Norfolk Island

{New Tour}

Graham Ross is taking you to one of his favourite places in Australia, Norfolk Island. Stunning scenery and relaxed atmosphere belies a layered history. Market gardens here fed Sydney’s First Fleet settlers through various convict and penal times. Generous hospitality with locally grown produce and fresh caught seafood a speciality.

Tour Dates: 17 - 24 January 2027

For the full itinerary, please go to our website: www.rosstours.com/tours/norfolk

To book, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.

#rosstours #travelwithfriends #rt_norfolk #norfolkisland #norfolk

{Bon Voyage}

We`re off to Norfolk Island to enjoy ‘CinemaScopic’ scenery and the relaxed atmosphere of the island with its layered history of settlements going back thousands of years to the Polynesian era.

Have you made any travel plans for 2026 yet? Check out our website for inspiration: www.rosstours.com

#rosstours #rt_norfolk #travelwithfriends #ni #norfolkisland

{Norfolk Island - One room has become available}

One last room has become available on our Norfolk Island tour in January! To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.

Norfolk Island, with ‘CinemaScopic’ scenery and relaxed atmosphere belies its layered history of settlements going back thousands of years to the Polynesian era. Market gardens here fed Sydney’s First Fleet settlers through various convict and penal times. Generous hospitality with locally grown produce and fresh caught seafood a speciality.

Tour dates: 18 - 25 January 2026

For the full itinerary, please go here: www.rosstours.com/tours/norfolk/

#rosstours #rt_norfolk #travelwithfriends #ni #norfolkisland

{Norfolk Island - Bookings closing Friday 21 November}

Come with us to Norfolk Island! To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.

Norfolk Island, with ‘CinemaScopic’ scenery and relaxed atmosphere belies its layered history of settlements going back thousands of years to the Polynesian era. Market gardens here fed Sydney’s First Fleet settlers through various convict and penal times. Generous hospitality with locally grown produce and fresh caught seafood a speciality.

Tour dates: 18 - 25 January 2026

For the full itinerary, please go here: www.rosstours.com/tours/norfolk/

#rosstours #rt_norfolk #travelwithfriends #ni #norfolkisland

{Emily Bay Lagoon Cruise, Norfolk Island}

Cruise across the crystal-clear waters of Emily Bay and Slaughter Bay, floating above vibrant coral gardens teeming with life. Norfolk’s lagoon is a tranquil paradise, where colourful fish glide below and gentle waves tell stories of ancient reefs and untouched marine beauty. A morning of absolute serenity.

We can`t wait to go back to Norfolk Island this January. We have a few seats still available, so if you`re looking for a summer getaway, please give our office a call on 1300 233 200 or book online.

For the itinerary, please head to our website: www.rosstours.com

#rosstours #rt_norfolk #norfolkisland #travelwithfriends #emilybay #slaughterbay

{New Tour}

Norfolk Island, with ‘CinemaScopic’ scenery and relaxed atmosphere belies its layered history of settlements going back thousands of years to the Polynesian era. Market gardens here fed Sydney’s First Fleet settlers through various convict and penal times. Generous hospitality with locally grown produce and fresh caught seafood a speciality.

Tour dates: 18 - 25 January 2026

For the full itinerary, please go here: www.rosstours.com/tours/norfolk/

To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.

#rosstours #rt_norfolk #travelwithfriends #ni #norfolkisland

{Bookings closing this Friday - Norfolk Island}

Don`t miss out on the opportunity to explore Norfolk Island with Tyler Howard. Bookings are closing this Friday! To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or book online.

Mid-January we are heading to Norfolk Island where cool island breezes keep the temperate moderate. Tyler is keen to show you the fascinating layered history on Norfolk. The brutal convict settlement is hard to fathom in its picturesque ruins.

Colleen McCulloch is probably Norfolk’s most famous resident; her home is now open as a memorial to this world-famous author.

Full flowery gardens are matched only by the generous hospitality of our Norfolk hosts, many of whom are descendants of the Bounty Mutineers! Learn the history of this famous mutiny. The water is crystal clear so bring your swimmers!

For the full itinerary, head to our website: www.rosstours.com/norfolk

#rt_norfolk #norfolkisland #rosstours #rossgardentours #travelwithfriends #N

{Norfolk Island}

Mid-January we are heading to Norfolk Island where cool island breezes keep the temperate moderate. Tyler Howard is keen to show you the fascinating layered history on Norfolk. The brutal convict settlement is hard to fathom in its picturesque ruins.

Colleen McCulloch is probably Norfolk’s most famous resident; her home is now open as a memorial to this world-famous author.

Full flowery gardens are matched only by the generous hospitality of our Norfolk hosts, many of whom are descendants of the Bounty Mutineers! Learn the history of this famous mutiny. The water is crystal clear so bring your swimmers!

For the full itinerary, head to our website: https://rosstours.com/norfolk/

To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or book online.

#rt_norfolk #norfolkisland #rosstours #rossgardentours #travelwithfriends #NI

{New Tour}

Norfolk Island, with ‘CinemaScopic’ scenery and relaxed atmosphere belies its layered history of settlements going back thousands of years to the Polynesian era. Market gardens here fed Sydney’s First Fleet settlers through various convict and penal times. Generous hospitality with locally grown produce and fresh caught seafood a speciality.

Tour dates: 12 - 19 January 2025

For the full itinerary, please click here: https://rosstours.com/tours/norfolk/

To book your seat on this very popular tour, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or book online.

#rossgardentours #rosstours #norfolkisland #travelwithfriends #kingston #frangipani #bounty #bountymutiny #NI @thoward_hort #rt_norfolk

Images: NI Tourism

{Bon Voyage}

We`re heading off to Norfolk Island today; such a beautiful & relaxed island with a fascinating layered history. Gardens are full and flowery. Hospitality is generous. Clear waters are sheltered by coral reefs, teeming with fish. You don’t want to leave!

If you would like to join us on our Norfolk Island tour in 2025, please enquire via our website: https://rosstours.com/contact

#norfolk #norfolkisland #rosstours #travelwithfriends #rossgardentours #bounty #mutiny #bountymutiny #kingston #australia #travel #rt_norfolk

{Norfolk Island}

This tiny paradise in the Pacific has an incredible layered history. The brutal convict settlement is hard to fathom in the picturesque ruins. Colleen McCulloch is probably Norfolk’s most famous resident, her home is now open as a memorial to this world famous author. Graham will be your Tour Leader on this six-day short break.

Tour dates: 15 - 21 January 2024

For the full itinerary, please go here: https://www.rosstours.com/norfolk/

#norfolk #norfolkisland #rosstours #rossgardentours #travelwithfriends #rt_norfolk

Images: Norfolk Island Tourism

Some snapshots of world heritage Kingston and Arthur Vale Historic Area.

From the ruins of the brutal hand-cranked mill, to the hospital of yore, to the first and even the fourth incarnation of Government House, to the remaining ruins dating from 1780s to 1820s, and the still intact beautiful examples of Georgian architecture still in use from the second penal settlement, the old hamlet of Kingston on Norfolk Island has some gems.

The stone of the buildings is calcaronite and reefstone, quarried until the convicts were chest deep in the tide. They built the buildings in mere months, and some of us think we`ve got it tough.

Step back in time, and travel through the trials and tribulations of our convict past on Norfolk Island, in what is today, a slice of paradise in the south pacific.

The current Government House is a treasure, along with the myriad ruins that are scattered across the island, but these second settlement remnants are such a rare collection of yesteryear that it`s hard not to be enamoured by them.

#rt_norfolk norfolk.island realgrahamross rossgardentours baunti_tours_norfolkisland

Pa Forty`s and Government House, two of the gardens on the tour this trip 🌸

Frabgipani diversity is fantastic on the island, and this year, they`re looking sensational. So is the variety of hibiscus and without the beetle!

Pat Buffett is marcotting her custard apple, basically rooting out a branch in a sealed package of growing media, which is indicated on the 4th slide. This is a great way to establish advanced plants with earlier harvests.

Due to Norfolk Islands remoteness, many gardens are focused on edible plants to help minimise their need for food purchasing, because if a ship can`t unload, the only things on the shelves may be the shelves themselves down at the local shops.

Government House is the 4th edition of the Governors residence built on the island, dating to 1829, and is a remarkable time capsule of the islands` past.

The two grand old white oaks, or Lagunaria patersonia, provide a grand entrance to the house with wrought iron chairs for a leisurely afternoon tea.

Hibiscus, bearded iris, geraniums make up much of the flowering mass, and the hedge of Acalypha around the perimeter is just striking. It`s a lived-in home, currently housing the current Administrator George Plant and his family.

#rt_norfolk

The trials and tribulations of importing and establishing a lavender farm on Norfolk Island.

Strict biosecurity laws presented quite a challenge for Fitzy`s Farm when they were establishing their lavender farm, importing 15 varieties of Lavandula was not as easy as ducking down to the local nursery.

Clive and Di Larkman selected, grew, prepared hundreds of seedlings to export them to Norfolk Island, and the toughest have remained and thrive some 3,000 plants strong.

You can see how the bare rooted cuttings, bundled into bunches of 25, are packaged. They`re wrapped in a wet chux, into zip-loc bags, then into a bag to be carried on the plane like any other piece of carry-on.

With new varieties growing, such as Deep Heat, it presents unique potential for distilling higher quality oils and different characteristics.

A mix of Lavandula latifolia and angustifolia hybrids brings the best perfumed soaps, balms, and even cocktails!

Our group had a wonderful time lapping up lavender gelato and meandering through the field surrounded by the heady perfume of fresh lavender. We slept well last night for sure!

#rt_norfolk

The Royal Poinciana/flame tree/flame of ths forest...

Delonix regia flanks Queen Elizabeth Drive on Norfolk Island just opposite our accommodation at Governors Lodge.

Planted by island legend Marie Bailey, there`s a good few dozen trees which was propagated from a grand original tree the Bailey`s home at the Pitcairn Settlers Village.

She collected the seed and germinated it, with the foresight of planting a hedge for the future, along with surrounding beautiful gardens. The drought is hitting hard, but these striking trees are thriving.

You see them dotted throughout the Island, forming a perfect umbrella of a canopy to sit under with a cuppa.

From Singapore to the Pacific Islands, it`s spread its reverence far and wide. Native to Madagascar, named after Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy, French nobleman and colonial governor of the island of Saint Christopher.

#rt_norfolk