Pitcairn Islands

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The Pitcairn Islands are a loosely grouped handful of tiny islands in the remote South Pacific, farther from any continent than any other inhabited island. The islands are the last British colony in the South Pacific and most isolated British dependency. The rugged main island was settled by the infamous mutineers of the HMS Bounty and their Polynesian companions, and most of Pitcairn's mere four dozen current inhabitants are their descendants. They are one of the least-populated entities given an ISO country code (PN).

Regions

• Pitcairn Island - the only inhabited island of the group
• Henderson Island - the largest island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several endangered bird species
• Oeno Island, Sandy Island - a close pair of islands and the local residents' "holiday" spot
• Ducie Island - distant from the others, with lots of exotic bird life

Towns

• Adamstown and the capital and sole settlement containing the entire population of the Pitcairn Islands - a scattered village of households on the main eponymous isle, up the Hill of Difficulty from Bounty Bay.

Pitcairn Islands Halal Explorer

History

Pitcairn and Henderson were inhabited by Polynesian peoples from current day French Polynesia in earlier centuries, and was visited briefly by Portuguese and British explorers (one of whom gave it his name), but it was deserted when in 1790 the infamous mutineers of H.M.A.V. Bounty and their Tahitian companions settled there under the leadership of Fletcher Christian. They burned and sank the ship in what is now called Bounty Bay (there was nowhere else to hide it), and founded a village on Pitcairn. At first a rather lawless community of violent drunks, it was "tamed" when John Adams and the last mutineer to avoid accident or murder, converted the women and children to Christianity. They lived there for 24 years before being rediscovered by the British, who allowed the community to continue. Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become a British colony, in 1838, and today remains the last vestige of that failed British empire in the South Pacific.

Emigration – first to Norfolk Island and mostly to New Zealand in the last century – and a nearly-prohibitive approach to immigration have thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50 today.

How is the Climate in Pitcairn Islands

The climate is humid and tropical (the Tropic of Capricorn lies a short distance to the north), with average temperatures ranging from 16°C (60°F) on winter nights to 30°C (85°F) on summer days. Rainfall is moderate with no strong seasonal pattern, just a bit wetter in the winter. The island is subject to infrequent typhoons during the season from November to March.

How is the Landscape of Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn Islands map - 450px

The islands are each unique, with differing origins. Pitcairn is distinctly volcanic, jutting steeply out of the ocean with a peak of 337 meters, seemingly a stone's throw from the shoreline (in any direction). As such it has very little of what would be called a "beach" – however the word "cliff" gets used a lot – and harbours are hard to come by. Bounty Bay hardly deserves the name, consisting of a small indentation in the shoreline with water deep enough only for small boats without keels and a small sea-level landing area... connected via the Hill of Difficulty to Adamstown. It is the only island of the group with fresh water sources. Henderson is the largest island, a flat coral formation, but raised 50-100 feet above sea level by volcanic activity. It has caves along its shoreline which served as either tombs or ill-fated residences to an ancient people. It might be suitable for building an airstrip if it weren't for all the endangered seabirds that find it an ideal spot to land. Oeno is a small, flat island (accompanied by another sandy island known as "Sandy Island") surrounded by a circular reef, a typical South-Pacific paradise with palm trees, lovely beaches, and a sheltered lagoon. Ducie is distant from the others (over 100 miles from Henderson and well over 200 from Pitcairn), a circular reef and island, popular with seabirds.

Travel to Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairnworld - Location of Pitcairn in the world

The remoteness and ruggedness of Pitcairn's geography and the insularity of its bureaucracy, and the scarcity of its resources conspire to make it a difficult place to visit. But with enough time, money and flexibility and the Bravo Supporter vessel (see below) makes it rather easy to visit Pitcairn.

No visa is needed if you intend to stay 14 days or less on Pitcairn and arrive and depart on the same vessel. Visitors staying on the island for longer require permission from the governor, because the irregularity of transport means they're effectively residents of the island for the next several weeks or even months. To get permission requires an application in advance, meeting various conditions and a NZ$150 fee; ☎ +64 9 366-0186

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Pitcairn Islands

There is no airstrip in the islands, and it's out of range of land-launched helicopters, so flying is not an option: the largest flat area on Pitcairn would offer a very short runway, and level Henderson Island is both a UNESCO-listed bird sanctuary and inconveniently located. The nearest airport is on Mangareva in the Gambier Islands, 330 miles away. You can catch a charter vessel from Mangareva.

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn Island is accessible to tourists via the island’s dedicated passenger/shipping vessel and the Bravo Supporter, which provides passage from Mangareva (in the Gambier Islands) to Pitcairn about 26 times each year (fare NZD5,000). The schedule has several consecutive round trips to Mangareva alternating with longer voyages for island residents only to Auckland, (New Zealand).

You will first need to go to Mangareva. Air Tahiti is the only airline carrier offering Flights to Mangareva (two flights a week from Tahiti, on Tuesdays and Saturdays). You then catch the airport taxi ferry to Rikitea village on Mangareva (XPF500 one way). The crew of the Claymore will meet you at the wharf in Rikitea and transfer you to the ship. 32 hours later you’ll be at Pitcairn.

A small number of commercial cruise ships and private ocean-traversing yachts also visit the island. Sailing from French Polynesia is relatively practical; from almost anywhere else (eg: New Zealand, Chile) it requires crossing thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean.

Pitcairn_Island_NOAA - Pitcairn Island

• Pitcairn Island Office in Auckland - For travel enquiries or bookings you can go to Pitcairn Island Office in Auckland.

• Pitcairn Travel - Pitcairn Travel, a privately owned Pitcairn tour operator also handles enquiries and bookings to Pitcairn Islands on their charter yacht Xplore and other available services.

• Pacific Expeditions - Pacific Expeditions can also arrange visits to Pitcairn Island aboard their vessel the SV Discovery previously known as Bounty Bay.

How to get around in Pitcairn Islands

There is now one short paved road on Pitcairn (up the Hill of Difficulty from the landing at Bounty Bay to Adamstown), but most routes around Pitcairn Island are dirt trails, generally very rugged. Walking and personal all-terrain vehicles are the main ways to get from one place to another, and a bike is usually available for rent.

Local Language in Pitcairn Islands

Picairn Cave AKK - Entrance to Fletcher Christian's Cave

English is the official language and spoken by everyone. Pitkern, a mixture of 18th century English and Tahitian with a bit of sailing jargon thrown in, e.g., "all hands" means "everyone", is spoken by the residents amongst themselves.

What to see in Pitcairn Islands

• The remains of the Bounty are in Bounty Bay. The ship was deliberately burned and sunk by the mutineers, and it's been well picked over by divers in the meantime, but there's still an allure to seeing (what little is left of) the vessel of the true tale that made "Captain Bligh" and "the Bounty" household names.
• The Bounty's anchor is on display in front of the Public Hall in the town square, where the library/post office building, and the Adventist church can also be found.
• The new museum in Adamstown contains artifacts from the Bounty (including Fletcher Christian's Bible), stamps, issues of National Geographic featuring the islands, and other items of local interest. One of the ship's four cannons is planned to be displayed here.
• The island's school lies up in the western "suburbs" of Adamstown.
• The grave of John Adams and the last surviving mutineer who first Christianised the community and the only one with a preserved grave.
• Fletcher Christian's cave, past the school and further up, is where the lead mutineer is said to have watched for approaching ships and/or hid from his ruthless fellow settlers when necessary.
• A Galapagos tortoise named Mrs Turpin was left on the island in the early 20th century, and now lives in Tedside on the northwest shore of the island.
• Taro Ground in the south of Pitcairn is the largest flat area on the island and site of the island's traditional link to the outside world: its ham radio station.
• Flatland is a smaller plateau at the upper extent of Adamstown, with a tennis court, volleyball, and picnic facilities.
• Garnet's Ridge, at 300 m one of the highest parts of a tall island, offers great views to both the west and east.
• Highest Point is the... highest point on the island, at 337 m.
• Down Rope, a cliff on the southeast edge of the island, has ancient Polynesian petroglyphs in its face and an isolated sandy beach at its base.
• Gudgeon is a sea-level cave on the southwest side of the island, which hides a sandy beach in a large, wide space carved by the waves.

Best things to do in Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn - Church of Adamstown - Adamstown Church

• If the ocean is calm enough, go swimming in St. Paul's Pool, a picturesque tidal swimmingpool nestled among the seaside rocks in eastern part of Pitcairn. (Swimming in the ocean itself generally isn't safe due to the rocky shoreline.)
• Sail yourself or perhaps travel with the local residents to another of the islands. Oeno has sandy beaches suitable for swimming, Henderson offers rare opportunities for birdwatching and exploration of ancient caves and both are good for snorkelling or scuba diving among coral reefs and a few shipwrecks. Ducie is over 300 miles away, out of range of the islanders' boats, and therefore rarely visited, but is also good for seeing rare birds.
• Every year on January 23, "Bounty Day" is celebrated with a huge community dinner and the burning of a model of the Bounty.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Pitcairn Islands

Money Matters & ATM's in Pitcairn Islands

The currency used in the Pitcairn Islands is the New Zealand dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" or "NZ$" (ISO code: NZD). It is divided into 100 cents. In this eHalal.io Travel Guide and the "$" symbol denotes New Zealand dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Pitcairn Islands

The internal economy is based primarily on barter, with residents producing much of their own food and sharing supplies from passing freighters or large fish catches communally. When money is used and the New Zealand dollar is the standard currency, but easily-exchanged currencies such as Australian dollars, UK pounds or US dollars will be accepted.

The main locally-produced items for sale are handicrafts (especially woven baskets, models of the Bounty, and carvings of local wildlife out of miro wood harvested from Henderson Island) and honey and the island's postage stamps (also available by mail overseas) are of interest to philatelists.Anything else has to be imported, and is priced accordingly.

Halal Restaurants in Pitcairn Islands

There is a small co-operative general store which stocks imported foodstuffs from New Zealand and French Polynesia, mostly ordered by clients in advance (Halal food available if shipped from New Zeland). It's open 3 mornings a week for an hour. The local cooking relies heavily on seafood. Deep-fried nanwi (bluefish) is a local favourite, with red snapper, tuna, whitefish, grouper, wahoo and others also being common. Pilhi is made from puréed fruit (such as banana, sweet potato, or breadfruit) with sugar and milk and then baked to custard consistency. Food staples grown on the island include arrowroot, sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes, cabbages, pineapples, melons, citrus fruits, bananas and breadfruit. Some families keep poultry and goats.

Other places on island:

Pitcairn Coastline AKK - Adamstown

• Browns Bakery In the square every second Thursday at 17:00, selling freshly baked goods.

• Betty's Bakery Freshly baked goods made to order.

• Fletcher Cafe Fletcher Cafe is available for coffees, Snacks and lunches to order. Dinner can also be provided on request.

The Government Store sells tobacco at duty free prices.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn Islands - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Pitcairn Islands, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Pitcairn Islands. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Pitcairn Islands and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Pitcairn Islands. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Pitcairn Islands. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inPitcairn Islands: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Pitcairn Islands.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Pitcairn Islands: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Pitcairn Islands, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Pitcairn Islands.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Pitcairn Islands, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Pitcairn Islands, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Pitcairn Islands and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Pitcairn Islands, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Pitcairn Islands, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Pitcairn Islands without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Pitcairn Islands is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Pitcairn Islands.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Pitcairn Islands is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Pitcairn Islands, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Pitcairn Islands Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

There are 2 types of accommodation on Pitcairn.

• "Home-stay" style. This is arranged prior to your arrival on the island. Accommodation rates start at USD70 per person per day. This includes all meals and laundry. Check with your host about rates for telephone and Internet access which may shock you.
• Private self contained bungalows.

Bounty bay - Bounty Bay

For all travel, bookings and accommodation enquiries send an email to (@).

If you are staying longer than 14 days, visa requirements dictate that you have your accommodation organised before arrival.

• Jacq's Place offers accommodation and professional Polynesian massage and acupuncture treatments.

Medical Issues in Pitcairn Islands

At present there is a New Zealand GP on the island. Previous medical practitioners have come from Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The island has a small health clinic with dental and X-ray equipment and emergency medications, but is not equipped to deal with major problems, which may require waiting days or weeks for a nearby passing ship to provide evacuation to a medical facility. The island is out of range of all evacuation helicopters. Needless to say, this is no place to have a heart attack, stroke, or other serious condition. A full medical check-up a couple weeks before arrival is strongly recommended. Additional ultrasound and basic EKG screening (not generally covered by insurance or universal health care) is a good idea for those over 40, or anyone at extra risk.

Local Customs in Pitcairn Islands

Henderson01 AKK - Remote Henderson Island, UNESCO site

The recent trials of several Pitcairn men, including the former mayor and much of the island's workforce, on sexual abuse charges have been difficult for the close-knit island community, with everyone being a friend or family of at least one of the victims and the suspects, or the convicted. The incident has also brought to the surface tensions over Pitcairn's sovereignty, such as unfamiliar UK laws being adjudicated by New Zealand courts. Strong feelings should be expected, and statements expressing any opinions beyond an acknowledgement of how difficult this has been for the islanders stand a high probability of upsetting someone in your audience.

Don't bring bees or bee keeping equipment. The island's bee population has been certified as disease-free and Pitcairn honey is becoming an important economic activity.

Telecommunications in Pitcairn Islands

Each household now has their own private telephone and most also have internet. The country code is +64 and the same as New Zealand. Using the old code of +870 may significantly increase the cost of the call.

Cope

Electricity (240 V/50 Hz) is available only for 5 hours in the morning and 5 hours in the evening.

Although there is no broadcast radio or television in the region, most homes are equipped with televisions and VHS/DVD players. If you bring any recordings with you, be sure they are PAL format and DVD region 4 (or bring your own DVD player), as the local residents' equipment supports those standards, not NTSC or other DVD regions. Some PAL DVD players will play region-free NTSC, though it's better not to take a chance on anything important.

Travel Next

Ducie02 AKK - Remote Ducie Atoll

If you'll be sailing your own ship and the nearest islands are in French Polynesia, roughly to the WNW: the isolated Gambier Islands are 330 miles away and the Acteon Group of the Tuamotu Islands are 450 miles away, and Tahiti and the rest of the Society Islands are a mere 1,300 miles off. Easter Island is about the same distance in the opposite direction.

Passing freighters will likely be bound for either New Zealand or Panama.

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