The best beaches on Norfolk Island for a refreshing dip

Australian TravellerBy Australian Traveller
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We uncover the best swimming spots along the 32-kilometre coastline of Norfolk Island.

Norfolk Island remains one of Australia’s lesser-known island gems. Having quietly dodged the march of mass tourism, the island still boasts an array of uncrowded, pristine swimming spots and a mild sub-tropical climate to enjoy them in.

Discover our top picks for the best swimming spots on Norfolk Island, featuring stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters perfect for a refreshing dip.

Emily Bay Lagoon

Best for: this one is the all-rounder

Emily Bay Lagoon is our pick of the bunch for swimming on Norfolk Island. Find sheltered reefs, calm horizons and aqua-azure waters reminiscent of the Maldives. It’s renowned as one of the safest beaches in the world – and one of the top 10 beaches in Australia according to Trip Advisor.

The clear sandy-bottomed waters of Emily Bay Lagoon provide a kaleidoscope of underwater beauty to explore. Snorkel with sea life at Lone Pine headland or relax on the pontoon in between dips.

From the sand, you can spot views out to Phillip Island and Nepean Island, Salthouse Ruins and the Convict Settlement. Facilities include a food truck serving refreshments and snacks during the day, change rooms and toilets.

Emily Bay Norfolk Island
Emily Bay’s crystal-clear waters are perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

Slaughter Bay

Best for: snorkelling

Don’t let the seemingly ominous name deter you. Slaughter Bay is derived from an old English word that means ‘slow-moving water’ – setting the scene for exactly what you can expect here.

Find it tucked away in the Kingston and Arthurs Vale Historic Area (KAVHA) of the island. Its calm crystal clear waters play host to a living aquarium, and with a maximum depth of four metres Slaughter Bay remains one of the best spots to snorkel on the island. You can also catch some waves off the reef when the conditions are right, so bring your surfboard along for the ride.

Slaughter Bay Norfolk Island
Slaughter Bay is a popular option for those interested in water activities

Cemetery Beach

Best for: dogs and a history lesson

For those who like to combine swimming with a history lesson, Cemetery Beach is the place for you. Find it just past the Kingston Cemetery – the reason for the moniker – in the KAVHA.

Once you’ve taken a dip in the impossibly blue water, relive the history of the island’s convict era by taking a walk around the neighbouring cemetery. The headstones and inscriptions, which date back as early as 1792, provide anecdotal accounts of the oft-violent deaths of the settler convicts – many of which were executed.

Head back to the beach to explore the rock pools at low tide and bring your pets, as this is one of the only beaches on the island that is dog-friendly.

Cemetary Bay Norfolk Island.
Come to Cemetery Beach for a lesson in island history

Cresswell Bay

Best for: learning to surf

You’ll find the idyllic Cresswell Bay, affectionately named “Bumby" by the locals, at the bottom of Bumboras Reserve on the southern side of the island.

Popular for surfing, swimming and rock fishing, the secluded crescent-shaped beach is also commonly used by the local surfing school – so it’s a brilliant spot to tick ‘learning to surf’ off your bucket list. There is also a well-maintained boardwalk and toilet facilities located a few metres walk from the beach.

Anson Bay

Best for: views and total seclusion – not recommended for swimming

Find Anson Bay at the base of one of Norfolk Island’s headlands. Reaching this slice of paradise will take some effort. Prepare for a fairly challenging walk down to the beach – a good level of fitness is recommended.

While its secluded position makes it a little less accessible than some of the more popular beaches on the island, what it lacks in accessibility it more than makes up for in natural beauty. Once you reach the beach, you’re likely be the only one there. Enjoy the seclusion and explore the water’s edge.

This one makes the list for its beauty alone, the shore drops away rapidly into deep water, so it isn’t recommended for swimming. Take the track back up to the top to enjoy the views and cook up a barbeque lunch.

Anson Bay Norfolk Island
Anson Bay more than rewards those who make the journey.

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Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

    Angela SaurineBy Angela Saurine
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    From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet. 

    Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it. 

    Budj Bim cultural landscape  

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is on Gunditjmara Country. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim , ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas. 

    eel tank
    The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour 

    Dumawul walkingtour
    Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance.  The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.  

    Kooyoora walking tour
    Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Kingfisher Cruises  

    Kingfisher Cruises
    Cruising the Murray with Kingfisher Cruises. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises . Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.  

    wawa biik 

    Taungurung leaders
    Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik. 

    Bataluk Cultural Trail  

    Bataluk Trail
    Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.  

    Healesville Sanctuary  

    echidna at Healesville Sanctuary
    Get up close with a resident echidna at Healesville Sanctuary. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm. 

    The Grampians 

    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians
    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.