Norfolk Island - Things to know before you go.

 Norfolk Island is small and isolated so it pays to go prepared. Here are some helpful tips for you before you visit. I assure you that if you go prepared  you will have a wonderful time.

* Take plenty of cash.  We were there for a week and the whole time we were there the island's sole  cash flow machine was out of order.  Neither the Post Office nor the Commonwealth bank would allow me to draw money so  I ended up with only  a $1 coin in my wallet for the last four days. I did get by OK but it  was disconcerting and I couldn't make any purchases at the markets where  they dealt mostly in cash.

*  Be sparing in your water use.  Norfolk depends mainly on rain water and although most dwellings have large water tanks they do go through periods of drought. In times of drought the island's desalination plant operates but water must be carted to where it's needed from there. We used water from our showers to water the  garden  at the house we were staying in.

* The island has a surprising number of cafes and restaurants.  You will be spoilt for choice. We went to many and they were all good and reasonably priced.  For fine dining we went to The Homestead and Bounty Club and for cheap and cheerful we went to the RSL Club and the Bowling Club. 

The Homestead Restaurant

* Don't expect to find everything you want at the supermarket.  The island is dependent on shipping for all their supplies and if the weather is bad shipping can be delayed by several months.  Having said  that, despite remarkably empty supermarket shelves, with a bit of creativity, we were able to buy plenty  to cook with.  Slick and Son by the airport is a beautiful butchery/deli and is very well stocked with goods they air freight from Australia.  The islanders are incredibly resourceful and will make  the most of what is available. We always found plenty to choose from the menu when we were eating out.

The shelves were pretty empty while we were there.  They were waiting on a delayed shipment.

* There are plenty of good shops in Burnt Pine.  You can buy pretty much anything you want from hardware to clothing to kitchen equipment. I highly recommend Aatuti Art in Burnt Pine for good quality art, hand printed garments and fine souvenirs.

Aatuti Art  (Photo by Aatuti)

* The  car rental company by the airport has excellent cars and a good range to choose from.  We hired two for our group and they were modern and well maintained.

* The roads are varied.  Some are in very good order and quite a few are very pot holed but the pot holing is generally fairly superficial.  Nevertheless drive carefully especially since the cattle on the island roam free.

* The locals are really friendly so take time to chat with them, it is rewarding. And listen out for people speaking the local language, Norfuk, which is a blend of 18th century English and Tahitian. We came across a group of young people at the bowling club holding a conversation in Norfuk and we were intrigued.

* For a small island there are plenty of tours you can take. Everything from Convict Tours to Culture Tours, Farm Tours and Food Tours. I highly recommend the Progressive Dinner, which I talked about in my last post.  It is so much fun.

Finally, unfortunately there are currently no direct flights from New Zealand.  We were lucky to get on direct flights at the time we went.  Now it requires a long and expensive trip via Australia.  Here's hoping there will be flights from New Zealand once again in the future.  I, for one, would dearly love to visit this lovely island again.

So as the Norfolk Islanders said to us as we were leaving: 

"Yorlye kum baek sun" or You all come back soon.

Norfolk Island - Part 2 - Places to see and things to do

 Norfolk Island is small, there is no doubt about that, but don't be fooled, there is plenty to do and some stunning sights to see.  Our group of 7 hired a 7 seater car which enabled us to drive all over the island and around the coast. The coast line is spectacular - great foaming waves crashing over rocky shores is a mesmerising sight, I could watch them for hours.  They can also be entertaining, well at least they were to the other 6 members of my group.  We had driven down to Cascade Bay to see where the ships come in to unload goods and produce for the island.  I was totally absorbed in watching the waves from the pier facing in one direction oblivious to the waves coming in from the other direction. A large wave came in and completely engulfed me much to the delight of my friends.  I was soaked and cold from head to foot but could at least see the humour in it. Fortunately, or unfortunately, nobody got a photo of this watery event.

Ooops!  I didn't see that coming!

Another day we drove to the other side of the island to see the glorious golden sand Anson Bay and the Captain Cook Memorial. Captain Cook discovered Norfolk Island, and named it, in 1774. Down a short but steep path from the monument there is a look out and the views are absolutely stunning!  What a beautiful place the island is.

Anson Bay

Above and below: views from the look out at Captain Cook Memorial

A drive to the top of Mount Pitt located  in the island's National Park gave us spectacular 360 degree views.  We lingered a while soaking it all in before driving to the old Melanesian mission and St Barnabas' chapel.  Set way out in the country this lovely church is really worth a visit.

View from Mt Pitt - note the ubiquitous Norfolk Pines

Inside St Barnabas Chapel

Driving around Norfolk Island is interesting.  Although most of the roads are sealed a lot of them are severely pot holed so it is essential to drive carefully, also the cows on the island roam free so you will encounter them lazily crossing the road in front of you.  I loved that, though, so rustic, laid back and charming. 

But our time on Norfolk was not all about sight seeing, we also got to enjoy some great activities.

One night we went for an evening of fine dining at The Homestead restaurant, set in a hundred year old house in a lovely location,   The meal was superb.  I highly recommend this especially for a special occasion.

The Homestead restaurant

Another night we went on a progressive dinner tour.  This was huge fun!  I remember when progressive dinners were a thing amongst our friends, it's a shame they have gone out of fashion.  At least Norfolk Island has turned them into a much enjoyed tourism venture. It involved three courses at three different homes with affable hosts who talked about life on the island today and some of the history of the past.  A must do for visitors to the island.

Main course of the progressive dinner, I'm 2nd from the left

One afternoon we went to Two Chimneys Winery, the only winery on the island, for a wine tasting. We were offered 7 different wines to taste and we all thought they were good. I partcularly liked the Verdelho and bought some to bring home. I think everyone bought some which was a good thing because when we went to pay for the tasting we were told it was free of charge.  This surprised us, most wine tastings in New Zealand require a payment and sometimes they are expensive. If you go to Two Chimneys make sure you buy at least a bottle of wine to cover the cost of the tasting, it's only fair.

Wine tasting at Two Chimneys Winery

With a couple of hours to spare I went to see Cyclorama, which was only a few doors from our accommodation. This astonishing 360 degree artwork portraying the history of the Bounty Mutiny and the settling of Norfolk Island took my breath away.  At times I felt I was right inside the painting. Cyclorama has won many Tourism Awards and is not to be missed.

A section of the extraordinary Cyclorama - Photo by Cyclorama

It is very easy to spend a week on Norfolk Island, there's lots to do, lots to see and I hope one day to revisit. There are many tours and activities for the visitor, we barely scratched the surface, and it is a peaceful calming place, the pace of life is slower, it's balm for the soul.