Discovering Australia: Norfolk Island

Sailing on crystal clear emerald waters stroking the beaches of a tropical South Pacific island, is the simplest discription that you can give to Australia's Norfolk Island.

What To Do:

Chill out and lie on a golden beach and soaking up the sun, but if you do then you will so much that Norfolk has to offer, not for no reason also known as the adventure island.

Try kayaking for instance in the glass smooth calm waters of the island's north coast, along the beach where Cook came ashore in 1774, which stills looks much as it did then, with little sign of human habitation.

Imposing volcanic basalt cliffs with huge columns soar from the crystal water, beautifully twisted and contorted topped by Norfolk pines.

Spectacular stacks, akin to Victoria's Twelve Apostles bar the pounding surf, carry such names as Cathedral Rock, Hoo-oo Stone, Green Pool Stone and Bird Rock, skip under the trunk of Elephant Rock then through The Arch,and experience the pure gift of life basking in the morning sun watching a blowhole in the cliffs erupt with volcanic proportions with each swell.

There are turtles in the clean waters stacked full of marine life, dive or snorkel amongst species such as trumpeter, kingfish, trevally and snapper, there are almost 50 scuba diving spots where coral, caves and marine life such as giant groper combine for a memorable dive.

Not a scuba diver visit Emily Bay and try a cross between scuba and snorkeling. A scuba-diving regulator attached by a long hose to a floating generator instead of tanks, gives novices the chance to breathe underwater in protected shallow water full with coral and fish.

For those that prefer the dry land try bush walking the 100 Acre Forest or the rainforest national park covering 40 per cent of the island and enjoy water views as you negotiate the rainforests.

Look out for Norfolk's 50 plus bird species including the rare boobook owl which was driven almost to extinction reduced to just a single bird, now thankfully breeding again.

If nether of these pursuits appeal no worries, theres surfing, horse-riding or mountain bike riding.

Take a bike ride up Mt Pitt and soak up stunning 360-degree views from 316m high peak before cruising downhill to Kingston beach.

Kingston: imposing Georgian buildings and foreboding stone walls remind visitors that early in Australia's settlement, Norfolk had two penal colonies holding the worst of the convicts, ruled by some of the worst prison commanders. The stories of cruelty, punishment and outright torture are bloodcurdling, are in stark contrast of a paradise that must have been pure hell.

The last penal colony closed in 1855 and in 1856 the 193 descendants of the mutiny on the Bounty crew led by Fletcher Christian, who escaped to Pitcairn Island with their Tahitian wives, wrote to Queen Victoria asking for a larger home. to which she granted Norfolk Island.

Today about half of Norfolk's 2000 residents are the descendants of the mutineers families with such names as Christian, Adams and Quintal, who brought with them their own English-Polynesian culture and language which remains alive today. There are organised tours that recreate the history taking in the museums and re-enactments as well as the lifestyle of the locals that gives Norfolk far more than your typical sand-and-sun island paradise.

While the island is an Australian protectorate it has its own government, health care system and strict migration controls and locals like Norfolk the way it is.

Crime is almost nonexistent surfboards left near a beach for the next time the owner feels like catching a wave, things don't get stolen, keys are left in cars and houses left unlocked

The unhurried rhythm of life and friendliness of the locals is infectious, did you know it is an unwritten law to wave to every other driver on the road.

Talking about roads, Norfolk cows, geese and other livestock roam freely and have right-of-way on the roads, it's a world away from rat-race road rage.

Add this to no income tax, GST, poker machines, unemployment, fast food chains, high rise, plastic resorts, graffiti, traffic lights, school fees, vandalism, public debt, poverty, mobile phones is it any wonder that visitors fall in love and want to stay.

Facts

Getting there: UK Visitors fly London Heathrow or Manchester Ringway to Sydney, Melbourne, then fly Norfolk Jet to the island.

When to go: Warm all year round, tends to be humid during summer.

Special Occasions: Bounty Day celebrations are on June 8.

Deals: Try a three-night deal combined with mainland Australia or a 7 night luxury package include seven nights.

Sea kayaking costs around $50 for the morning.