It’s a simple gesture, but it’s something that reflects the warmth and close-knit community that make our island so special.
On Norfolk, waving isn’t just about saying “hello.” It’s about acknowledging each other – recognising that we share this small, beautiful place, and that every person here matters. Whether you’re a local, a returning visitor, or someone setting foot on the island for the first time, the wave says: you belong.
We wave to neighbours, to cousins, to the postie – and to those we’ve never met. It’s not about who you know, but that we’re all here together. The Norfolk Wave is a subtle but powerful reminder that kindness and inclusion live in the everyday.
Life on Norfolk moves to a gentler pace, and the wave reflects that rhythm. It’s part of an island culture where relationships come first, and small acts carry meaning. On an island just 8 kilometres across, we see familiar faces often – but even unfamiliar ones are never truly strangers for long.
To wave is to pause, even for a second. To acknowledge and to be acknowledged. And in a world that often rushes by, that moment of presence is something special. For us, it’s just what you do. For visitors, it often becomes a favourite memory – a small gesture that says so much.
So if you’re out walking, or driving the island’s quiet roads, and someone waves – go on, wave back. Join in. No one’s keeping score, and no one minds if you’re new. It’s just our way of saying “you’re welcome here.”
You don’t need to learn the language or know the history to feel part of this place. Start with a wave, and you’re already halfway there.
