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Airport, Customs and Quarantine
Australian citizens must hold an Australian Passport with a validity of 6 months from date of your return to Australia. Alternatively, a Document of Identity may be obtained from Post Offices which are valid for travel to Norfolk Island only. Non-Australian citizens must hold valid re-entry visas into Australia.
Flights depart from the International Airports of Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Melbourne, and Auckland.
Norfolk Quarantine Regulations prohibit the importation of fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, plants and seeds. Pork and poultry from New Zealand are also prohibited.
Animals
All animals have right of way, cattle roam free on the sides of roads.
Business Facilities
Email, Fax, Phones, conference rooms, are all available throughout Norfolk.
Business Hours
Normal shopping hours are 9-5. Some shops are closed all day Sundays, and on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons from 12.30pm. The Foodland Supermarket is open 7 days from 8.30am to 6pm. Government departments 8 - 4.30pm Mon to Fri.
Climate
Norfolk's sub-tropical climate is tempered by the surrounding sea so it is never blazingly hot and rarely cold enough to demand more than a pullover or cardigan. The average annual rainfall is 1328mm and there are occasional storms but most rain conveniently falls during the night. The temperatures are mild ranging from 24 to 28°C in the height of summer and 19 to 21°C in winter.
* Spring: September 1 through November 30
* Summer: December 1 through February 28 or 29
* Autumn: March 1 through May 31
* Winter: June 1 through August 31
Clothing
Dress comfortable and casual day and night. It's wise to pack a sweater and light nylon jacket, strong shoes for walking and a torch for night outings. Remember a hat and sunscreen.
Norfolkair, Norfolk Island's Airline
Duty Free Allowance
Only one litre of alcohol and 200 cigarettes permitted. Generally cheaper than mainland prices, Spirits are 20-50% cheaper. Cigarettes are 50-60% cheaper. The Government operated Liquor Bond Store supplies all liquor. Special concession for visitors, entitles airline ticket holders to a once-only 30% discount off marked prices for a maximum of three litres of spirits.
Electricity
240 volts AC, 50 cycles, three pin plug. As electricity is made locally by diesel generators, a power surge protection device is advised for electronic equipment, particularly computers.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is essential, particularly as Australian Medicare does not extend to Norfolk Island. Travel Insurance also covers forced cancellations and weather delays, to which island destinations can be susceptible.
Language
The language spoken on Norfolk Island is English, but you'll hear the Islanders speaking Norfolk, a unique language derived from the speech of the Bounty Mutineers and their Tahitian wives and companions who settled Pitcairn Island in 1790. See our NORFOLK LANGUAGE page for a taste of the local language.
Medical Services
The 28 bed Norfolk Island Hospital has extensive facilities including a dental clinic and a prescription dispensary. Emergency services are provided on a 24-hour basis and in serious emergencies, evacuations are provided. Medical expenses cannot be recovered under the Australian or New Zealand Medicare programs so you should have travel insurance for the duration of your visit.
Banks, Currency and Credit Cards
The unit of exchange is the Australian dollar. The Westpac and Commonwealth Bank have branches at Burnt Pine shopping centre. The Commonwealth Bank has an ATM. Traveller's cheques and most credit cards are widely accepted.
News Papers
These are flown in from Australia and New Zealand on a regular basis. Our local weekly newspaper is available throughout the island on Saturday morning.
Population
The permanent resident population is approximately 1600, the total population reaches up to 3500 in peak tourist season. At any one time the tourist population combined with temporary residents can easily exceed the local population.
Post Office
Open Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 9-5pm Wed 9-4pm. Norfolk Island has its own postage stamps. Norfolk Island's post code is 2899.
Radio
Norfolk Island has a local radio station VL2NI, manned most days with a cross over for Australian and New Zealand news as well as other programs.
Telephones
International Direct Dialling telephones and facsimile services are widely available. Public IDD coin operated booths are open 24 hours. Local calls are 10 cents per call. IDD Calls can also be received or transmitted via the local GSM mobile phone network.
Mobile Phones
Norfolk has its own GSM network that will work with your mobile phone if it is not "locked". You will require a prepaid sim card available for purchase from different outlets throughout Norfolk. Cost of local sim cards which include your own number are approximately $20.00 depending on the amount of credit you require.
Internet Access
Wireless internet and ADSL broadband is available throughout Norfolk Island. Internet cafes and hotspots are available all over Norfolk.
Television
Television is broadcast from the Northern Territory and can have the applicable time difference. We receive, Imparja, ABC, SBS and Central 7 as well as some of the pay TV channels.
Norfolk Island also has it's own visitor information channel broadcasting 24/7 from your hotel room TV.
Time difference
One and a half hours ahead of Australian Eastern Standard Time. In summertime, half an hour ahead of Sydney and one and a half hours behind New Zealand. Norfolk Island does not have daylight saving.
Transport
There are lots of wonderful walks on Norfolk Island but unless you're a "Shank's Pony" fanatic you'll need a car to get to the best of them. The good news is that car hire here is so reasonable you'll scarcely believe it. It is best to pre book your car hire requirements to enjoy the 170kms of road network. Cars drive on the left hand side of the road. Look out for cows and all other animals as they have right of way at all times. Taxi services are available on the Island, however, you can not simply flag one down - you will have to book a cab in advance if you want to go anywhere. There is no public transport on the Island.
Sports
The range of sports is extensive and includes golf, lawn bowls, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, snorkelling, excellent scuba diving, mountain biking, archery, karate, touch football, pistol shooting, deep sea fishing (subject to weather). Hire equipment is available and fishing operators provide lines.
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