Located at 28 degrees south latitude, only one and a half hour‘s flight north from Auckland, Norfolk Island enjoys a sub­tropical climate. In summer the average temperature is 26 degrees; in winter it still averages 20 degrees. In this mild rather than tropical climate, instead of coconut palms lining the island‘s shores, lines of elegantly upright Norfolk pines guard the coasts. There are several spectacular headlands, such as Rocky Point and Point Hunter, which offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, and golden beaches overlooked by the ubiquitous Norfolk pines.

Bays such as Ball Bay, Cemetery Bay and Cresswell Bay indent Norfolk‘s coastline, all with golden sands and warm waters, and in the south of the island is a gold­sand beach, a lagoon and a reef of coral. All around the island the water is pellucid, the beaches uncrowded and perfect for strolling and the water ideal for swimming.

Norfolk‘s waters are rich in fish. Fishing trips can be taken from Kingston Pier (on the western coast) or Cascade Pier (on the eastern coast), the local speciality being trumpeter (a reef fish), cod, snapper, kingfish, trevally and groper. All gear is supplied if guests have not brought their own with them to the island.