Norfolk Island - a South Pacific gem

After two weeks of celebrating my 60th it was time to get away for a couple of weeks.  Where to go was our next conundrum. No, it wasn't a spur of the moment decision, we had booked a couple of months ago and so early on Monday morning were up and on our way to the airport to begin another adventure.  We had chosen to visit Norfolk Island, a tiny dot in the South Pacific.

As there are no direct flights from Melbourne we had to fly to Sydney and go through customs before catching our Air NZ flight to the island.  Both flights were good and we arrived at 1.35pm to a mild sunny day.  We were picked up by our host, Duncan, and driven the 15 minutes across the island to our lovely accommodation, Endeavour Lodge.  

Our chalet is one of seven situated at the end of the road.  Just two houses between us and the edge of the cliff overlooking Cemetery Bay.  The view from our deck looking straight across to Nepean Island and Phillip Island is truly spectacular.  Once unpacked and settled we drove the 5 minutes back into town to pick up some supplies for the next few days.  We did our shopping and had a quick look at the little town, Burnt Pine, before taking ourselves back home for a rest before dinner. 

Norfolk Island is an External Territory of Australia with a long and rich history as a British settlement dating back to the 1700's. There is evidence however of a previous Polynesian settlement many years before estimated to be about 1150 to 1450.  But with only the relics of a small coastal village behind Emily Bay very little is known of these first Norfolkers.   

Most people know it from its third and final settlement when the survivors from the Mutiny on the Bounty were relocated to Norfolk Island from Pitcairn Island when the population of 193 became too big for that tiny island.  

Norfolk Island is 32 km square and has 170 km of road crisscrossing the island.  Every booking comes with a hire car so getting around is no problem at all.  During our 11 days here we have travelled on every road on the island most more than once. Many are just tracks and others, especially in the National Parks are first class roads. 

The first thing you notice about driving in Norfolk is the animals.  Cows, chooks and geese all roam freely day and night and all have right of way.  As the speed limit is only 50 this doesn't usually pose a problem but you must be careful as you come around some of the corners.  Lots of them are blind corners and with very tight bends on very steep roads any one of them could have a herd of cows just out of sight.  There are cattle grids anywhere the cows are not wanted like the town centre, the airport, the National Parks and each home.

In some areas when you stop you are surrounded by geese and the chooks come running expecting to be fed.  So many tourists have done this so they can get photos of them and now the birds look for bread.  The locals do not encourage this practice but we all know what some tourists are like.  No these guys did not get fed!

Our first night we had a welcome dinner at Hilli's, a delightful restaurant just down the road from where we were staying.  We were very weary and not at all sure about going but are so glad we did.  We enjoyed a lovely dinner, a glass or two of wine and finished the night with a wonderful cheese platter before taking ourselves home where our very comfortable bed was waiting.  

Tomorrow we will start to explore this interesting little place.  Until then.........