Norfolk Island 2004

This year we had a one week summer break on Norfolk Island with Vicky & John. Norfolk Island is small island 5 miles by 3 miles in the Pacific Ocean 1000Kms north of Auckland and 1500 Kms east of Brisbane. It is the home of the descendants from the mutineers of the Bounty. If ever you want a holiday to get away from it all and with a difference then Norfolk Island is the place to go. No traffic lights, only one street lamp, only one roundabout that the locals still haven't figured out how to use yet, you wave at every car you pass, cows have the right of way, beautiful coral reef with an abundance of tropical fish (we snorkelled everyday), no commercialisation and plenty of sick Aussies cause we won the World Cup (we sung Sweet Low Sweet Chariot at every opportunity).

There was a major drama when 2 locals went missing on a boat for 3 days and we witnessed their return while partaking on Pinetree Tours Breakfast Bushwalk overlooking Anson Bay and seeing everyones relief that they returned safely. We thoroughly recommend Pinetree Tours, we prebooked The Island 1/2 day tour, Convict Night (fantastic), Progressive Dinner (each meal course at a different locals home, The Island Fish Fry watching the sunset at Puppies Point and of course the Breakfast Bushwalk. The tour guides were great especially Brent (the Commandant), Lisle Snell, John Christian and Private Parts, he seemed to pop up everywhere on the Island when a sing along was called for (he even sung Better Man by Robbie Williams much too Chris's & Vicky's relief, it was the only Robbie song they heard all week)

Norfolk Island has a very fascinating history with 3 settlements, the second being where the worst convicts were sent and the Island was known as "Hell in Paradise". The third settlement was when the descendants from the Mutiny on the Bounty asked to be moved from Pitcairn Island which is even smaller than Norfolk because there was no room and Queen Victoria gave them Norfolk Island, I won't go into detail but visit their web page www.nf.

Packed Emily Bay on a lovely Sunday afternoon

Around the corner is Slaughter Bay, both these bays are inside the Coral Reef, great for Snorkelling

Ladies Hour (Beer O'clock) outside our apartments at Channers Corner (great Accomodation)

The 2 missing boaties turn up at Anson Bay after getting the motor working again after 3 days adrift

From Captain Cookes Lookout, Captain Cooke landed here when he discovered Norfolk island

The Crystal Pool with Chris & John Snorkelling, didn't realise it was dangerous

Vicky Scuba Diving at Emily Bay

Vicky, Chris & Gazza - Night as a Convict

Vicky, Chris & John - Night as a Convict

John, Chris & Vicky - Progressive Dinner Night

Puppies Point - Fish Fry Night

Fish Fry Night at Puppies Point

Ruins of the Penal Colony at Kingston

John, Chris & Vicky at Silky Oaks Riding Stable

Chris & Vicky on Mt Pitt Nepean & Phillip island in Background

Vicky & John on our last night at Seaworld Restaurant

Gazza & Chris on our last night at Seaworld Restaurant

Vicky & Chris on the last night at thr RSL, not to Robbie though