Eat, Drink, Love Norfolk…..❤

Norfolk island is impossibly green, vast and positively beautiful.  The absence of many duties and taxes normally paid on goods on the Australian mainland means almost everything is cheaper on Norfolk and currency is the Australian dollar.

The days of June were sunny and warm, an almost perfect time to visit.  It is the season of custard apples as big as a wrestler’s fist, badass show-winning brownies and the quintessential paddock to plate experience.

I always love to eat the local food especially when travelling.  It is ethical, super fresh, so good for the planet and even better for the community.  It really is all the small things which add up to make a big difference.   

Norfolk has an abundance of fresh colourful produce grown with love.  Seeing the fruit and veg on offer really does make you appreciate the remoteness of the island, the dirt, the rain, the sunshine…….along with the ample quantities of fresh fertiliser.

I drove around the island with my phone on mute.  Fell asleep on the deck staring up at the star filled night.  Spent time every day at the ocean.  Woke to thunderstorms rolling over the island and felt a remote solitude and an almost secret time warp that made me not want to leave.

The Olive:  A fab place to connect with community.  Saturday and Sunday mornings it is the hangout for the early risers, the late-night revellers and the hungover locals.   

I picked up some phrases when living in America and are so eccentrically wonderful, I love them to this day.  ‘Bless your heart’, ‘Slicker than cat shit on a linoleum floor’ (when said in a slow southern Georgian drawl) and one that I think of when I have a great dish, ‘tastes so good, it makes you wanna slap yo momma’.

That great momma slappin’ dish was a bowl of homemade dahl at The Olive. It really was a huge warm hug in a bowl.

Prinke:  I love this wonderful little space which is all about community, sustainability, the environment and kindness.  It absolutely hums with good vibes, is a great place to hang out with like-minded locals and after a rigorous daily testing of their coffee and vegan treats, I very highly recommend you go there. 

Rabbits Bikes:  Best cold brew coffee and huge brownie points for their award winning ‘badass brownies’ 😊

Other notables:  The Bowlo Bistro for great food, service and atmosphere.  Café Tempo for a great sandwich.  Salty Beer Garden is the perfect spot for live local music, great food, cold beers and catching up with the fab locals. SBG is a definite 10/10 experience.

Norfolk Island Brewing:  Sadly, this was an entirely forgettable experience!

Do:  The tag-along-tours, birdwatch, walk among the ruins and graveyards, seek out rainbows, talk to the locals, visit the Botanical Gardens, have a badass brownie, explore the island and the Burnt Pine township, make friends with a beautiful cow, turn off your phone, watch the sun rise and set and swim Emily Bay.

This was a little odd. I took the photo of the sign post then hopped back in the car. Only later, when looking back through the photos did I see the one on the right……spooky 👻

I always photograph cats when I am away on a trip and this was the only cat I saw during my entire time on Norfolk Island 😺. Lots of lovely friendly dogs, but no cats……

Finally, back home in South Australia after short delays and a long flight, I had a lovely sleep in my own bed with the cats then woke up to the sound of glorious rain on the roof.  Managed to squeeze in a little renovating while preparing for the latest trip which is a quick Queensland jaunt before heading to Samoa. 

The wonder of life isn’t in the achievements and big life events.  It is in those who have a seat at your table, the cat snuggles, a soul warming dahl, an impressive wave, a dear old friend you would never expect to run into just hours after landing back in SA, early mornings and to treat yourself well while not harming others. They are the moments.  They are the moments you long for.

So, it is with gratitude and an acute awareness of my privilege that I spent time on this impossibly beautiful island whose dark history, stunning beauty and irresistible pull has proffered much love and respect.  Go to Norfolk.  I promise, you won’t want to leave……x