In a hurry going nowhere!

As the car drove behind the reversing bus, our driver made the comment that despite all the signs on the bus saying ‘do not overtake turning vehicle,’ etc, there was a driver who was ‘in a hurry going nowhere!’ A situation which struck me as being something I didn’t expect to encounter in what I anticipated to be a more relaxed approach to life on this remote island  

We were on our morning orientation tour of Norfolk Island on a somewhat windy and showery day, conditions which were in direct conflict with the advertised mild island weather. With the prevailing conditions in mind, it was probably a good day to be in a bus traversing the island accompanied by the knowledgeable commentary of our driver. 

We drove firstly around historic Kingston built when the island became a penal colony, all the while being entertained with interesting stories of unfair administrators and the cruel treatment of prisoners who were sent here for ‘the term of their natural life,’ which meant that they were not expected to outlive their one allocation of clothing. If they did, they spent the remainder of their term naked!  

We were treated to a delicious Devonshire tea followed by an unexpected and wonderful tour of the Melanesian chapel, St Barnabas. All this coupled with wonderful vistas over the ocean, stunning cliffs and beaches, framed by the famed Norfolk Island Pines (which it turns out, are not actually of the pine genus at all). 

On returning to town we availed ourselves of lunch at the free sausage sizzle to celebrate the 10th birthday of the local butcher shop!  We didn’t check out the prices in the butcher’s but if they are anything like the local supermarket, I don’t know how the local’s afford to eat regularly!

There was a suprising stock of fresh fruit and vegetables in the supermarket today which seemed to have appeared overnight - perhaps they were in the cargo hold of our flight yesterday. The ‘local’ bananas however, were the smallest, greenest bananas I have ever seen, and didn’t tempt us to buy!  

We had a wander through the shopping precinct after lunch, located in the one main street of Burnt Pine, offering an eclectic mix of expensive clothes, cheap household goods and toys, and the usual range of tourist merch. Following this interesting expedition we called in to view the much feted Cyclorama. 

The Cyclorama is a local work of art taking the form of a 360 degree panoramic painting which provides an evocative 3D experience, telling the fascinating story of the Mutiny on the Bounty, subsequent settlement of Pitcairn Island and then the resettlement of the mutineer’s descendants on Norfolk Island. There is an incredible history to be discovered here and plenty of quality experiences which enable this. 

The weather was not conducive to any further journey’s of discovery so we retreated to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in our cosy cabin, reading and planning further excursions for the remainder of the week.  

Having ascertained that it is actually cheaper to eat out in one of the island’s service clubs, than it is to obtain the raw ingredients to cook for ourselves, we headed to the Leagues Club for dinner tonight, but were disappointed to find it closed on Mondays. The Bowling Club was open for dinner however, so we gave them our patronage, enjoying  a delicious and affordable meal before retreating from the windy conditions and back to our home away from home.