Work trip of a lifetime.
Because of the nature of my work schedule while on the island I was put up in accommodation so no opportunity to sling a hammock except for a windy photo op on the last day while dashing around playing tourist. But "I'll be back" for sure.
Such a harsh environment juxtaposed against exquisite beauty.
Plenty of hiking tracks in the national park with some very steep ones marked as moderate that catch out the unprepared. I picked up a old couple who couldn't face the return leg to their parked car at the trail head, I felt sorry for them with their demoralised sweaty hitch-hiker look even though I knew it would make me late for my plane.
If you want a complete explanation of Norfolk culture look up Pitcairners. I'll condense my explanation to descendants of the Mutiny of the Bounty(1789) petitioned the Queen of England for a land of their own and were granted Norfolk island even though it had some hearty souls already farming there.
Roughly 2000 people reside on the island and are justifiably fiercely passionate about protecting their island, culture and history.
They are caught between a rock and a hard place currently with a previous governing council relying solely on a tourism ponzi scheme that fell flat with the GFC. They reached out to Australia to be a sugar daddy but those kind of relationship always have a fragile symbiosis.
Literally living amongst the piney woods that were planted by convicts after clearing practically all the vegetation. A case study in dystopian beauty inspite of continued environmental disruption.
I felt conflicted just being there but honoured to be there.
Bird watchers and history buffs are in their elements here as are the the resort lounge lizards.
Hikers and photographers love Norfolk.
If I'm lucky enough to be back next year I'll attempt to spend a night or two in the hammock with a tarp as essential as the weather really is four seasons in one day.
This is the first photo dump of many.
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