Pitcairn Islands Cruise
Pitcairn Island is the only of four islands that is actually inhabited, it is a British overseas territory in the central, south Pacific, about midway between Australia and South America and it covers an area of about two square miles. Of volcanic origin Pitcairn Island is characterised by steep basaltic cliffs that rise unexpectedly from the sea. There are no streams on the island although there is fertile soil and oranges and bananas are grown here. Adamstown is the only village on the island as is located on the northern coast near Bounty Bay. The islanders are reliant upon longboats to ferry people and goods between ship and shore through Bounty Bay. Passage to the island can be sought upon freighters out of New Zealand and is a seven day trip. Weather-permitting, the island is beautiful for passengers from a cruise ship to come ashore for a day. Pitcairn Island has a population of about 50 people making it the least populated jurisdiction in the world.
On the 3rd of July 1767 Pitcairn Island was discovered by crew aboard the HMS Swallow. It was named after a fifteen-year old midshipman Robert Pitcairn, who was the first to sight the island. The island is most famous for being where the mutineers of the Bounty settled and set fire to the famous ship, the wreck of which is still visible underwater in Bounty Bay.
During the 1850’s the community was outgrowing the island on Pitcairn and eventually the British government gave them Norfolk Island and on 3rd of May 1856 the entire population of 193 people set sail arriving five weeks later on June 8th. However, after just eighteen months seventeen of them returned to Pitcairn and five years later another twenty-seven had done the same.
Some of the remains of The Bounty are still visible underwater in Bounty Bay, her ballast stones are still partially visible.
Sports fishing is fantastic fun with plenty of marlin to be caught from January to May every year.