On Tuesday night, Inspector Climate and I got back from our holiday to Norfolk Island (which happens to be on my life list). Where's that? Well...
It's an external territory of Australia (for the moment), which means that you need a passport to get there, even though technically you're flying from Australia to Australia.
We woke up at 3:30 in the morning to get to the airport in time for our flight to Sydney. Once in Sydney, we went through customs, and then were waiting around trying to find some food (gluten free vegetarians and airport food? Not a good mix) when I heard them calling my name over the loud speaker. My heart started pounding as they asked for passport and questions about my visa. I was so afraid they'd tell me I wouldn't be able to go. But, of course, it was all fine. It only took my heart about 10 minutes to stop pounding.
As we boarded our flight, our lovely and funny Air New Zealand flight attendants looks shocked "Look! Young people!" they said.
It was then we began to realise that in fact, we were the only people in our twenties on the plane. THE ONLY ONES.
Once we landed, we picked up our car (can one call it a "pick up" when the car is waiting for you in the airport parking lot with the keys stashed above the sun visor?) and immediately went searching for a place to find lunch - for this very hungry gluten free girl.
We'd seen a flyer for The Tea Pot a little cafe that had the best "pot of tea in town" and was open "most days." But most importantly had gluten free food! While we waited for our food, the owner (and chef, and gardener, and everything else) encouraged us to take a walk around the garden.
Many people asked us why we were interested in going to Norfolk Island while we were there (remember we were the youngest tourists they'd ever seen, apparently), and the truth is it's because of places like the Tea Pot. Norfolk Island made a choice to not import fresh produce. All their fruit and vegetables are grown locally on the island. So besides the stunning views (more on those in future posts), the tropical island paradise and laid back attitude, immense history of convict and Pitcairn settlers; I was drawn to Norfolk island because of their food.
I absolutely love tropical flowers, they always seem so exotic to my eye.
After our quick bite, we got to exploring the island. We immediately went to the beach, which also happens to house a world heritage site of convict ruins. It's a strange thing to your left you've got beautiful beaches...
And to your right?
We went swimming, before hopping back into our car for the short drive back to our hotel to get ready for dinner.
So what do you think? Does this little blip in the South Pacific sound like a place you'd want to visit?
I think it looks lovely and I'm all for getting as near to the South Pacific as possible. Plus it has tea and I drink lots of that! Hope you had a fabulous time Deirdre.
ReplyDeleteYES. But that's hardly surprising considering I've spent large chunks of my life reading and writing about convict history!!
ReplyDeleteAlso? That flower is incredible!
I've always thought it would be an absolutely fascinating place to visit! Can't wait to hear more about your trip.
ReplyDeleteWhat a unique place to go!!!! Can't wait to hear more of your adventures there. :D Get lots of food pics!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you went there. Love the pics. Sounds like a place with a lot of history.
ReplyDeleteThis place looks very nice and quiet. That flower is beautiful and the Tea Pot definitely sounds like a place I'd love to visit.
ReplyDeleteI can't really understand why young people do not seem to go there, I'd would like to visit it if I had the chance to.
Hope you had a wonderful time there.
I would definitely want to visit! It looks so beautiful there! And I don't understand why only old people travel there! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree, airport food can be hard to find!
this island seems amazing! so remote. I would love to go there if the plane ride wasn't a million years long lol
ReplyDelete- Val @ KnotTiedDown.com
This place looks gorgeous! By the way, was it the best pot of tea in town?
ReplyDeleteSuch a neat place ! Looks lovely :)
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a wonderful place, even though you were the youngest tourists for years:)
ReplyDeleteThat's funny you were the only young people, but this looks like a very cool trip!
ReplyDeleteI HAVE to visit this place someday now!! Wow I want to be there. I have now added it to my travel bucket list :)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit here! New place to visit now added to the list!
ReplyDeleteOh I would love to go there someday.
ReplyDeleteIt looks pretty lovely. Right now anywhere in the South Pacific sounds wonderful though.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say no to any kind of traveling! Looks like a wonderful place for a little vacation.
ReplyDeleteIt DOES look so lovely!
ReplyDeleteHaha, that must have been an interesting flight.:) Norfolk indeed sounds like paradise. I like how it's situated in the South Pacific, on its own.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting place, and a well-deserved trip.
ReplyDeleteI giggled at you guys being the youngest ones - when my parents went 10 years ago, apparently *they* were the youngest! And they would have been in their mid-40s...
It looks like an AMAZING adventure--and since it was on your list, it must've been especially satisfying. I have to admit, ever since I saw Life of Pi, I'm a bit squeemish when I think about traveling to remote islands--but it was just a fantasy inside of a film, right? I was also afraid of sharks in swimming pools after I saw Jaws. It will pass. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeletexo Mary Jo
Agreed! It looks like a grand adventure! Don't you just love ruins? I just can't help but imagine all the stories they'd tell, if only they could talk (which, in reality, would be super creepy. But, you know . . . )
ReplyDeleteI'm all for any place in the South Pacific. And here's hoping you find your dream real soon!
ReplyDeleteSorry I've been a stranger to your blog recently - every time I try to load it, the page freezes.
DeleteWell, the convict ruins are also quite nice! This looks like a beautiful place! I'd imagine most countries would have difficulty not importing fresh produce...I'm guess being sort of tropical helps with that?
ReplyDeleteI wonder why there aren't any young tourists?
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ReplyDeleteSee:
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Wow! Looks amazing! I can't wait to see more photos.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely the kind of place I'd love to visit. I've always preferred smaller, less touristic places to the more popular destinations. I'm all about natural landscapes with the fewer people the better! (Lots of animals though...)
I would love to visit too. I have never seen a beautiful flower like that before and the beach looks gorgeous, I definitely envy you :-)
ReplyDeletexx
glamdevils
I meant to ask - is this considered part of French Polynesia?
ReplyDeleteNo, it's an external territory of Australia, so it's part of Australia kind of. Polynesians inhabited the island from about 600 AD to 1200 (although it's a bit unclear), but were gone long before the English found the island again.
DeleteSo interesting!!! I can't wait to visit there someday.
DeleteI have a tropical flowers obsession as well. I find them irresistible.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful sights! :)
the place sounds lovely! x
ReplyDeleteGoogle just ate my last comment, so here goes. (If you get 2 you don't have to publish both ::haha::)
ReplyDeleteI have GOT to see that place! By the time I could afford to go I will probably be 100, so it will be the perfect time to go ;)
I also want to know if the Tea Pot was the best tea -? Sounds like a lovely place, thanks for sharing!
these pictures are beautiful! I would love to go someday :)
ReplyDeletexx
kat
Oh wow. Norfolk Island looks gorgeous and I like that they grow all their product on the island instead of importing. It's strange how so little I've heard about that beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteWow! It's the first time I've heard of this island. It looks really pretty. I would love to visit someday :)
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful! I would travel almost anywhere and food is always a big part of why I choose a travel destination.
ReplyDeleteWow it looks so pretty, sounds like a wonderful place to take a trip!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! This sounds like an incredible place to visit! I'm glad you were able to check it off your life list!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful trip! I would love to visit Austrelia!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI have ALWAYS wanted to visit Austrailia. How cool - the photos are amazing
ReplyDeleteI'd book my trip right now if I could!
ReplyDeleteOh yes it does! So much of the world I need to see :) Thanks for the tour
ReplyDelete...and I now have another place to add to my "need to visit" list!
ReplyDelete:)
XO Lourdes
You have me wanting to go there now! Especially for the Tea Pot (sounds just like my kind of place) but also for the pretty flowers- that purple one is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely! I'd love to visit there =)
ReplyDeleteCorinne x
www.skinnedcartree.com
It looks like a wonderful place!
ReplyDelete