Panorama Seaside Apartments

The views were lovely, and the staff were kind and accommodating. Our two-bedroom apartment had comfortable king-size beds, but it would have felt cramped if our friend hadn't had to miss the trip, since we would have needed to share a bed. The apartments date from the 1980s and could use an update. Cleaning and presentation need more attention: there was dust on the lights and switches, the dish drainer and bathroom basket needed cleaning or replacing, and the gardens were untidy. Mould was growing on the verandah posts. The shower head kept falling because it wouldn't tighten, and the wrong-size toilet seat kept shifting. There was no phone in the room, despite the brochure saying there would be. One night some guests arrived late, couldn't reach management, and ended up going elsewhere.

For the price, I found this place clean and comfortable, with amazing views from a quiet corner of the island. I spent four nights here with my family and couldn't ask for more. It's not a five-star resort, and there's no free Wi-Fi, but I don't think you can find a better deal on the island. Some bad reviews seem hard to understand when people are paying such a good price and still expecting the Taj Mahal. It's within walking distance of the historic settlement in Kingston and close to Slaughter Bay and Emily Beach. Nights were completely quiet, and we could sit on the balcony with tea and watch the stars. You could pay twice as much to stay on the main street in Burnt Palm, look over a parking lot, and drive ten minutes to Emily Beach, or get this million-dollar view for the price of a mainland motel.

Brett, the owner, made us feel welcome and at home, and was wonderful to deal with. The ocean views were beautiful, with Kingston below and the valley in view too. I spent all seven nights of my Norfolk Island stay at Panorama Seaside Apartments, and I'll definitely return to both the island and these apartments.

The owner was really friendly and accommodating, and let us check out whenever suited since no one else was arriving. It's affordable, with a great view from every room, and has a laundry and everything we needed. The rooms are dated and nothing fancy. We could see cows and chickens right outside, plus an old ruin down the hill.