1856 The Untold Story: Kingston sound and light tour

The Pitcairn Islanders' arrival unfolds around you as you travel through the very streets where they settled.

1856 The Untold Story is a 75-minute guided coach tour through Kingston, Norfolk Island's World Heritage area, where immersive recorded commentary, music and special effects recount how Pitcairn Islanders arrived and built a new community. The tour travels by air-conditioned bus past illuminated heritage sites, with on-board audio narration following the families' journey and adaptation to Norfolk Island life. Pickup is included. The tour suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening historic Kingston tour

• Board coach for night tour
• Travel through Kingston heritage sites
• Listen to immersive audio commentary
• Experience sound and light show
• Learn about Pitcairn Islanders' arrival
• Discover Norfolk Island settlement history

The experience

Seventy-five minutes takes you through Kingston after dark, when the heritage sites are lit and the recorded story begins. You travel by coach with on-board commentary that moves through the families' arrival, where they lived, and how they adapted to life on Norfolk Island: a narrative told in the actual places where it happened. The audio, music and special effects build the atmosphere as you pass the illuminated sites, so the story unfolds around the landscape itself rather than in a theatre or museum.

The tour centers on 1856, when the descendants of the Bounty mutineers left Pitcairn Island to settle Norfolk Island. What emerges is not just the arrival but the transformation: a place once known for harsh punishment became the foundation of a new community as the Pitcairn Islanders raised families and built the structures that still stand. The recorded narration handles the storytelling, so there's no guide to keep pace with. You sit in the coach and listen as the place itself becomes the stage.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned coach.
• on-board recorded commentary, music and special effects.
• pickup.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and SaturdayDeparts at 20:15

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Baunti Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups and families travel together on the same coach, making this suited to anyone wanting the Pitcairn Islanders' story without a live guide. The recorded narration and lighting do the telling as you move through Kingston after dark.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the 1856 The Untold Story tour?

The tour runs 75 minutes, traveling through Kingston's heritage sites by coach with on-board commentary.

What is the story about on this Norfolk Island tour?

The tour recounts how Pitcairn Islanders arrived on Norfolk Island in 1856 and built a new community, following the families' journey and adaptation through the very streets where they settled.

Does the tour include pickup?

Yes, pickup is included with the tour.

Is the tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and travels by air-conditioned coach, so you remain seated throughout.

What happens if I'm traveling with an infant?

Infants are required to sit on an adult's lap during the tour.