Here on Norfolk Island, some of our most jaw-dropping scenery is found beneath the waves. Visit Slaughter Bay at low tide equipped with a snorkel and you’ll be just a few kicks away from the offshore reef. Here, gardens of coral are a playground for brightly patterned fish. The reef protects the waters from dangerous swells and currents, making it a safe and calm beach for swimming.
If you’d rather stay dry, take a barefoot stroll along the shore from Kingston Pier through to Emily Bay Lagoon, a popular swimming beach to the east.
Located within the Kingston UNESCO World Heritage Site, Slaughter Bay is also of historical significance: it was on this reef that the HMS Sirius – the flagship of the First Fleet – was wrecked in 1790.
Destination Details
Operating Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
Getting Here: About a 5-minute drive south from the centre of Burnt Pine. Near Kingston Pier.
Top Tips for Slaughter Bay
- Listen to local radio or ask at the Visitor Information Centre to find out tide times; snorkelling is best at low tide.
- Find out more about the fate of the HMS Sirius and see items salvaged from the wreck at the nearby Sirius Museum.
