (B, PL, D)

The Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area is a World Heritage listed site and is regarded as one of the best-preserved examples of convict transportation and colonial era architecture. Today, we continue our comprehensive exploration of this area, beginning the day with a talk in the hotel before returning to Kingston and taking additional time to examine the remains of these unique buildings, including the Prisoners’ Compound, Surgeon’s Quarters, and the area surrounding the Kingston Pier. After a picnic lunch overlooking the stunning shoreline, we will transfer to Government House to experience a guided tour of this significant Georgian building (visit subject to Government House opening hours). After returning to our hotel and enjoying some time at leisure, we meet again this evening for dinner at the Governor’s Lodge. Overnight Norfolk Island (B, PL, D)

This morning there is the opportunity for independent exploration and relaxation. The main township of Burnt Pine is a comfortable walk from our hotel, and you may wish to peruse some of the tax-free shops or visit local galleries, showcasing the residents’ arts and crafts skills. We meet in the early afternoon to transfer to the rural property of “Out Yenna”. Home to iconic Australian author Colleen McCullough and her Islander husband for over 35 years, they created a hideaway that ensured she had the perfect environment for her writing. Today “Out Yenna” includes artefacts gathered from the couple’s extensive travels, as well as a typical extensive island garden, and our guided tour will explore the main features of the property, and provide an insight into one of Australia’s best-known authors. On returning to the hotel, there is time to freshen up before we depart for our farewell dinner at the Homestead Restaurant. Overnight Norfolk Island (B, D)

Before we farewell Norfolk Island, there is the opportunity this morning to visit nearby “Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorama”, an attraction incorporating a 360 degree painting experience depicting the history of the island, and the adjacent exquisite Queen Victoria’s Garden. Independent tickets will allow you to visit this site at your own time and pace on our final day. Returning to the hotel, there will be an airport transfer at midday to meet the departing early afternoon flight to the mainland. (B)