Jan Martin's Travel Blog: October 2025

Norfolk Island - Day 9 - Friday 3rd October 2025

We had another good weather day for our travel home. It was to be a long day. We needed to be out of our rooms by 10 o’clock which was easy enough. Our flight from was to be around 2.30. We sat in the foyer until our bus pick up at 11.30. Some of our group walked to the village shops for a last look around.

At the airport we loaded our bags with no incidents and then had to fill in time until boarding. Our options were a coffee shop or a bar across the road. We chose the bar and just as well as we had news that our plane was going to be an hour late.

The flight home was uneventful and our bus was waiting for us at Sydney airport for our final leg home. An Uber was waiting at Kariong to take us to our door.

The whole tour was very well organised by Palmers Tours - a Central Coast tourism business who do many different tours around Australia.

I would highly recommend them after travelling with them on this 9 day tour. Our guide and mentor for the trip was Lynne who did an exceptional job of looking after us and making sure we were organised and comfortable.

The people of Norfolk Island were very welcoming. There is very little crime - mostly disputes rather than theft. The worst part of the island was the roads. They were in poor condition and full of potholes. It is a very picturesque place - slow living and no stress. The cows have right of way on the roads as they are used as portable lawn mowers - keeping the grass down on the edges of the roads. There were plenty of chickens and roosters running freely - obviously no foxes on the island - no snakes either.

I liked the extra leisure time added into the tour which gave us a chance to play golf and hire a car to drive around.

When we first saw the cost of the tour it seemed a lot - but after reading the fine print and inclusions it was a good deal. We had all of our breakfasts and dinners covered plus cost of tours and all bus transfers. Our only outlay was for alcohol and beverages and lunches when needed plus whatever we spent in our leisure time. There was a duty free liquor shop walking distance from our resort and we could do BYO at most of the dinners.

Portable lawn mowers at work

Our hire car for the day - $60 a day plus petrol use

Norfolk Island Day 8 - Thursday 2nd October 2025

This was our last full day on Norfolk Island. We have been enjoying perfect weather and today was no exception.

Our first adventure was on the glass bottom boat viewing the fish and corals in the protected Emily Bay.

We had a free afternoon at leisure. That night we enjoyed a Ghost Tour and dinner in the old convict settlement.

GLASS BOTTOM BOAT:

Beautiful views of the coral, fish and sea life in crystal clear waters from the glass bottom boat.

In the afternoon of leisure we had lunch at the Golden Orb in the Burnt Pine Village and then went across the road to the Bowling Club where we watched some of the Bowls tournament and took advantage of the free WIFI available there.

GHOST TOUR AND DINNER:

Our hostess Ghost “Elizabeth” who came from the graveyard to show us around.

Our Dining Tables set inside the old cottages - the servants kitchen

We all had lanterns to hold while we toured around the surgeons operating room and kitchen and other old relics

Old pianola

This was our last night on the Island. Each night we had a different theme dinner - each of them unique in their own way. Interestingly tourism is an important part of the Islands development. We noticed that the locals are employed to take on different roles for the various tours. The bus drivers for example would be seen assisting to set up and clean up after meals and even serve the meals. The hostess for the murder mystery dinner was also the hostess for the BBQ dinner and so forth. They handled their tight schedules very well. The progressive dinner through three of the beautiful homes there was a good experience.

Norfolk Island Day - 7 Wednesday 1st October 2025

This Morning we had an early morning bushwalking (optional) - Short walks or long walks.

For those who chose not to walk there was to be a bus pick up, ( that was us)

There was a BBQ Breakfast at Captain Cook’s Lookout which is a perfect backdrop for the occasion.

Once again we had beautiful weather and the site was just picturesque. Those that walked really enjoyed it.

After breakfast we had a museum tour followed by a Progressive Dinner at local residents homes.

Flax plants which were planted to create sails for the ships

Crystal clear waters at the Captain Cook’s Lookout

Convict Night Tour - body buried under the bridge???

PROGRESSIVE DINNER:

This was our first stop for our progressive dinner entrees. The home was magnificent with views to die for. I understand it was previously a B and B - 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms -now for sale if you have the$$’s.

Our next stop for dinner at an overly home with fabulous gardens.

Our travel group at the magnificent dinner table for our main meal.

The table was seven metres long cut in one piece of solid Norfolk Pine

Beautiful night lights in the garden

Norfolk Island - Day 6 - Tuesday 30th September 2025

Our organised day today was a morning of leisure.

The afternoon was a MuseumTour

Tonight we had the Island Fish Fry Dinner followed by the sound and light show.

We opted to play 9 holes of golf at the golf course which meant we needed to hire a car to get us there.

That was not a problem - we booked our golf and car hire through the Resort front desk. The car cost us $60.00 for 24 hour hire. We hired golf clubs and booked a motorised cart which cost us $130.00 for 9 holes. The golf rules were very casual. play the course however you like. The pro shop and bar staff were very friendly.

We enjoyed our 9 holes of golf on a lovely course. There was no need for preferred lies the fairways were beautiful. The greens were slow but playable. There were bunkers but not a big threat of water holes unless it was a very windy day and you could end up in the ocean. We were fortunate enough to get a perfect wind free day.

We were told that it was mandatory to sign the visitors book and have an after golf beer on the verandah. We obliged willingly. It was good to see Gosford players on the Honour Boards - Billy Dunk for a course record and Ian Witt - twice winner of the Club Championships.

We skipped the Museum tour so we could drive ourself around the Island in our rented car.

The roads were in very bad condition with more pot holes than road in most places. There was a noticeable difference when we reached the National Parks who obviously have some funding.

That evening we enjoyed the Fish Fry Dinner and a beautiful sunset.

OUR MORNING AT GOLF: