The Tiny Island of Norfolk

Working for a Travel Agency definitely comes with some perks and one of them was having the pleasure of tour hosting a trip over to Norfolk Island.

Tour Hosting meant that I was travelling with a group of 20 and my main responsibility was to ensure that they had the time of their lives. With the amazing itinerary we had, this proved to be a very easy task!

Having seen images of the island I was very excited to go, however I was still unprepared for the sheer beauty of this magnificent place! From the stunning landscape and scenery, incredible weather, crystal clear water, the sustainable lifestyle and the friendliness of the people, this place is truly exceptional and has claimed a special part in my heart!

Day 1 - Arriving

There is only one flight per week out of Brisbane to Norfolk Island and unfortunately, we were delayed. This was a bit of a worry as we had a dinner planned and a night activity, however after a quick chat with Bec at the Norfolk Island Travel Centre, all was sorted and they were able to push everything back until we arrived. They also offered to collect our bags from the airport and have them delivered to our rooms for when we returned from our night activities. Now that's going the extra mile!

Not having to worry about our luggage, we got on the bus and made our way to Paradise Hotel & Resort for a quick freshen up before dinner at Hilli's Restaurant next door. The restaurant was the perfect welcome to the island, very cosy and the food was super tasty and plenty of it (later in the week I went there for a Devonshire tea and the scone was almost as big as my head)!

We then headed out to our Wonderland by Night tour. This tour is set amongst 10 acres of magical Norfolk pines & bush land lit up like an enchanted forest, this was truly a spectacular sight. We meandered along a gentle winding path with Archie, a descendant of the Bounty mutineers, as he recites his poems and lights up dioramas. A very interesting experience and one I would recommend doing while on Norfolk Island.

Day 2 - Kingston, Cascade, Longridge & much more

Today we had a great introduction to the island as well as a bit of insight into the history on a half day tour. We visited the famous convict buildings, beautiful beaches and the renowned Melanesian Chapel. The afternoon took us to an historical island home built by Fletcher Quintal. Here we enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea in the garden with the most incredible backdrop of Norfolk Pines in the foreground with the endless ocean behind.

Tonight we were treated to a show at Fletcher's Fate Mystery Dinner, it was a fascinating evening of interactive theatre examining the possible last movements and final whereabouts of the famous mutineer, Fletcher Christian.

Day 3 - Across the island on a horse & carriage...

This morning we went for a drive up to Mt Pitt, to see the spectacular 360 degree views of the island. Standing at only 320 Meters above sea level, this is one of the highest points on the island. We then took a short walk around the national park before heading back to our hotel for our horse and carriage ride.

This was not something I was super keen on, but from the moment we met Culla (our horse and carriage driver) he had us all in stitches with his witty sense of humor. He took us from his property to the other end of the island with his two beautiful Clydesdale horses, all while telling us local knowledge and history in true Culla style. It was a super leisurely way to see the island and the end destination was breathtakingly stunning! We were also very lucky to see dolphins swim past and turtles at the bottom of the bay. Then we were treated to homemade sandwiches with tea or coffee as we sat under a huge tree and just took in the surroundings. The trip back was just as relaxing and then we were back at our hotel in time for dinner.

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Day 4 - Cheese Tasting and Convict Tales

Today we went on a tour run by Xtian Brothers Cheese Company, a boutique dairy & cheese producer owned by island brothers Glen & John Christian. I was very excited for this tour as I LOVE CHEESE and it definitely delivered in that aspect, but also included so extra elements I wasn't expecting. This involved a visit to a local farm and sawmill where we heard all about the tribulations of cow breeding on the island. We saw some different parts of the island on this tour and finished up at Glen’s home for the moment we had all been waiting for...CHEESE tasting. There was so many varieties as well as tasty condiments and they were free pouring the wine!

The afternoon was spent on a Convict Settlement Tour, this was seriously a remarkable and in depth tour of the historic Georgian settlement of Kingston. I am definitely not a history buff, however this tour was incredible and even gave me goose bumps! The tour guide we had was a direct descendant of one of the early settlers and was so passionate and extremely knowledgeable about the history that it made it so real and captivating. To top off the day, it ended in the most spectacular sunset (they get a lot on the island) and a performance by the Norfolk Island Tahitian Dancers and the the Norfolk Island Ukulele Band.

Day 5 - Pitcairn Settlers Village & Government House

This morning we explored the Pitcairn Settlers Village which is set on a magnificent homestead garden, including many of the traditional crops. It was an insightful morning, including a ride in Norfolk’s first tour coach, visiting a blacksmith’s forge, a WWII Army hut and Museum of Memorabilia.

Later in the afternoon we were lucky to be invited to Government House for a Cocktail Party with the Administrator of Norfolk Island. It is not very often that Government House is open to the public, so it was quite a rare experience to see inside this beautiful building, built in 1829. Drinks were free flowing and some of my group definitely too advantage of this and had a wonderful time.

Day 6 - A peek behind the hedges & Colleen McCulloch House

This morning we enjoyed the Behind the Hedges Tour. As the name suggests, this is a tour that takes you behind the hedges of some of the products that are produced on the island. We visited a goat farm, which produced delicious cheeses and face creams. We also saw a demonstration by Norfolk’s major pottery creator and then visited the oldest sweets shop on the island.

This afternoon I took a few of our group on an optional tour to Colleen McCulloch's house. She was an author who lived on Norfolk Island from the 1970's until she dies in 2015. I personally hadn't read any of her novels but many in my group were big fans. I still think the house is well worth a visit as it is like nothing I have ever seen before. The house itself is quite plain, but wait till you go inside! She had a very eclectic taste and when you roam through the house, you will see what I mean. It is fascinating to think about how she got some of the furniture and ornaments on to the island. Especially when you consider that nearly all large items come in via ship and because of the island's rugged coast line, have to dock 1km from the shore and cargo has to be loaded on to 8m long lighters to get to shore. See more information on this here. There is a small book store set up outside the house were you can buy signed copies of her novels.

This afternoon I also took a few members of our group to the Forrester family Liqueur distillery, established in 1992. Here they have a tasting room, where they are more than happy for you to sample any of their 15 Liqueurs. Put this on your list of things to do while on Norfolk, but bring a designated driver!

Day 7 - One last history lesson and a glass bottom boat!

This morning I visited Cyclorama, a unique 360° panoramic painting that gives you the feeling as though you are standing on a pier or ship deck and are a part of the scenes. It is truly a master piece that gives you the full picture of Norfolk Island's history.

This afternoon, I joined another optional tour on a glass bottom boat at Emily Bay. This is, in my opinion, one of the most spectacular and picturesque places on the island. Viewing it from the glass bottom boat was also an amazing sight! From the tropical fish swimming underneath to the beautiful coral, you'll be sure to enjoy this one!

Tip: Go in the afternoon so it finishes with a spectacular sunset.

Day 8 - A Cyclorama visit and then homeward bound

Today we had a relaxing morning, this is when I went next door to Hillis restaurant and had the head sized scone - highly recommended :)! Then, after saying goodbye to everyone we also we bid farewell to the beautiful Norfolk Island.

Norfolk Island Fun Facts:

• Norfolk Island is only 34.6 km².

• The main language is English, however, Norfolk Island does have its own language. It is mix of Tahitian and Old English.

• Buying food from the grocery store is very expensive as it is a costly process to get things brought over to the island. A packet of 2 minute noodles cost me $3!

• The currency is the Australian dollar.

• The island’s earliest known settlers arrived by Polynesian canoe around 400AD.

• You must give way to cows on Norfolk Island.

Published 8 Jul 2017