Glide over the only coral lagoon in the Australian territory aboard a glass-bottom boat, then slip into impossibly clear turquoise water to snorkel among turtles and tropical fish. Emily Bay is Norfolk Island's most iconic and irreplaceable natural wonder.
What to expect
The glass-bottom boat motors gently over the reef, narrating the coral garden below — no fins required to see it all. For those who snorkel, the water is famously calm, warm, and crystal clear, with visibility often exceeding 10 metres. Green sea turtles are a near-daily sighting. The beach itself — a perfect crescent of white sand backed by towering Norfolk pines — is postcard perfection. Sessions typically run 60–90 minutes.
Good to know
Emily Bay is a 10-minute taxi ride from the Kingston tender pier. Book early — the lagoon is a marine protected area and operator permits limit daily numbers. Bring reef-safe sunscreen only; chemical sunscreen is prohibited in the lagoon. Check all-aboard time carefully; allow 30 minutes' return travel to the pier.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Norfolk Island — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Norfolk Island
- Kingston & Arthur's Vale: World Heritage Convict Settlement Tour
- Island Explorer Private Tour with Rachel Nebauer: The Full Norfolk Story
- Norfolk Island National Park Clifftop Walk: Pines, Palms & Pacific Panoramas
- Bounty Folk Museum & Fletcher's Mutiny Cyclorama: The Pitcairn Legacy
- Taste Norfolk Island: Wine, Produce & Culinary Heritage of the Pacific's Secret Island