Norfolk Island

A busy day that involved a lot of walking but everything was rewarding in very different ways. Even though the island is not very large, it is quite hilly, so it's a good thing we have a car.
First stop was St Barnabas Church with lovely stained glass windows, marble flooring and baptismal font, and especially the inlaid shell mosaics on the end of the pews. The roof reminded me of an upturned hull of a ship, which is exactly what it was meant to look like.
Travelling onto several lookouts where we saw the recently planted rows of 100 Norfolk lines for the latest person to turn 100. There was also the memorial to 2 young soldiers who were washed off the rocks while fishing (in the 1800's). The legend goes they had discovered an escaped convict that had been hiding out in a hollow tree for 7 years. They turned him in and the penalty for the convict was death. Prior to hanging, the convict cursed the soldiers that they would die a horrible death - two weeks later they drowned while fishing.
Next stop was the 100 acre reserve which reminded us of Pooh Bear in the hundred acre woods, and perhaps this is why it earnt the name. It is an area where mutton birds nest and also where some black birds with a white head (name escapes me at the moment) came swooping at us. They didn't attack but it was a bit unnerving. There were also some impressive fig trees with enormous buttresses. Some steep sections here too.
After a well deserved lunch we drove out to a hedge maze. Did the kiddie maze in 2 minutes but the adult maze had us wandering around for about an hour trying to find the centre... so confusing.
Final stop was Captain Cook lookout which is where they think Cook first landed in 1774. There are some spectacular rocky islands and quite an array of birdlife, including a tropicbird and even a masked booby.
This evening, we went to the island fish fry - a salad buffet with battered fried fish - with entertainment provided by a Pitcairn Is local and Polynesian style dancers, the Bounty Beauties. Another good day and I expect we will sleep well tonight.Read more