Norfolk Island

[Sarge (Rod)]

Just got back from a week on Norfolk Island. This is truely heaven on earth. Beautiful climate, beautiful scenery (my wife took 952 photos) and beautiful people. A really friendly place with great night skies. No street lights on the island, no large towns, no nearby inhabited islands, so almost perfect dark skies every night. Only took my small 10 x 25 binos, but next time I'll be trying as hard as a can to fit my telescope into the suitcase.

Rod

[PCH (Paul)]

Hi Rod,

I went there a couple of years ago, and I agree with all that you've said. Except that I got about half an hour of clear skies the first night and then nothing but cloud. Bummer ! I'd bought a decent pair of 10x50 binocs specially to take as well. Double bummer.

But the place was so tranquil. I'd go so far as to say you'd have trouble finding anywhere else on Earth so peaceful and relaxing.

Just beautiful .... aaaaahh

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

My brother went there for his Honeymoon.
He had nothing but praise the place.

[PCH (Paul)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

My brother went there for his Honeymoon.
He had nothing but praise the place.

Axtually JJJ, when I told some friends that we were going to NF for a holiday, a couple of them proclaimed they'd heard that NF was for "... newly weds or nearly deads" I was a bit unsure what to expect after that remark.

But your bro fits half the bill, and when we got there, me and my mrs were the youngest by faaaarrrrrrr of the tourists there. So now I understand exactly what those friends meant

Incredibly exciting history as a settlement and penal colony too btw

[JimmyH155]

I have read lots about Norfolk Island and it seems like a real paradise, but I have also been reading "The Fatal shore" describing the terrible things that went on there in the convict era. I would be shuddering a bit at the thoughts - and looking over my shoulder for the ghosts

[Sarge (Rod)]

Originally Posted by JimmyH155

I have read lots about Norfolk Island and it seems like a real paradise, but I have also been reading "The Fatal shore" describing the terrible things that went on there in the convict era. I would be shuddering a bit at the thoughts - and looking over my shoulder for the ghosts

Yes this place certainly has a very interesting history. From the polynesians to the the first convict setttlement, later the second convict settlement and then the Pitcairn Islanders - descendants of the munity on the Bounty crew. They encourage tourists to discover the islands history, both good and bad (and the bad is real bad - humanity at its lowest). They even have a night time "ghosts tour" - creepy!!

[Astrawan]

We do have a few ghosts but they are all friendly and quite harmless - sort of like Casper and friends type crew. The 'newly weds & nearly deads' moniker unfortunately has plagued us for decades, but one positive side-effect has been the tranquil, safe, relaxing and 'honey-moon' frame of mind that engenders.

I live here and have always been interested in our night sky which as some of you have experienced on a clear night, is something to behold as we are so isolated in the midst of the Pacific ocean with no light or smog pollution.

I have decided to start Norfolk's first Astro club - current membership - 1 - Moir . So if anyone else is interested in coming over to the island and would like to have a chat, let me know. I am a very interested newbie and would like to learn as much as I can about our beautiful expanse of night sky.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Welcome to IIS, Astrawan!!

[goober (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Sarge

Just got back from a week on Norfolk Island. This is truely heaven on earth. Beautiful climate, beautiful scenery (my wife took 952 photos) and beautiful people. A really friendly place with great night skies. No street lights on the island, no large towns, no nearby inhabited islands, so almost perfect dark skies every night. Only took my small 10 x 25 binos, but next time I'll be trying as hard as a can to fit my telescope into the suitcase.

Rod

Got married there in 2002. Lovely spot, and orb weaving spiders that would give you the screaming willies.

Oh, the island was totally when we visited, as they'd just had their first murder in over 100 years.

[Astrawan]

Originally Posted by goober

Got married there in 2002. Lovely spot, and orb weaving spiders that would give you the screaming willies.

Oh, the island was totally when we visited, as they'd just had their first murder in over 100 years.

The spiders look scary but quite harmlesss - we do not have any nasties that are poisonous or give painful bites. We have bees of course and have hives, but no snakes, poinsonous spiders, scorpions or anything scary like that. We have sharks in the ocean of course - but I don't think there has ever been any human attacks in recorded history. An as for the murder - I would just like to say that it was committed by a guy from New Zealand who was here on a temporary entry working visa .

[Sarge (Rod)]

Originally Posted by Astrawan

I have decided to start Norfolk's first Astro club - current membership - 1 - Moir . So if anyone else is interested in coming over to the island and would like to have a chat, let me know. I am a very interested newbie ameetingsnd would like to learn as much as I can about our beautiful expanse of night sky.

I'm definately coming back and will look forward to "attending your astro club", or just having a chat. I spent some time one night on top of Mt Pitt looking at the heavens and would love to spend more time there with better gear than my 25mm binos.

Thanks

Rod