There's more to Norfolk Island There's more to Norfolk Island

A brutal outpost for banished British prisoners, home to the descendants of Bounty mutineers…Norfolk Island’s history reads like a page-turner. And nowhere captures the island’s early days quite like Kingston, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites.

Take a self-guided tour around historic military and government buildings and the ruins of old gaols. Or, browse the exhibits of the Norfolk Island Museums, hosted across several heritage venues.

Norfolk Island Museums staff run tag-along tours, which are included with the museums pass. For an additional fee, you can also join a local-led tour of the cemetery, where hand-carved epitaphs record the tragic ends of Norfolk’s early inhabitants.

Old grey stone ruins and preserved houses in this World Heritage Site stand by a narrow beach with Norfolk pine trees covering the hills in the background.
Old preserved house by the sea. An abandoned lighter boat is half submerged in the ground beside the house and is in very weathered condition.
The New Military Barracks fitted with Norfolk Island and Union Jack flags at the entrance.
Old stone structure on the coastline. Gentle shallow waters visible close to shore. Pine tree forest in the background.
Preserved yellow houses seen through a stone archway.
A herd of cows travel along the road. To the right of the road are old government or military buildings. Large Norfolk pine trees border the left hand side.
An old hardcover book is presented in a class cabinet beside other artefacts and museum labels that are out of focus.
The dark grey stone interior of what remains of The Crankmill from the convict era. Two walls visible with multiple rectangle window holes. No ceiling on the structure.
A cyclist rides along a dirt road between low set, old yellow houses and two abandoned lighter boats in the Kingston historic site.
Angle of old stone structure and preserved yellow houses in Kingston historic site with pine covered hill in the background.
Kingston historic site grey stone ruin rises over lush green grass.
The New Military Barracks in Kingston historic site with the Norfolk Island, Union Jack and Australian flags at the entrance.

Visitor Information

Operating Hours: 24/7

Cost: Free. Tickets for individual museums can be purchased from any of the museums, the Royal Engineers Office or the Norfolk Island Visitor Information Centre in Burnt Pine.

Getting Here: A 5-10 minute drive south from Burnt Pine.

Top Tips for Kingston

  • Golfers can tee off against an ocean backdrop at Norfolk Island Golf Club, which is part of the site.
  • Pack a towel to throw down at Emily Bay Lagoon. Located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s one of the top swimming and snorkelling spots on Norfolk.

Attractions at Kingston UNESCO World Heritage Site

All Saints Church

All Saints Church

All Saints Church also serves as a museum. Discover incredible artefacts from Norfolk’s history and join a Sunday service to meet locals.
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Bloody Bridge

Bloody Bridge

Don’t let the gory legend of Bloody Bridge deter you; visit this historic landmark to admire the stonework and hard labour of the convicts who built it.
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The Commissariat

The Commissariat

Visit the Commissariat to learn about Norfolk’s convict past. This historic building once held food supplies for the convicts and jailers on Norfolk Island.
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Norfolk Island Golf Club

Norfolk Island Golf Club

Play golf on Norfolk Island for a truly memorable experience. Tee off in a World Heritage Site overlooking the ocean.
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Government House

Government House

Government House is a stately mansion and home to the Administrator of Norfolk Island. Learn more on a museum tour of our historic centre, Kingston.
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Historical Photo Display - Lions Club House

Historical Photo Display - Lions Club House

Formerly the Surgeons Quarters, today this little building houses a fascinating collection of photographs which bring the history of our island to life.
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Kingston Pier

Kingston Pier

Visit Kingston Pier, which was a vital entry point for Norfolk’s settlers and still welcomes supply ships and fishing boats as it has done for two centuries.
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Lone Pine

Lone Pine

Bring your camera along to capture this solitary tree that survived the mass felling of Norfolk pines and stood sentry over the years.
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New Military Barracks

New Military Barracks

The New Military Barracks may be Norfolk’s administrative centre today, but it also has an interesting history.
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No. 10 Quality Row

No. 10 Quality Row

Turn back to Norfolk Island’s convict chapter at No. 10 Quality Row. Now a museum, learn about the home’s inhabitants as you wander through.
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Norfolk Island Cemetery

Norfolk Island Cemetery

Our fascinating history takes on a new dimension at the Norfolk Island Cemetery wiht grave stones marking two centuries of life on the island.
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Old Military Barracks

Old Military Barracks

The Old Military Barracks have served many purposes over the years. Visit the Kingston UNESCO World Heritage Site to discover the roles it has played.
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Pier Store

Pier Store

Learn about the mutiny on the Bounty and our Pitcairn history at Pier Store, located within the Kingston UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Research Centre No. 9 Quality Row

Research Centre No. 9 Quality Row

Set in a restored Georgian house, the Research Centre serves as a looking glass into the Norfolk Island of yesteryear.
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Royal Engineers Office

Royal Engineers Office

The Royal Engineer's Office is a great place to start your investigation into Norfolk’s storied past
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Salt House

Salt House

Sitting on a headland overlooking Emily Bay, the Salt House is one of several evocative ruins and heritage buildings.
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Settlement Guard House

Settlement Guard House

This historic structure hosts the library for Norfolk Island Museums, which is a fitting nod to its storied life over the last 200 years.
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Sirius Museum - Protestant Chapel

Sirius Museum - Protestant Chapel

Learn about the seafaring saga of the Sirius, which wrecked just off the coast of Norfolk Island at the Sirium Museum within the Protestant Chapel.
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The Crankmill

The Crankmill

Wander the stone ruins of Crankmill, another one of Norfolk’s sites with a dark past and discover our island’s intriguing history.
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The Old Watermill

The Old Watermill

Set in a grassy valley next to an old dam, the crumbling ruins of the Old Watermill are a reminder of a dark chapter in Norfolk Island’s history
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