Norfolk Island Pine Grove

The Norfolk Island Pine, Araucaria heterophylla, is the island most recognisable feature and one of the most iconic trees in the southern hemisphere, its symmetrical horizontal branching and tall straight trunk appearing on the flag of Norfolk Island and in the promotional imagery of every tourism business on the island. In its native habitat on Norfolk Island the tree can grow to sixty metres, though specimens in open exposed positions are often shorter and may develop the asymmetric crown that gives individual trees their distinctive character. The species belongs to an ancient genus that dates from the Mesozoic era, and its stiff needle-like leaves and the large male and female cones it produces are structural features that have remained essentially unchanged for millions of years. The trees growing above Kingston and throughout the island national parks are not the original old-growth stand but are largely the descendants of a forestry programme begun in the early twentieth century that treated the pine as a commercial timber crop alongside other exotic species.

The most famous grove of Norfolk Island pines stands on the hillside above the Kingston settlement, where a managed stand provides both a living timber reserve and a scenic backdrop to the historic ruins below. These trees were planted in the 1920s and 1930s and have now reached full height, their uniform boles and flat crowns creating the silhouette that appears in virtually every photograph of the Kingston historic area. The grove is criss-crossed by walking tracks that allow close inspection of the trees at ground level, where the bark texture and the pattern of fallen needles beneath each tree can be appreciated. The canopy above produces a dappled light that is particularly attractive in the early morning and late afternoon, when the sun angles through the branches and creates pools of light on the forest floor. The pines cast a deep shade that suppresses most ground vegetation, so the floor of the grove is largely bare except for fallen branches and the occasional fern that has found enough moisture to survive.

The commercial use of Norfolk Island pine timber was the original reason for the forestry programme, and the light straight-grained wood was used for construction, furniture and the production of the island distinctive bowls and decorative objects that are still sold in island gift shops. The wood is pale yellow when fresh and darkens to a warm honey colour as it ages, and the natural figure of the grain is considered attractive enough to require little additional decoration. Today the timber programme has largely ceased and the remaining pines are valued almost entirely for their landscape and conservation qualities, providing habitat for nesting seabirds and acting as a windbreak for the agricultural land below. Seedlings are grown in the island nursery for sale to visitors who want to plant a Norfolk Island pine at home, though the tree has proved difficult to establish outside its narrow ecological zone and most attempts to cultivate it in mainland Australia or New Zealand result in stunted specimens that lack the symmetry of the island originals.

Araucaria heterophylla is endemic to Norfolk Island and nowhere else in the world grows naturally; seeing the mature trees in their native habitat is a genuinely unique botanical experience.

The silhouette of the Norfolk Island Pine against the Pacific sky is the defining image of the island and appears on the island flag, making the grove an essential photograph for any visitor.

The grove above Kingston is free to access and forms a natural extension of the historic area visit, requiring no additional ticket or transport.