Norfolk Island Tourist information

Northfolk Island

In 1906 John Watts took Beattie to Norfolk Island to take pictures of the mission and the island. It was one of the first photojournalists with a touristic orientation. Glassplatfotografien, which capture the Pacific Ocean would not have been completed without Beattie's work on Norfolk. In the 1930s, the tourist industry crossed the ocean.

1932 P&O announced a five-day Sydney to Norfolk Island ferry that sold out in three nights. At the Lions Photographic Display in Kingston, there are some great monochrome printings that will give you an impression of some of the first few travellers to Norfolk. As there was no airport yet, people came on land with lighter and life boats.

It is a beautiful memory of the island of Norfolk and its inhabitants' insulation and virginity. In my opinion, what was the main driver behind Norfolk in this period? When these first tourist arrived, there was a need for shelter and accommodation for these tired travelers.

Several of the first accommodations on the island were - "felichita" (now the seat of Colonial), Deweville (area behind and around today's golf club), "Cosy Corner" of Grassy Road (Beaumans), Sandiland Lodge (also Grassy Road) were created out of need. The Norfolk Island has been and still is a legend.

Between the two battles there was not much spare second world war and with it came the need to build a runway on the strategic Norfolk Island. In the 1950s and 1960s, quick thinkers lived just as quickly with last-minute business, with last-minute camera, transistors, hi-fi, jewelry, imported from China and all kinds of exports that were neither taxable nor subject to customs duties.

Norfolk has become a major attraction for buyers and hunters who have not yet been attacked by multi-national duty-free groups. The retailing booming was triggered by word-of-mouth propaganda tourists. For example, the frequent services from Australia and New Zealand had a splashing effect within the island.

There were more tourist cots available and the locals were proud to provide the best accommodation for all. Then, came the tourist taxpayers - who skilfully deposited their off-shore office in Norfolk to prevent taxes in Australia. In this way, the unseen tourist who has undoubtedly shaped a part of the economy, up to changes in law and reforms.

The idea of a Norfolk without an airport and the net of streets and railings that now dictates the meanders of our guests is a little juxtaposition. As more and more people came to stay, their "needs", wishes and standard came up. Now we have stellar reviews for our accommodations, a large number of rental vehicles, many cafés and dining and tours in abundance.

Norfolk was and is all charm. But like every travel stop in the whole wide globe, we try to move with the passage of epoch, which is somehow ironical if most Norfolk enthusiasts like the relaxed, contemporary ambience. Finding the right equilibrium without losing our souls will no doubt determine our continued existence in the tourism sector.

Or, perhaps, we can go back to the past, where we have been producing more agricultural produce and provide the rest of the globe with a place that reminds us of the old virtues of the past and adores them above the fast-moving and volatile activity on the continent-mass.