Time Stands Still on Norfolk Island.

[mrs.dr.ron]

I really like Norfolk.. but when tested against my #1 travel question it fails to make the cut. My question ?
What if I had to spend the rest of my life here
I always ask myself this when visiting interesting places

You only need a week on Norfolk Island - you have been everywhere, seen everything in a week, any longer and you would be

 

[drron]

Time to get back to this.only got internet access again last night and then had a lovely post prandial nap earlier tonight.

First Norfolk Island is indeed a lovely place for a rest.You really are forced to chill out.

So to Tuesday's activities.when we awoke we caught sight of a luxury yacht making a getaway.
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We started out by driving up a road close to us called Fishermans lane only because we had decided to look at every load.Was an inspired request by mrsdrron as we came upon something unexpected but interesting.Nesting masked coughies.
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So pictures of 1 adult and 3 different chicks.Though in the second last pic you can just see the chick behind the parent.

 

[drron]

Also some nice views there.
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We then drove to the Anson Bay reserve.Noticed a sign and a lare dish just over the road so I had to investigate and it turned out to be the old Cable Station.
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[drron]

Now to Anson Bay.Stunning views.
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There is a good looking path down to the beach.
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[drron]

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We had company.
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[drron]

Next we stopped at the Norfolk Island Botanic garden.I wanted to go there to try and see the Norfolk Island green parrot.On the way to the Gardens you pass one border of the National Park.I got a close up look at a green parrot when it flew out of the National park and across the road at about a foot above the road.It only just missed being hit by our car.Would not have been a nice outcome.
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I did manage to get a photo of one green parrot.
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As I took the last pic a pair of parrots flew into the tree just to the left of me.by the time I had identified them amongst the greenery they were off.So back to the plants.

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[drron]

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Norfolk Island also has the tallest tree fern in the world.
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The Botanic Garden is the result of a NZ nurse who served in both World Wars.She moved to Norfolk Island in 1949 and moved back to NZ in 1975.

Botanic Garden | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia

Covering 5.5. hectares, the Norfolk Island Botanic Garden boasts a unique collection of plants endemic to Norfolk Island.

parksaustralia.gov.au

 

[drron]

We then continued on with the garden theme visited the Queen Victoria Gardens.The Pitcairners love Queen victoria because they believe she gave them the Island in 1856.Actually she did nothing of the sort.She allowed them to settle and take up land grants but as to the actual control of the Island all she did was transfer the Administration of the Island from the Governor of Van Diemans land to the Governor of NSW.The announcement is available on Trove.

PROCLAMATION. - New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900) - 1 Nov 1856

trove.nla.gov.au

So to the garden.
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[drron]

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And a good specimen of a bush we unsuccessfully tried to grow on the Sunshine Coast.Sold by a local nursery as the "Norfolk Island" bush.
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[drron]

Then it was off to Ball Bay.it is the fuel terminal but a beautiful spot though they are trying to ruin it with a new oier.
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[drron]

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[CMA222]

The pier at Ball Bay is temporary and is built when a barge is due to arrive. Barges are often used for large items of equipment or large consignments. It is then removed. A costly repetitive process and while a permanent pier would be more economic it is unlikely to ever be approved.

 

[drron]

Thanks CMA 222 that makes sense.It probably helped a lot just before we arrived as a supply ship was there.Way to rough at Kingston and we were told it had gone to Cascade but conditions got difficult there so sheltered in Ball Bay.They might even have used the temporary facility.

A couple of houses that have great views.
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Leaving Ball Bay finally a pair of rosellas stayed still so I could get a photo.
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[drron]

The next stop was the Two Chimney Reserve.
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A beautiful park which we had to ourselves.First there is a picnic area and parking.
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You then go through a green gate which leads to a grassy area with some more facilities.
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Then you notice another grassed area down the cliff.Fortunately there is a wide straight though steep path down.
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[drron]

It was nice at the bottom to sit back and contemplate the views,the seabirds and the ocean.
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Just off the point you had waves coming from 2 different directions meeting.
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[drron]

We then headed back across the island to the Rocky Point reserve.Held up on the gravel road by a pigeon that was enjoying it's meal too much.
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Another spot with good views.
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Then down the nice steep hill.
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[drron]

Again lots of sea birds plus good views to Phillip and Nepean islands.
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[drron]

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It was then back to town for lunch.we were going to try the Bounty restaurant whose website said they were open for lunch 7 days.Unfortunately tuesday was not one of the seven.So went back to the High Tide cafe.mrsdrron once again had the garlic prawns as she really liked that dish and I had the beef curry which was good but not very spicy.
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Then we were a little tired so back to the house for a rest before Amarula and some snacks whilst waiting for the sunset.
On the way back we would pass this interesting tree on Anson Bay road.
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[drron]

I spent some time just watching the seabirds.
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There were some mutton bird burrows on the property.
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Now the woman who had picked us up said if you sat beside a mutton bird burrow at sunset they would come and stand near you.no they didn't.But the sunsets were affected by the cloud cover.
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[drron]

We didn't have a great sleep that night awoken by a very loud noise like a catfight.It went on for a couple of hours.Now feral cats are a problem so we rang the agent and they set a trap.as we got out of bed this was the view.
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We started today at the Headstone reserve.It is alongside the tip but stretches a fair way.
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Not too many leaning pines.
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