The World of Norfolk
| Norfolk Island Information you need to know! |
| Subject to change without notice |
| Accommodation |
We are able to offer over 60 different properties for your holiday
enjoyment. Please note that you must have your accommodation pre-booked
before you arrive on Norfolk. You will not be permitted through Norfolk
Customs without your accommodation arranged. Please see our
accommodation listings from the Menu at right. All accommodation is
graded annually by the AAA Tourism (the combined
service of the state motoring bodies i.e. NRMA, RACQ, RACV etc).
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| Climate |
| Norfolk enjoys a Subtropical temperate climate all year round. Max temperature in Summer is 28deg with a minimum at night in winter of 12deg. Summer temperatures during days are 24-28deg, nights 19-21deg. Winter temperatures during the days are 18-22deg and nights 12-18deg. Norfolk has an average rainfall of 1300mm per annum. For more information on Norfolk's weather please use the Time / Weather link from the Menu at right. |
| Communications |
| Norfolk has direct dial access to and from the rest of the world. Many Accommodation establishments have IDD available from your room. 24hour Coin and Norfolk Card phones are available (only accept Norfolk Island phone cards). Facsimile and internet facilities are available on the island. Telstra "Telecards" will work from the island. A GSM Mobile/Cellular network is available, but you can currently NOT roam from overseas (roaming expected late 2008). |
| Customs & Quarantine |
| Imports of fruit, vegetables, flowers and seeds are prohibited. Pork and poultry from New Zealand are also prohibited. The duty-free allowance is one litre of alcohol and 200 cigarettes per adult. Please click here to open Norfolk Island Customs website for further information or for contact details. |
| Departure Fees |
| Norfolk Island has a $30 departure fee that must be paid on the island (under 15yrs exempt). This fee can not be prepaid outside Norfolk and is never included in your holiday package prices sold by any agents. The Australian Departure fee does not apply to persons travelling to Norfolk Island. The New Zealand departure fee is payable at Auckland Airport at time of departure and is not included in your holiday package. |
| Dining |
 There are more than 20 restaurants and 15 cafe's along with
a number of clubs on the island offering casual, buffet, a la carte
and fine dining. Many of the tours offer meals as part of the tours for
something different. Most accommodation is self contained and you have the
opportunity of dining out or looking after yourself at home.
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| Dress |
| Casual clothing is suitable on Norfolk. A jumper and wind jacket are appropriate if out and about. You should pack a good pair of walking shoes, and a Torch as there are few street lights at night. A Hat and Sunscreen are essential as in Norfolk's clean air the Sun is not filtered by pollution. |
| Electricity |
| Norfolk's power is diesel generated and is 240V 50Hz the same as Australia and New Zealand with the same plug. |
| Flights |
Regular Jet services operate from Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne and Auckland (with through connections available from most other airport).
See
Flights - (Getting here) from the Menu at right. Airfares are
generally cheaper if included as part of a holiday package including
accommodation. Meals are served on the flight appropriate to your scheduled
departure and arrival times, either Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner or a Snack.
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| Getting Around |
Norfolk has no public transport, however rental cars are relatively
in-expensive, Taxis are available and many organised tours are available. A
current licence, valid for a motor car in your country of residence is all
that is required. Rental car operators usually require either a credit card or Cash deposit to be
provided when you collect your vehicle as security.
| GST/Tax |
| GST is not payable on holiday arrangements for persons travelling to Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island is specifically excluded from Australian G.S.T., Australian taxes and Australian import duties. Although a small local import levy/GST is imposed on Norfolk Island businesses you will find in most circumstances prices of goods and supplies are equal to or better than duty free prices available anywhere in the world. |
| Health |
| Norfolk island has a 21 bed hospital and pharmacy. Medicare does NOT extend to Norfolk Island, for this reason it is essential that you arrange travel insurance. Please see Travel Insure ex Aust or Travel Insure ex N.Z. from the Menu at right. | Immigration |
| Visitors are granted an automatic 30 day visitors visa upon arrival. Persons travelling on other than an Australian or New Zealand Passport will require a valid Australian re-entry visa. Please confirm with your consultant if this applies. Norfolk Island Getaways are able to issue Visa's for entry to Australia and Norfolk Island in the form of ETA (Electronic Travel Authorities) for persons coming from outside Australia. |
| Language |
| English is the language used on Norfolk. However "Norfolk" or "Pitcairn" language is spoken by the locals and is a pigeon English derived from the old English of the Bounty Mutineers and the Tahitian of their wives. |
| Liquor, Cigarettes & Tobacco |
| Liquor is available from the Government Bond Store, most clubs, hotels and restaurants are licensed. A 30% discount is available on 3 litres of Spirits or liquors per adult upon presentation of your ticket and passport (this discounted alcohol may be consumed on Norfolk or taken home with you). Alcohol is generally cheaper than mainland duty free prices. Cigarettes & Tobacco are cheaper retail on Norfolk Island than Australia and New Zealand (about 75% of mainland prices). You can also pre-purchase Very low duty cigarettes & tobacco at the "Low Duty Cigarette Shop" in Burnt Pine, which you then collect in the departure lounge prior to boarding your aircraft. These Low duty purchases are cheaper than mainland duty free prices. |
| Location |
Norfolk is 1450km east of Brisbane (2hrs 15min flying), 1600km east of
Sydney (2hrs 45min flying), 1550km east of Newcastle (2hrs 30min flying),
2000km North East of Melbourne (3hrs 45min flying)
and 1050km north-west of Auckland (1hr 45min flying).
Norfolk Island is 5km x 8km and of volcanic origin. The small uninhabited
islands of Philip and Nepean islands lye 1km and 6km to the South of Norfolk
respectively.
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| Money |
| Norfolk uses Australian Dollars. Full online branches of the Westpac and Commonwealth banks are located on the Island. The Commonwealth Bank has an Automatic Teller Machine. Visa, Mastercard, Travellers cheques and Australian EFTPOS are available in most establishments on the island. Amex and Diners cards can be used at some establishments. |
| People |
Norfolk has a resident population of approx 1800 with many tracing their heritage
to the Bounty Mutineers, the Pitcairners along with those that have come to
the island from Australia and New Zealand. Up to 1000 visitors are
accommodated on the island during peak times.
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| Radio & Television |
| Norfolk's local station broadcasts on both AM and FM, along with satellite relay broadcasts in FM of ABC regional, ABC fine music both from NSW and FM radio from Western Australia. Norfolk receives television from Sydney ABC and SBS along with Queensland regional Central 7 and Imparja 9 network via Satellite. TVNI the local TV station broadcasts tourist information on Norfolk. |
| Shopping |
|
Norfolk has many goods available at "Better than Duty Free"
prices. Most shops are open 9am - 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
and 9am - 12md Wednesday and Saturday. Some also open Sunday and longer
hours. A range of quality products from around the world are available on Norfolk Island,
Items which are especially good value include Good Quality Clothing & Footwear, Fine Ceramics
& Porcelain, Figurines & Glassware, Diamonds & Jewelry, Perfumes & Cosmetics, Knives &
Kitchenware, Toys & Lego, Fishing gear & Tools.
The main Supermarket (Foodland) is open to 6pm seven days a week, with
convenience stores Sims Supermarket/Marks Bakery (open until 8am-8pm daily)
and Paw Paws pump shed (7am-9pm daily).
Please click on the following links to shops on Norfolk > Norfolk optical website |
| Time Difference |
| Norfolk Island has it's own time zone (NFT) it is 11:30 ahead of GMT, 1:30 ahead of Eastern Standard Time in Australia and 0:30 behind New Zealand. There is no daylight saving on Norfolk. so when daylight saving is in effect in NSW and Victoria then Norfolk is 0:30 ahead of these states and when New Zealand is in Daylight saving Norfolk is 1:30 behind New Zealand. To check the current time on Norfolk please use the Time on Norfolk link from the Time/Weather Menu at right. |
