Review: Paradise Hotel and Resort on Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island is located 1,680km north-east of Sydney and you can fly there on Qantas. I visited the island and elected to stay at the Paradise Hotel & Resort, which is handily located near everything.

What swayed me were online comments remarking on how friendly the staff were. Reviews of other places were also good, but none continually mentioned this aspect, so I figured this would be the place to stay.

Online Booking

I was travelling for my Mum’s 70th birthday, so I booked a Superior Room and specified one with a Queen Bed and Single Bed. This came to a total of AU$702 for three nights (€480, US$485, £405), which is reasonable.

When we received the booking confirmation, it was revealed that the price also included airport transfers, plus a half day island tour. That was a pleasant surprise, making it even better value.

Superior Room at Paradise Hotel & Resort

Norfolk Island is quite petite, so it was a quick ride to the hotel where we were promptly checked in. With room key in hand, we headed off to our accommodation, which proved to be rather spacious, featuring a small patio with access to the pool.

Air conditioning is prohibited on the island, so rooms are equipped with a fan to cool you down during the summer months. We went during winter and even then needed the fan as the temperatures still hit the 20s.

Our room was pleasantly clean, with spotless linens on the beds. A small TV is provided which has a bunch of channels, and there is a Microwave and Fridge which is great. Wi-Fi service is okay and you do need to pay for it (A$10 for 500mb but there are other plans) but since this is hardly the mainland it is no big deal.

Our beds were comfortable and the sleep very good, especially as it’s so nice and quiet. Each day the rooms are serviced and you’d think nobody had stayed there, the beds are re-done that well.

The Pool And Deck

Many rooms open straight out onto the pool deck and ours was one of those. While we didn’t swim on this trip, people most certainly did take a dip, middle of winter be damned!

It’s all really quite nice and suits the whole island vibe of the place. Next time I visit, I’ll most certainly be swimming as I always like the water.

Breakfast At The Paradise Hotel

As you would expect, breakfast is served daily and it’s an additional charge. There are two price points, one for continental and one for a cooked breakfast, but I can’t remember the amounts. It was either AU$14.95 and AU$24.95 or maybe AU$19.95 and AU$24.95. Anyway, you get the gist.

They have an egg station where you can have them cooked any way you like, so I went for poached. The Porridge is delicious as are all the cooked options, every one of which I sampled. There is a machine to toast your bread too, and the toast is also good. The spread is comprehensive and worth the price.

Lunch Food

One of the days it was quite rainy, so we decided to have lunch in the hotel. My mother had a quiche and I had the calamari and both were pretty good.

However, others around us were having toasted sandwiches and they looked so good that we were a little jealous. On our last day, our airport pickup was 12:30pm, so we arrived for lunch when it starts at midday and had one with some chips. So, soooo good!

Christmas In July

Since Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere is in the middle of summer, some places have taken to doing Christmas in July. We saw they were having a dinner for this on the Sunday night we were there and went along for it.

Everyone had a rollicking good time! The food was very good, drinks promptly delivered and once the eating was done, everyone hit the dancefloor for a bit of a boogie. Good fun!

What About The Service?

From the minute we arrived through to the moment we left, we were treated like family moreso than guests. No request was too much effort and we were always helped with a smile and usually some gossip or banter.

The owner, Sandra, is an absolute treasure! Her and my Mum got along very well, which was great. Sandy takes great pride in her operation, overseeing every detail, whether it’s decorating the ballroom to the food to managing the staff. She seems to be everywhere, making for a well oiled operation. You will love her if you visit here, we certainly did.

Overall Thoughts

Quite frankly, I would find it hard to believe there is a better place to stay on Norfolk Island than the Paradise Hotel & Resort. Spacious, clean and well kept rooms, great food, a nice atmosphere and convivial surroundings make it worth it alone.

The fact you get airport transfers and a half day island tour thrown in is a bonus. However, the reviews were right – the real stars of the show are Sandy and her team. From the bar staff to the breakfast people to the maid service, all are wonderful and make the stay perfect.

Would I stay here again? That is a resounding yes! Have you stayed here or visited Norfolk Island before? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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