Norfolk Island

Far from care

A self-governing territory of Australia, this small Pacific Ocean island is a haven for the meetings market.

Steeped in history, Norfolk Island might seem a world away but it's comfortingly close to Australia for conference groups. Less than three hours flying time from Australia, Norfolk Jet and Air New Zealand service the island with regular scheduled services from Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland.

>> Norfolk Island conference & function rooms

Discovered by Captain James Cook in 1774, Norfolk Island was populated by descendants of the Bounty mutineers who relocated from Pitcairn Island in 1856. Many of the Norfolk Islanders still retain strong links with their Pitcairn heritage and speak a traditional, distinctive dialect. The island has about 1,800 permanent residents, about 35 per cent of which can trace their ancestry to the Bounty mutineers.

The 8th of June is Bounty or Anniversary Day, the big public holiday celebration of Norfolk's founding. A re-enactment of the Pitcairners' landing and a procession through the ruins at Kingston form an important part of the festivities.

NATURE TRAILS

About one third of the 3,455 hectare island is set aside as national parks and reserves, with numerous walking trails. The Norfolk Island National Park is based around Mt Bates, the highest point, and also takes in Nepean and Phillip Islands offshore.

Hiking and mountain biking are popular pastimes, along with water sports like scuba diving, snorkelling and sailing. Anson Bay is recommended for surfing and swimming, while Slaughter Bay provides good snorkelling opportunities. The waters around Norfolk are teeming with tuna and kingfish, and deep sea fishing provides some heady adventure.

There are no taxes on Norfolk Island, so duty-free shopping is a big attraction for visitors. Jewellery, fashion goods, electronics, photographic equipment, sporting goods and giftware are available at great prices from more than 70 stores. There are also more than 35 restaurants and eateries, serving a range of cuisine ñ although the fresh seafood and barbeques are always popular.

Tourism is the island's main source of income and, in recent years, conference business has assumed an important aspect of business. More than half of the 71 resorts on this small island are rated 4 star and above, while there are two 5 star properties. One of the best known venues for conference groups is The Colonial of Norfolk, which has 55 guestrooms and two meetings rooms, with the Sirius Room able to hold 160 people theatre style or 140 for banquets.