DAY 2 : MONDAY : BURNT PINE AND
THE SOUTH-WEST

                

[The above map details our trip around the south-west corner of the island. Other points of interest today will be covered in greater detail later.]

A fine day with fluffy clouds. We have an enjoyable shower followed by an excellent breakfast! I think our eating pattern might become a big breakfast followed by a bakery lunch followed by stay-at- home tea, but we’ll see. We set off for the nearby Burnt Pine Township about 9. This is the main (and only) town fairly spread out along Taylors Road, and about a kilometre from the Lodge.

[One reason for choosing to stay at the Lodge was its proximity to Burnt Pine, but we only walked the distance twice.] We pick up the hire car here, and pay the car insurance, and then we set off on our day’s adventures. The island is green, sub tropical and quite hilly, open fields with many cows, lots of Norfolk Island pines, some palm trees and flax. Our first find is the old St Barnabas Chapel with its roof like an upturned boat.

It has pretty stained glass windows and pearl shell decorations on the inward facing pews. It is a remnant of the old Melanesian Mission to the island. There is a giant NSW white fig tree behind it.

Then past Headstone Point, Rocky Point Reserve and down to Point Ross Reserve and Crystal Pool for pretty coastal views.

The scenery (so far) is not particularly spectacular, but the island has a rugged placid beauty. We pass a curious place called ‘Arches’ - about 15 massive stone arches in a row, and apparently part of the old prison stables.

The roads are (just) two-way, and poorly sealed, but satisfactory for the 50 kph speed limit on the island. Back to Burnt Pine where we buy a bun and cakes, and then return to our villa. We have now traversed a small SW quarter of the island. After lunch we drive back to Burnt Pine, and score the front seats in the tour bus for the complimentary orientation tour. Driver Brent is a great source of information and has plenty of humour. The tour is very enjoyable. Norfolk Island has four street lights! We drive down around the southern coast

to the old penal settlement at Kingston, and will certainly go there again. There are pleasant coasdtal views

and many old relics of former times, like these old flag huts ...

... and this ruined store building.

One of the few sandy beaches, Emily Bay is close by, protected by a reef, and facing south to small Nepean Island and larger Phillip Island. We also see Bloody Bridge where early convicts while building the bridge, incorporated the remains of a nasty guard!

Then north to Cascade Reserve with its small pier,

and across to a homestead next to the airport for Devonshire Tea in the big grounds. A second visit to Barnabas Chapel,

and finally back to Burnt Pine. It has been a very good day. We browse the township of Burnt Pine but find it rather disappointing overall; perhaps there is more to find.

We come back to our villa before venturing out to the local bowling club for a tasty dinner which leaves us feeling rather full. It starts to rain while we are there, and it's fun driving home in the dark on Norfolk Island with no street lights! A good day.

Odds and ends: Our hire car has number plate #35. The cost of living is probably more expensive here than in Australia, with many things having to come by ship and then lightered to shore. (Even the bus we traveled on today came this way.) The island is covered with brown and white cows – on and off the roads. All roads into Burnt Pine have cattle grids and the locals have to mow their own verges! We often see chooks on our travels too. No seagulls though: they were killed off because of their destructive behaviour.