Pacific Island Paradises

settlement was finally closed in 1854 and the island remained uninhabited until 1856 when the Bounty descendants arrived from Pitcairn Island. In 1914, the island was placed under the authority of Australia and in 1979, it was empowered to elect its own parliament. Nature Home of the Norfolk pine, the largest of these magnificent trees is 57 metres high and has a girth of 11 metres. The island's clear night skies are a stargazer's delight and scientists say that Norfolk has the cleanest air in the world after Antarctica. There is prolific bird life and Norfolk harbours what is thought to be the world's rarest bird, the Norfolk Island Boobook Owl. In the lagoon and ocean reefs there are more than 100 varieties of hard and soft corals. Cattle and ducks roam the island and have right of way on the roads. There are no snakes or poisonous spiders on the island. One-third of the island's land mass is parkland, national parks and reserves and there's a specially designed waste disposal area so no harm is done to the ecosystem. Nearby at Philip and Nepean Islands are large bird sanctuaries that have been left untouched. The sights You can visit the historical penal compound at Kingston and see what is thought of as the best preserved collection of Georgian buildings in the southern hemisphere along with the fascinating tombstones in Kingston Cemetery. In 2010, the world heritage committee of UNESCO inscribed both Kingston and Arthur's Vale 194 www.paradisesonline.com Historic Area on their list, helping to ensure these sites of great historical significance would be preserved into the future. There is Mt Bates, Mt Pitt, Emily Bay and the historic chapel of St Barnabas. Explore the ruins on your own or witness one of the vivid re-enactments of Norfolk's time as a penal colony. The Trial of the 15 is a humorous play about the island's history, while Fletcher's Mutiny Cyclorama is a spectacular indoor 360-degree 3D painting that visitors step into. There are plenty of tours and events to choose from. They include horseriding and bushwalking along rugged cliff tops and trails, or you can explore the island on a 4WD tour and go fishing on Philip Island. Walk in the Wild is a private rainforest tour and there are tours of Helen Reddy's garden. New attractions include guided bird watching tours, the History in the Making Tour where you can learn about past working settlements of Norfolk, and Island cooking classes taught by local chefs where you can learn about Norfolk cuisine. Where to stay There are over 60 properties which range from self-contained apartments and hotel resorts to luxury cottages and houses. Most properties include a hire car and are rated by AAA Tourism Some properties are also green star accredited for being environmentally friendly. Getting around There is no public transport on the island. Car hire is among the cheapest in the world at around AU$30 per day and mountain

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