Our national park encompasses Norfolk Island’s most breathtaking landscapes, including its tallest peaks, expansive forests, rugged coastline, as well as the Botanical Gardens and Phillip Island.
We reckon it’s best experienced on foot, with an extensive network of walking trails to explore. Scale the ridge between Mount Pitt and Mount Bates, our two highest mountains, or follow forest trails past giant tree ferns and Norfolk pines.
At dusk, the park’s feathered orchestra put on a performance worthy of a concert hall. Listen out for the ‘ke ke ke’ of the green parrot (one of the island’s great conservation wins) and the baby-cry call of wedge-tailed shearwaters.
If you’re feeling adventurous, book a trip out to Phillip Island, where the strange Mars-like landscape is a haven for migratory seabirds. Alternatively, there are some shorter, wheelchair-accessible trail options in the Botanical Gardens. Pick up a map at the gardens’ Discovery Centre.
Visitor information
Operating Hours: Park: 24/7; Discovery Centre: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm
Cost: Free
Getting Here: A good place to start is at the Discovery Centre on Mission Road, near the Grassy Road turn-off, about a 5-minute drive from Burnt Pine. You can also access the park by car via several roads. For a map, see staff at the Discovery Centre or the Visitor Information Centre.
Top Tips for Norfolk Island National Park
- For a picnic spot with breathtaking ocean views, it’s hard to top Captain Cook Monument where there are public barbecues, tables and toilets. Inland within the national park, Palm Glen is another great place for a picnic and also has facilities.
- With exhibits, information and a slide show of Phillip Island, the Discovery Centre at the Botanical Gardens is the best place to get a 360° overview of the flora, fauna and geology of Norfolk Island National Park.
