Norfolk Island 7-hectare clifftop escape tied to HMS Bounty mutiny lists for $6m

At the heart of the eco-resort portfolio is the four-star Endeavour Lodge, opened in 1999 and expanded in 2009-10, comprising six one-bedroom luxury apartments, one two-bedroom cottage and a three-bedroom house. All accommodation enjoys ocean views and private verandahs designed to capture the island’s dramatic sunsets and birdlife among the towering native Norfolk Island pines.

Norfolk pine timber furnishings feature throughout, reinforcing the lodge’s positioning as an eco-style retreat that blends comfort with the unspoiled natural environment surrounding the site.

The apartments are multi-award-winning and Green Star accredited by AAA Tourism, with the lodge recognised for its sustainable operations, including a commitment to energy efficiency, waste minimisation and water management.

Also included is Rainbows End, a licensed three-bedroom house perched about 100 metres from the lodge on the cliff’s edge, a private owner’s residence and substantial vacant land offering genuine expansion potential – a rarity on an island covering just 35 square kilometres.

Discovered by Captain James Cook in 1774 and settled as a British penal colony in 1788, the historic island later became home to the descendants of the Bounty mutineers. Today, the world heritage-listed Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area stands as one of Australia’s most intact convict precincts.

The property is owned and operated by hosts Duncan and Gaewyn Evans, who have owned it since 1998.

Duncan is a seventh-generation Norfolk Islander and direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, the leader of the mutiny on the Bounty, while Gaewyn descends from Reverend Henry Fulton, an Irish political prisoner who served as a Presbyterian chaplain on the island during the first convict settlement from 1801 to 1806, according to its website.

The land itself was originally granted to Isaac Godfrey Christian, born on Pitcairn Island and a fourth-generation descendant of Fletcher Christian, before being acquired by the Evans family almost 30 years ago.

Faiers, a Queensland-based motel and caravan park specialist, said the scale and location of the expansive estate remain unmatched in the local market.

“The positioning and views from the site are unparalleled,” he said.

“The land stretches right to the cliff, offering a sense of scale and drama that’s simply impossible to replicate.”

Trading performance reflects sustained tourism demand, the island’s primary economic driver. In 2025, Endeavour Lodge and Rainbows End achieved occupancy rates of 78.3 per cent and 70.2 per cent, respectively, with the business currently delivering a reported 12 per cent return on business assets.

“Endeavour Lodge and Rainbows End deliver a truly deluxe guest experience amid Norfolk’s unspoiled beauty,” Faiers said.

“There’s plenty of vacant land on the site to add extra accommodations to cater to this strong demand.”

The business benefits from established global distribution via digital booking platforms and partnerships, including Qantas Holidays. It also offers airport transfers to guests and discounted rental cars.

Norfolk Island itself sits about 1600 kilometres north-east of Sydney – closer to mainland Australia than either New Caledonia or New Zealand – and, despite being an external territory, uses the NSW postcode prefix of 2 (2899). Home to around 2200 residents, the island’s compact scale and constrained land supply underpin the offering.

Norfolk Island’s economy has shown resilience and growth in recent years, supported by strong tourism activity and government investment, with tourism remaining a vital economic pillar and a driver of employment and visitor spending.

According to the Norfolk Island Annual Economic Update 2025 published by the Norfolk Island Regional Council, the island welcomed more than 30,600 visitors in 2023-24, with tourism contributing approximately 35 per cent of total direct economic activity and generating close to $48.9 million in visitor expenditure. The report notes that visitors stay an average of seven nights and spend about $224 per person per day, while tourism directly accounts for more than 35 per cent of employment across accommodation, hospitality, retail and transport sectors.

Economic indicators also show that key measures such as inflation and unemployment have remained lower than in mainland Australia, while the island has experienced relatively higher economic expansion.

The property is positioned five minutes from the island’s Burnt Pine shopping centre, a golf course, and beaches.

The business offers “substantial upside from expanding the accommodation footprint, optimising yields, and further activating the extensive landholding,” the listing reads.

“This landmark holding represents an exceptional opportunity to secure scale, lifestyle, and long-term development potential in one of the South Pacific’s most tightly-held destinations.”