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Discovery centre

A metal sculpture of a butterfly with blue stained glass wings, illuminated and hanging from a wooden pillar in an art gallery
A metal and glass butterfly, part of the 'Phillip Island Glass' art installation by local artist Jai Adams

Explore the natural wonders of Norfolk Island National Park at the Discovery Centre.

This purpose-built centre is a must-visit on your Norfolk explorations. Here you’ll find out more about the fascinating natural history of Norfolk Island, from the many species of seabirds that flock here every year to our unique array of plant life.

Discover how the Norfolk group of Islands were created almost three million years ago and how our amazing animals and plants found their way here.

Visiting the Discovery Centre

The centre is open from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm 7 days a week. Entry is free.

The Discovery Centre is located in the beautiful Botanic Garden. Find us on Mission Road just past the Grassy Road turn-off.

Artist Installation: Jai Adams

Step into the world of local glass artist Jai Adams, whose work has spanned more than 30 years. Known for blending traditional craftsmanship with bold creativity, Adams has completed over ten large-scale pieces, each requiring months or years of patient work.

The centrepiece here is Phillip Island in Glass - a remarkable installation that took 7,000 hours to create. Combining stained glass and timber, it captures the island’s vivid colours and changing landscapes, telling the story of its transformation from a barren, rabbit-ravaged site into a thriving natural habitat.

Framing the exhibition are four hand-crafted kinetic butterflies and dragonflies. Built entirely from scratch with intricate metalwork and stained glass, their wings flutter at the push of a button, echoing the movements of these insects in the forest.

Look up to see stained glass birds soaring above, celebrating three of Norfolk’s most iconic species as they catch the light.

This installation is more than art - it is a reflection of renewal and resilience, and an invitation to see the islands’ beauty in a new light.

Paper designs of a dragonfly, with metal hinges and a steel ruler sitting on the paper. The sculpture of a large metal dragonfly sits on the paper
A person's hand holding up a metal sculpture of a dragonfly body
A completed metal sculpture of a copper-coloured butterfly with blue glass wings
Brightly coloured stained glass strips lying on a plastic sheet on a wooden floor
A large, white shape with black lines marking where glass peices should go, with several brightly coloured glass strips added
Green, yellow, red and blue stained glass peices sitting on a paper design on a desk
A metal sculpture of a butterfly with blue stained glass wings, illuminated and hanging from a wooden pillar in an art gallery
An indoor art gallery with a timber strip floor and white walls. In the centre of the room is a wooden table with a stained glass sculpture in the centre. On wooden pillars are sculptures of flying animals made of stained glass and metal