Norfolk Island, External territory in South Pacific Ocean, Australia
Norfolk Island is an Australian external territory in the South Pacific that covers roughly 35 square kilometers between New Caledonia and New Zealand. The main settlements are Kingston on the southern coast and Burnt Pine in the center, surrounded by pine forests and rocky shorelines with small bays.
Captain James Cook reached the island in 1774 and gave it its present name. Britain used it as a penal colony from 1788 until 1855, before descendants of Bounty mutineers moved here from Pitcairn.
Descendants of Bounty mutineers live here and speak Norfuk, a blend of English and Tahitian that visitors can hear in everyday conversation. Island life follows a slow rhythm with community events, local markets and a strong sense of neighborhood that often surprises travelers.
Flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland bring travelers to the island, where lodging ranges from guesthouses to larger properties. The weather is mild year-round with slightly more rain between May and August, and most roads are easy to navigate.
Two uninhabited islets sit nearby: Phillip Island with its bare cliffs and Nepean Island, smaller and home to seabirds. Together they form a protected ecosystem that you can see from the main shore but rarely step onto.
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