I recently spent a fascinating week on Norfolk Island, and I’d like to share my experience with you.
Located 1,400 kilometres east of Brisbane and 1,000 kilometres north of Auckland, Norfolk Island has a reputation of being a holiday destination for the ‘Newly Weds’ and the ‘Nearly Deads’! Sitting somewhere between these two categories (I hope!), I really must disagree with this somewhat blinkered opinion that seems to have been attached to Norfolk Island for a long time - I had an absolutely amazing week, and two of my favourite interests, eating and history, were in abundance!
The island is brimming with history and comes across more like a fictional tale written by the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson. The fact that it is all true I found to be quite incredible, especially when it was being relayed to me by descendants of the original Mutineers who took over The Bounty some 230 years ago. This story itself is enough to keep you on the edge of your seat but coupled with the history of Norfolk’s shocking era as a convict settlement, there’s enough history to satisfy the most knowledge hungry land-lubber!
Between experiencing some of the most interesting and creative tours I’ve ever done, I enjoyed fabulous food that was prepared and presented so well that I didn’t want to leave. All the fresh food on the island is grown on the island and changes with the seasons. It’s a case of “you get what you get and don’t get upset” although I can honestly say that I didn’t have one bad meal the whole week. From the island fish fry to the Hilli-Goat Tour, to the Progressive Dinner… it was one culinary delight after another.
And, if you like a couple of drinks before or during dinner, you’re in luck. Norfolk Island is duty free so it’s happy days. Whilst the alcohol is cheap, the goods that are imported from Australia and New Zealand are far from it. The bottle of gin purchased for our pre-dinner drinks was cheaper than the two bottles of tonic!
Honestly my time on Norfolk Island - where cows have right of way, the speed limit is 50km/h, there’s zero crime, you go ‘catching’ instead of fishing, you have to wave to EVERY car you pass and where the weather is mild pretty much all year round - was so good that it’s one of the few destinations I will make time to re-visit!
I could carry on about this little gem in the middle of the South Pacific for another few pages but I won’t, but if you’d like to learn more, or even visit Norfolk Island, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You won’t be disappointed!