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 | Norfolk Island Things To Do | Tips 1 - 10 of 34 |  |
 Getting there - the gate's
actually open by iandsmith, 4 more photos
This is a place to get-away-from-it-all on an island that itself is away from it all.
The serenity of just being there is somewhat encompassing. From the initial stroll through the wood intermittently sprinkled with cattle you come to an open paddock on the cliff tops with views across the ocean.
Though the view may not be the most dramatic on the whole island, the sound of the surf splashing on the rocks and the wind drifting through trees on a cloud flecked sunny day is very serene experience.
There's a lovely bench seat (pic 5) that is a reminder of the ties that Norfolk has to Tahiti and Pitcairn. Unfortunately it's written in the local lingo so I didn't understand a word but it's a very relaxing place.
This is one of the 10 things I recommend you do while on the island. Leave a Comment
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This short five minute walk between the two hight points of the island, Mount Pitt (316 metres) and Mount Bates (318 metres) is best used in conjunction with one of the other walks if you want some exercise.
The view from Mount Pitt is the best though Mount Bates does offer a different perspective on some areas.
Mount Pitt can be accessed by car so that opens up your options. Leave a Comment
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If you want to get up close and personal with how appalling life could be just 200 years ago, then you need look no further than the cemetery, particularly the western end.
It's a tragic reminder of just how bad life on a seemingly idyllic island can become.
"Accidental discharge of a gun while shooting in the woods", "Accidentally shot by a brother soldier......in pursuit of mutineers"; "accidentally drownd (sic) while on duty"; "Drowned ...... by the upsetting of a boat"; "barbarously murdered by a body of prisoners"; "executed on the 23rd of Septer (sic)" are just some of the inscriptions. So many not reaching 30 years of life it makes you quickly realise how fortunate it is that you are here hundreds of years later and not during the convict times on Norfolk Island.
The inscriptions can be clearly read in pics 1-5 Leave a Comment
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The heading in Australia is rhyming slang for "having a look" which, in this case, is so appropriate as that is just the reason for coming to this place, arguably the most scenic lookout on the island.
There are plaques (pic 4) to explain the history of Captain Cook and other things while the area is set up for picnics with toilets with good car parking space.
The walk to the actual lookout (1) is only short yet it surprised me how many people baulked at it. Bear in mind that the average age of tourists here is over 50 and there are many who are decidedly unfit.
Still, I found it very worthwhile and would recommend it as one of the must-sees while you're on the island. Leave a Comment Directions: Northern part of the island
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 The horror of it all by iandsmith
This bridge was built by convict labour in the time of Major Anderson; a merciless, one-eyed Scot they called `Potato Joe', for his act of substituting potatoes for bread in the convict's rations.
The bridge today looks quite attractive in its verdant setting - the engineers who designed it had an eye for timeless grace, a refinement doubtless lost on the poor devils who built it. Their every step was impeded by the burden of irons, mostly weighing seven kilograms and some as much as ten kilgrams. Dysentery constantly gnawed at their vitals.
Half-crazed by their suffering, they were goaded ceaselessly by their overseers in the hope of inducing a glance of protest. This offense, called `dumb insolence', earned immediate retribution - the cat o' nine tails.
Suddenly, one of them exploded and drove a pick through the brain of his tormentor.
Knowing that every one of them would be punished horribly if the bleeding corpse were to be discovered, the gang walled the evidence up in the bridge. When the relieving overseer turned up at midday, he asked where his predecessor was. "Oh!", was the reply, "he went for a swim down there in the bay. We think he must have drowned".
Unfortunately for them, through the still-wet mortar between the bluestones, something began to ooze ....... it was the blood of the entombed overseer! Leave a Comment Address: Quality Row
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There's more than one church on the island but this is the one the tourists aim for and, with good reason.
There's a history attached. The different timbers, the way the tiles used to be shined mirror smooth (until Occupational Health and Safety got involved), the wonderful stained glass (pics 1&5) and organ, both refurbished free of charge by the original companies that built them.
The convict hewn sandstone that surrounds it all and its location beside a sloping lawn that leads to a small dam (pic 4) all add to a worthwhile tourist attraction.
The famous rose window is by William Morris and some other windows are by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, with the altar carved by Solomon Islanders.
It was for a long time the home of the Anglican Melanesian Mission. Leave a Comment
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"The ship's unloading. You must go down and have a look." There is an air of excitement when the supply ship bringing everything from trucks to trinkets arrives on the horizon. It's all hands to the pumps, so to speak, or, more accurately, to the crane on the wharf.
Picture one shows a close up of the crane at work removing the cargo from one of the lighters.
In case you weren't aware, a lighter is an unpowered craft used for shifting loads from one place to another. Each one of these has to have a launch towing it.
The tall crane is brought in to be used when the ship is unloading. At other times there is a stationary crane using manual methods that is put into service. It's the one with the angled arm dangling over the water.
When we went on our fishing trip it pulled our boat with all of us aboard out of the water (pic 4).
As for the ship (pic 2), 700 tonnes of cargo were moved in a day and a half.
Personally speaking, I didn't find it all that exciting, perhaps because I used to be a fitter and turner and cranes were a part of my daily life, but everyone else seemed to find it great viewing.
The boats may be unloading at Cascade Bay (shown here), or round at Kingston; it's all dependent upon the direction of the wind and swell. Leave a Comment
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As soon as I saw it I had my camera out. The old whaling boat/lighter was just such an attraction for those artistically inclined.
What made it even better was that it was situated next to the old Crankmill where grains were once ground.
Originally built as a storage shed, in 1837 it was converted to a crankmill with two shafts operated by convicts. It is little wonder that the operation was constantly hampered by sabotage. Pushing handles to move stone grinding mills is not my idea of a good day's work!
The building was also used as a storage shed for boats at one time. Leave a Comment Directions: Kingston wharf
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 The dramatic volcanic
seascape of Cathedral
Rock by iandsmith,
3 more photos
Running right through the length of it is a vertical crevice through which the sea is slowly working away to enlarge it but, for the next few hundred years it is worth a boat ride just to see it up close.
I hope these pictures convey much of what I have just described, take the time to blow one of them up.
You can get out there on your fishing trip or arrange a tour (highly recommended) to just see this and other formations west of Cascade Bay. From the shore you can see nothing, believe me. Leave a Comment
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At the risk of repeating myself, I can't emphasise enough that when you take the boat trip it opens up a whole new Norfolk, one that I never realised existed.
In addition to the aforementioned Cathedral Rock you will be bug eyed at every turn, it's such a wonderland of volcanic remnants.
The first pic is of a rock that has a couple of pools on it but we couldn't land the day I was there so I was unable to climb it an get shots but, even from the water it's impressive.
Pictures 2 & 4 re-enforce just how dramatic the landforms are while 3 shows you one of the many sea caves that reflect the power of the ocean.
The last shot shows our boat going through the first gap to take us in to this wonderland. Leave a Comment
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