Convict Kingston Tour: Norfolk Island's penal history with guide

Two centuries of Norfolk Island's past unfold through the graves and ruins of Kingston

A guided tour of Kingston on Norfolk Island traces the island's two British penal settlements, from first European arrival in 1788 through the Second Settlement when Norfolk Island became one of the British Empire's harshest penal colonies. Your local guide connects the convict era to the Polynesian settlers who preceded European arrival and the Bounty mutineers' descendants who arrived from Pitcairn Island in 1856, with a visit through the historic Kingston cemetery. Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points are included. You'll need to confirm your departure time at the Baunti Office in Burnt Pine before the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided tour of historic Kingston

• Explore historic Kingston cemetery
• Learn about early Polynesian settlers
• Discover British penal settlements history
• Hear stories of Bounty mutineers' descendants

The experience

Three and a half hours with a local guide who knows the systems and people that shaped Norfolk Island's penal past. The tour moves through Kingston's World Heritage landscape, stopping at the cemetery where graves from the first settlers and the convict era sit side by side. What makes this place singular is that it holds four distinct histories at once: the Polynesian communities who lived here centuries before Europeans arrived, the British convict settlements that defined the 19th century, the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian families who settled the island in 1856, and the landscape itself, which still carries the marks of all of them.

Your guide provides live commentary throughout, moving between the cemetery and the broader Kingston site. Light refreshments are included. Pickup and drop-off happen from designated meeting points on the island, so you don't need a car to reach the tour. Before the day of your tour, you'll need to call into the Baunti Office in Burnt Pine to confirm your departure time and exchange your voucher for a Baunti ticket.

What’s included

• Light refreshments.
• pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points.
• a local guide providing live commentary throughout the tour.
• entry to the historic Kingston cemetery.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday and SundayDeparts at 13:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 to 95 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 34

Live 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.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Baunti Tours

Is this one for you?The tour picks you up from a designated meeting point on Norfolk Island, so you don't need a rental car to reach Kingston's penal history. A practical advantage if you're staying elsewhere on the island or prefer not to drive.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What will I see at Kingston cemetery?

Kingston cemetery holds graves from Norfolk Island's first settlers and from the convict era, spanning the island's earliest European history through the Second Settlement period.

How does the tour connect the different communities that lived on Norfolk Island?

Your guide traces the island's history from the Polynesian settlers who arrived centuries before Europeans, through the two British penal settlements, to the descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian families who arrived from Pitcairn Island in 1856, showing how each community shaped Kingston.

Is hotel pickup included in this tour?

Pickup and drop-off are included from designated meeting points on Norfolk Island. If you need hotel pickup specifically, confirm this when you book.

What do I need to do before the tour starts?

Call into the Baunti Office in Burnt Pine before your tour date to confirm your departure time and exchange your voucher for a Baunti ticket.