Pitcairn Islands Travel Guide: Bounty History, Adamstown & Getting There

A By Anna · Updated 21 October 2026 · 3 min read

Airports

No airport; fly to Mangareva (GMR) in French Polynesia via Tahiti, then about 32 hours by ship

Flight time

about 26-30h from London to Tahiti, plus onward flight and sea crossing

Best time to go

October-March

Currency

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

The Pitcairn Islands are a group of four volcanic and coral islands in the South Pacific, roughly halfway between New Zealand and South America. Only Pitcairn itself is inhabited, by around 40 people, most of them descended from the HMS Bounty mutineers and the Tahitians who settled here with them in 1790. It is a British Overseas Territory and one of the most remote and least-visited inhabited places on the planet.

Life centres on Adamstown, the only settlement, perched above the steep landing at Bounty Bay. Islanders travel by quad bike along red dirt tracks, speak English and Pitkern, and earn income from honey, crafts and stamps. Pitcairn is eight hours behind the UK in winter (nine during British Summer Time) and uses the New Zealand dollar. For the wider picture, see our Oceania guide, our French Polynesia guide for the gateway and our Norfolk Island guide, where many Pitcairners resettled in 1856.

Things to do

• Adamstown: the church, the public hall square, the museum with Bounty relics and the grave of John Adams, the last surviving mutineer.
• Bounty Bay: the landing where the mutineers burned the ship; the Bounty's anchor is displayed in the square.
• Christian's Cave: a hillside cave where Fletcher Christian is said to have watched the sea for ships.
• St Paul's Pool: a natural rock pool on the coast, filled by crashing waves.
• Hiking: tracks to Highest Point and lookouts over the island's cliffs and valleys.
• Pitcairn Marine Reserve: one of the world's largest, with snorkelling and diving in very clear water.
• Henderson Island: an uninhabited raised coral atoll and UNESCO World Heritage Site, visited occasionally by boat.
• Local crafts and honey: carved wooden curios, woven baskets and some of the purest honey in the world.

Where to stay

• Homestays in Adamstown: visitors stay with island families, with meals included, arranged through Pitcairn Islands Tourism.
• Self-contained lodges: a small number of chalets and rooms, also booked through the tourism office.

Getting there

From the UK, fly to Papeete in Tahiti, usually via Los Angeles or Paris, then take an Air Tahiti flight to Mangareva in the Gambier Islands. From there, the shipping service operated for the Pitcairn government sails to Pitcairn, a journey of around 32 hours, only a few times a year. Some cruise ships also call, landing passengers by longboat when the sea allows. Short-stay visitors generally do not need a visa but must have proof of onward travel and booked accommodation; longer stays need a licence. Confirm current rules with Pitcairn Islands Tourism before travelling.

Good to know

• Community: with so few residents, visitors are guests of the whole island; respect privacy and local customs.
• Religion: most islanders are Seventh-day Adventists, and Saturday is the day of rest.
• Health: there is a small clinic with a visiting doctor, but serious cases are very hard to evacuate, so take comprehensive insurance and be in good health.
• Communications: internet is available but slow and expensive.
• Shopping: the general store opens only a few times a week and depends on the supply ship.

Best time to visit

October to March is the warmer season, with temperatures in the mid-20s °C. April to September is cooler and can bring rougher seas. In practice, the ship schedule decides when you can go, so book the voyage first and plan around it.

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