Norfolk Island National Park is a protected area of 6.5 square km. It is made up of two sections: the Mt. Pitt section on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean, with an area of 4.6 square km, and the neighboring 1.9-square-km Phillip Island, plus the much smaller Nepean Island. The Norfolk Island group is an Australian territory. It is the only place in the world where the Norfolk Island Parakeet and the White-chested White-eye occur. Norfolk Island National Park welcomes visitors to explore its stunning scenery and rich diversity of bird life. From bushwalks beneath the planet's tallest tree ferns to barbecues overlooking spectacular ocean cliffs, there is something for everyone. As well as protecting rare native species such as the endangered green parrot and Norfolk pine, the park is a major drawcard for visitors, and makes a significant contribution to the island's tourism industry. Norfolk Island is located in the south-west Pacific Ocean, approximately 1700 km east of Sydney and 1100 kilometres north-west of Auckland. Norfolk Island National Park covers 650 hectares, divided between the Mount Pitt Section on Norfolk Island and the entire neighbouring Phillip Island. Norfolk Island Botanic Garden covers 5.5 hectares and is located adjacent to the Mount Pitt Section of the Park.The Norfolk Island group provides an important link between tropical and temperate oceanic island environments. Their remote location, coupled with colonisation by plants and animals dispersed over vast distances of ocean, means that they are important for their value as habitats for endemic species, habitats and breeding areas for species with limited distribution and migratory species including large colonies of breeding seabirds, and for their unique vegetation. Norfolk and Phillip Islands are almost completely volcanic in origin, arising from the Pacific Ocean roughly 2.3-3 million years ago as masses of hot basalt. They form the highest point of the submerged Norfolk Ridge which stretches from New Zealand to New Caledonia. The Islands feature a range of dramatic landscapes, including the subtropical and viney hardwood forests of the Park and Botanic Garden, the green rolling plains of the Kingston settlement, spectacular coastal cliffs and skylines dominated by majestic Norfolk Island pines. Norfolk Island National Park is a protected area of 6.50 km². It comprises two sections, the Mt Pitt section on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean with an area of 4.60 km² and the neighbouring 1.90 km² Phillip Island, as well as the much smaller Nepean Island. The Norfolk Island group is an Australian territory and the park is managed by Parks Australia. It is the only place in the world where the Norfolk Island Parakeet and the White-chested White-eye occur.
Visitors can experience natural Norfolk Island on the walking tracks and roads of the Norfolk Island National Park. The National Park has nine signposted walking tracks which vary in terms of distance, difficulty and the types of scenery. Walks wind through lush palm forests and stands of Norfolk Island pine, and some lead visitors to remarkable views of the island and the surrounding ocean. Norfolk Island's flora and fauna are quite unique, with more than 40 different kinds of plants and animals that are not found anywhere else. Hear the distinctive 'kek-kek-kek' call of the endangered green parrot in the forest or view the many seabirds visible from the coastal walks. Whether you enjoy breathtaking coastal views or lush rainforest, you will find a tranquil haven to suit you somewhere in the park. The Botanic Garden walks of the Norfolk Island National Park near the intersection of Mt Pitt and Mission Roads will be of particular interest for gardeners. The newly refurbished Mount Pitt Road offers panoramic views of the island and is accessible by car, while the summit of Mount Pitt gives superb views across the island and out to Nepean and Phillip Islands to the south. Walks from here access all parts of the Norfolk Island National Park. Smaller reserves dotted around the coastline have a variety of walks, allowing access to lesser known parts of the island. Birdwatching is also rewarding. The tracks are rated gentle to moderate and take between 20 and 90 minutes (none is longer than 3.8km). The walking times indicated on signs along the track are for a one-way journey. Sufficient time has been allowed for you to walk at any easy pace with stops. For your comfort and safety, please wear sensible footwear. Bare feet, thongs or high heels are not advisable. Extra care is needed after rain when the tracks may become slippery. Park staff are available weekdays to provide further information.
Norfolk Island, which was built by volcanic activity, lies in the southwest Pacific Ocean about 1,600km (994 mi) from Sydney, Australia, and 1,120 km (696 mi) from Auckland, New Zealand. The island group was claimed for the British Empire by Captain James Cook in 1774. Signs of earlier short periods of occupation by Polynesian travelers have been located on the island. It was settled in 1788 to harvest the resources Cook had identified as useful for the British fleet, but was abandoned in 1814. A later colonial convict settlement began in 1825, but it ended in 1855. In 1856, the island was again inhabited, by the descendants of the sailors of Bounty mutiny and their Tahitian wives. During World War II, an airfield was constructed on Norfolk Island. The Mount Pitt section of Norfolk Island National Park was proclaimed in January 1986. The area under the management of the Australian Government has since grown to a total of 650 hectares (1,606 acres), consisting of two sections: the Mt Pitt Section which is located on Norfolk Island itself, covering 460 hectares (1,137 acres) and the Phillip Island Section comprised of 190 hectares (469 acres), the total area of neighbouring Phillip Island. Another 5.5 hectares (13.6 acres) of Park property is within the Norfolk Island Botanic Garden. Both areas had been public reserves declared under the Commons and Public Reserves Ordinance 1936. The Norfolk Island Botanic Garden was declared a Commonwealth reserve 1986 to provide a place where specimens of Norfolk's unique Flora could be conveniently seen and appreciated. The area comprising the Forestry Zone was cleared for banana plantations during the 1930s; but after the collapse of the banana industry, it developed into a dense thicket of African Olive.
