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TASTE FARM FRESH FOOD ON NORFOLK ISLAND

15 May 2015

Press releases from NFI Tourism - March 2015


In 1789 Norfolk Island was the food bowl of the British colony of New South Wales. Its rich volcanic soil produced flourishing cereal crops, fruit and vegetables and its grasses fattened cattle, sheep, goats and pigs while the aged soil and dense scrub of Port Jackson yielded little.

Norfolk Island’s relationship with good food production has continued unabated since the eighteenth century and being just five kilometres by eight kilometres, it is a fresh food fanatic’s dream. Paddock to plate and strictly seasonal produce are not just trends here, they are a way of life.

Visitors marvel at the choice of over thirty different eateries catering for every meal and price range. From take away local fish and chips to up-market dining, there are cafes, bistros and restaurants dotted all over the island. Norfolk Islanders love their ‘sweet wettels’, the local language expression for ‘good food’.

There is an enthralling group of food inspired tour experiences that allow visitors to literally jump the fences and take a peek into real island living. These include some great taste sensations – boutique cheeses, liqueurs, coffee, honey, chocolates, bacon and produce straight from the soil, bush or tree.

A great way to sample the full spectrum of Norfolk Island’s fresh food flavours, is the Taste Norfolk Island Food Festival in late spring. Straddling Norfolk’s unique Thanksgiving Day celebrations, Taste Norfolk Island runs from 23-27 November, 2015. For further information on the Food festival visit the website www.norfolkislandfoodfestival.com


TAKE A COOL BREAK ON NORFOLK ISLAND.

One of the great advantages of a sub-tropical island is that the warm sea currents regulate the temperature fluctuations so that winters on Norfolk Island are mild, with pleasant day and evening temperatures. This means you can relax in the toasty ambience of a fire in the evenings, but comfortably explore the many pine clad nature reserves or the dramatic foreshore during the day.

April to August is a great time to visit Norfolk Island for sporting tournaments and all manner of festivals. Choose from tennis, bowls, archery, rugby, croquet, golf and even Relay for Life events; or quilting, ballroom dancing, and the popular country music festival. Then there is Christmas in July and the iconic Anniversary or Bounty Day celebrations in June. Or just come and soak up the rich World Heritage history, natural beauty and laid back lifestyle.

The thing about Norfolk Island is that there is far more to do and see than most visitors imagine. The most frequent complaint is not having enough time to do everything on offer. People visit for a festival or tournament and discover a whole world of other experiences that are absolutely fascinating.

Another big plus is that there are some special travel bargains available for Norfolk Island in the cooler months. It’s also a great time to enjoy some of Norfolk’s excellent fresh seasonal produce and several of the restaurants offer roaring fire places in addition to their delicious winter menus.

For an energising winter getaway, Norfolk Island really does have more to offer, so as the locals say, “Come lookorn” and “Come and see for yourself”.


VISITOR ARRIVALS UP ON NORFOLK ISLAND.

Norfolk Island is set to record its best result in five years for visitor arrivals in 2015 at this popular short-haul holiday destination for Australians and New Zealanders.

Arrivals are up 17% on 2014 for the first two months of the New Year following on from a solid performance for the July to December period which also recorded an increase on the previous year.

Norfolk Island Tourism General Manager, Glen Buffett said this “great start to the year is reflective of a significant increase in visitors from both Australia and New Zealand attracted to popular niche travel experiences and our growing events calendar”.

“The remainder of this year looks strong for bookings and we attribute much of this outcome to the success of our ongoing ‘There’s more to Norfolk Island, 360 Degrees of Wonder’ campaign highlighting the array of different experiences on island to be enjoyed,” Mr Buffett said.

With direct Air New Zealand flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland, Norfolk Island is a wonderful place to holiday for couples, families and friends offering fabulous home-grown culinary experiences and unique cultural and heritage attractions with stunning natural beauty.

Latest additions to the touring options such as sea kayaking, local cheese tastings, outer island trekking, snorkelling adventures, sports fishing and cooking classes, combined with new events such as the Food Festival in November and Outrigger Canoe challenge in January, have all contributed to increasing and diversifying the island’s many attractions.

Probus Christmas in July 2015 - Norfolk Island


The event is being hosted by Trade Travel who have a great line-up of Australian and New Zealand entertainers booked for your enjoyment -  Normie Rowe, Suzanne Prentice, John Rowles and aLegends of Rock Night featuring Buddy Holly, Johnny O’Keefe and Elvis Presley; hosted by rock historian Glen A Baker.

The trip also includes an afternoon tea and exclusive tour of Colleen McCullough’s property.

Don't miss it! 

Contact Trade Travel:

  • Toll Free within Australia 1800 034 439 OR Toll Free in New Zealand 0800 443 044   
  • Email: [email protected]