Henderson Island

Entry requirements vary by passport, so check your specific requirements on the Pitcairn Islands page at Yoogo. Visitors do generally need to arrange their trip and any required permissions well in advance, given the island's remoteness and limited transport.

The official currency is the New Zealand dollar. There are no banks or ATMs on the island, and card and mobile payments are not reliable, so you should bring enough cash for your stay, souvenirs, and any fees. It is sensible to confirm accepted payment methods with your host before you travel.

There is no airport, so access is by sea aboard the passenger and supply ship MV Silver Supporter, which sails from Mangareva in French Polynesia. Travellers usually fly to Tahiti and on to Mangareva, then join the ship for the voyage of roughly a day and a half to Pitcairn. Once ashore, you get around on foot or by quad bike, as the island has only a short paved road and dirt tracks.

Pitcairn is a small, close-knit community with very little crime, and visitors are generally made to feel welcome. The main risks come from the rugged terrain, steep tracks, and strong seas, so care is needed when walking, swimming, or riding a quad bike. There are no hospitals and only very basic medical care, so serious problems can require a lengthy evacuation.

Pitcairn has a warm, subtropical climate throughout the year, with the cooler, drier months from around April to October often the most comfortable for walking and boat trips. The warmer, wetter season runs roughly from November to March. Sailings are limited and set to a fixed schedule, so your dates will largely depend on the ship's timetable.

The islanders speak English and Pitkern, a local creole that blends eighteenth-century English with Tahitian. English is used for everyday dealings with visitors and for official business, so you will have no trouble communicating. Hearing Pitkern spoken among the families is one of the distinctive experiences of a visit.

Pitcairn has a small health centre staffed by a resident doctor or nurse who can handle routine care and minor emergencies. There is no hospital, and serious cases require evacuation by ship to Mangareva and onward by air, which can take days or longer. You should travel with comprehensive insurance, any personal medication you need, and a well-stocked first aid kit.

Pitcairn has satellite-based internet, and connectivity has improved in recent years, though speeds can still be limited and weather dependent. There is no conventional mobile network in the way visitors may be used to, so it is best to treat the island as somewhere to disconnect. Let family and colleagues know in advance that you may be hard to reach.