Best travel tips on Norfolk Island

Important things to consider before you depart for your amazing holiday in Norfolk Island. 

When you visit Norfolk Island, you’ll find it’s like nowhere else on Earth – with its kind climate, country town charm and gorgeous scenery. However, its isolation and size mean a few things are done a little differently here. Here are our top tips:

• Flights: depart from the international terminal.

• Passport: You don’t need a passport to travel to Norfolk Island, but we advise you to use yours if you have one. It will make your travel experience easier and you will be prepared for any eventuality.

• Shop local: When you get here, we’d love it if you could support our local businesses. You can get most foods here, so there is generally no need to bring items with you, unless you have very specific dietary requirements. Feel free to ask us for advice before you travel.

• Opening hours:  Our shops are run by local families with a limited pool of staff to call on, therefore, you will find most close on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and all day on Sunday. Foodland Supermarket, Paw Paw’s Pump Station and P & R Bakery all operate for extended hours.

• Eat seasonally: Live as the islanders do, from season to season, creatively using what is available. Our fruit and veg may not be unblemished and wrapped in plastic like you may be used to, but you will find the flavours second to none.

• Waste disposal: Trade Winds minimises single-use plastics and proactively aims to reduce, reuse and repurpose. If you are interested, Trade Winds will happily share methods to minimise waste, how we grow our worm farm, compost our food scraps, and increase soil health.

• Reef health: For the sake of our marine life, please only use reef-safe sunscreens in our lagoons. You can find these products in the island’s shops.

Ian and Rachel Wills

Proprietors of Trade Winds Country Cottages.