Norfolk Island food

We travelled to Norfolk in October - Spring - of 2020. When we first started planning this trip to Norfolk we were under the impression the food was paddock to plate. This is from what we read and what friends had told us. This is not necessarily the case. We found in places we ate that a lot of the food was from New Zealand and frozen. Disappointing, yes, but the places we ate had wonderful food even if it wasn't 'paddock to plate'. So, what did we do! We took some 'shop bought' rice and pasta with us, as well as our Vegemite (of course) and some lollies. Next time we will also take some chips and biscuits. To buy food to cook is a little expensive and it is actually cheaper to eat out. We arrived on a Sunday and most shops were shut so we had little food to cook and we ate at the Bowling Club Bistro, in the middle of the town and it was absolutely great. We ate there a couple of times, and had afternoon drinks there a number of times. I loved the garlic prawns and asked for extra sauce - then I could dip the chips in.

Staff were helpful and the food YUM! We did get fresh fish straight from the ocean that day, and it beautiful. We ate a lot of fish. Jonnie had a lot of chicken.

The local Foodland in the Norfolk Mall has the biggest variety of food. When we arrived (Sunday) it was shut. 

The next day we went shopping and were quite surprised at the prices.

A lot cheaper to eat out. We had trouble finding fresh milk so bought long life milk. There was not a lot on the shelves when we arrived as the boat with the groceries and all other Island supplies had only just come in. I guess we were lucky that after a few days the shelves were full. We didn't buy water, and filled our drink bottles each evening with cooled boiled water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did check the limited fresh fruit and vegetables each time we went in the supermarket, mostly vegetables.

The Butcher, also in the Mall had better prices and fresh meat, fish and vegetables, which varied each time we were there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They also sold fresh milk - but get there early.

 

 

 

We started each day by going to the Mall early to get some bread rolls or croissants to make a picnic lunch. We sometimes also got a sweet treat for afternoon tea. We got sliced ham from the butcher and some expensive tomatoes and cheese from the supermarket, and we had our Vegemite.

The supermarket also has pre-packed sandwiches at reasonable prices. There are so many beautiful places to go to have a picnic. We had a picnic lunch every day. 

We did miss fruit while on the island. We were able to get a bag of local mandarins at the art and craft market on Sunday. The Sunday Arts and Crafts Market also has some fruit and vegetables. 8.30am - 11am in the Bond Store / Information area. There is also a Saturday Farmers Market located in the Bond Store / Information area 7am - 9.30am. Peter did his fishing trip on the Saturday, so Jon and I enjoyed a lay in.

We were in Norfolk for 12 nights, and Peter did the fishing trip on day 6. We had fish every day after that.

We discovered many roadside market stalls, also cafes and other shops also sold fresh fruit and vegetables. Look for signs at the door or on the windows.

There is also a shop opposite the airport that was interesting with changing varieties of vegetables - I wish we had found this earlier in the trip. They also had a large range of local jams, pickles, relishes, sauces etc.

The Liquor Bond Store offers 20% discount on there already reasonable prices spirits for tourists - beer was a few dollars more than on the mainland.

We tried most of the cafes, and some of the restaurants. Some we wouldn't go back to, mainly because of the unfriendly (and downright rude) staff. Here are a few of our favourites that we kept going back to. The Golden Orb Cafe, open Wednesday to Sunday was relaxing with great food (and coffee). This was Peter's favourite coffee shop. It also doubles as a book shop. Its name comes from the number of Golden Orb Spiders and their webs on the path to the cafe.

 

Seriously Chocolate, for chocolate, coffee and lunch. Coffee was good, hot chocolate was better. It also had a lot of chocolate sweets. It was very busy in the mornings.

Cafe Tempo was also very good.

Sweeties, on the other hand, was like an old fashioned lolly shop with old fashioned lollies and old fashioned posters. Jonnie found this one. Ice creams were delicious. No coffee though for Peter.

Hilli Restaurant and Cafe, just around the corner from Cumberland Resort had the best Devonshire teas. Sadly it was only open on Saturday and Sunday for brunch and lunch, and it has cocktails. We went there twice and would love to try their dinner menu. Also in the grounds are the Cyclorama, Guava Gallery, and Queen Victoria Gardens.

Castaway Hotel was next door to our accommodation, and also walk-able. It has a boutique brewery, happy hour (with cocktails) and Pizza nights. We had happy hour there a few afternoon, but didn't eat - we had fish Peter caught! 
The Local was an interesting place, it does brunch and lunch with a limited menu. It did have good bar service and was on Peter's bar crawl adventure LOL. I wish I had photos to share with you - next time.

Two other places we would have liked to have tried were closed the whole 12 days we were there. Norfolk Island Liqueurs usually does tastings but was closed when we were there. Their liqueurs can be purchased at the Bond Store. Two Chimney Winery was on our list, and was also closed. We were wanting to book a food platter and wine tasting.

High tea can be had at many places on Norfolk, especially on the weekend. You will need to check with the information centre and book. 

There are also many food related tours offered: Breakfast Bushwalk to Captain Cook's Memorial; Taste of Norfolk, visit a beekeeper, beef and dairy farm; The Commandants Dinner, which includes reenactments; Progressive Dinner, with interesting stories and characters; Island Fish Feast with dancers and entertainment; Murder Mystery Dinner (was not running when we were there) but would be fun. We didn't do any of these as Jonnie would not have liked them and we were not going to leave him by himself at night - although I think he would have been fine.

Boomerang bags can be found in different shops around town, and the airport. These are bags that can be used instead of single use plastic bags when shopping. We have also seen these in some Queensland towns.

There are many, many other eating places that we didn't try, either because they were closed or we just didn't have time. Maybe next time. We did enjoy the places we went and only had one bad meal.

Remember most shops are shuts on Sunday and many afternoon, so do any shopping in the morning. We were told by a couple of locals that the locals shop early, and that's when the best fresh food goes, so get there early.

Norfolk Island Tours and touring

We went to Norfolk Island for two reasons, one we have always want to go, and two the history. Last post was about the history and one can not visit Norfolk without being immersed in the history. Our first stop was the Information centre to get brochures on the many different tours and a couple of maps.

We used one map as our everyday car map and the other one, where we transfered the roads we drove on each day, we kept.  Located at the Bi-centenary Centre, after the info centre check the Bounty statue and the monument to the Pitcairn (Bounty descendants) who settled in Norfolk Island. We did do some web surfing at home before we left so we did have an idea of what was available and what we wanted to do. 

Start with 'There is more to Norfolk Island' for accommodation, tours etc. Remember a car is needed on the island as there is no public transport, and we made sure we travelled on every road on the island. Tours can be divided into: history; food; adventure; and nature. The tours can be organised bus tours or individual do it yourself. We didn't do a lot of organised tours and preferred to do our own thing, which was pretty easy. The tour guides were a wealth of knowledge and told us little extra bits and pieces about the island and its people. There appeared to be two main tour companies Pinetree Tours and Baunti Escapes. An orientation tour on the first day is a good idea, and is often included with the accommodation. 

There is just so much to see and do on Norfolk: The Pitcairn Settlers Village, Cyclorama, Queen Victoria Gardens and Hillies Cafe are all in the same area, not far from Burnt Pine Township. We went to the Fletcher's Mutiny Cyclorama first, a circular building with large murals depicting the history of the Bounty, the mutineers, and their arrival on Norfolk. We also looked around the gallery, and then the beautiful Queen Victoria Gardens.

In the centre of the gardens is a gazebo with the names of the first Pitcairn families who arrived on the Island with the blessing of Queen Victoria.

It also has the history of Queen Victoria.

Explore the historic Kingston and Pier area. We did tag along tours, cemetery tour and explored ourselves. There are plenty of information boards.

Historical dramas are reenacted in different venues, and some include meals: Trial of Fifteen; The Commandants Dinner; Night as a Convict. Night time tours including ghost tours are available. The cemetery Ghost tour is on my list for next time. There was also an Island Adventures 4wd tour that Peter wanted to do but we had other booking at the times it was running, so next time. Peter did do a fishing charter. Doing a fishing charter early in the stay will provide fish meals for many nights. Peter used Advance Fishing for a half day fishing trip and loved it. We ate fish for a week! They also run cruises to Phillip Island and glass bottom boats.

The beaches are beautiful. Some are easy to get to like Emily Bay and Slaughter Bay, and some are more difficult to get to like Anson Bay. We went to many different beaches and parks for picnic lunch each day. Emily Bay was our favourite. We took our snorkling gear but didn't use it, probably because it was October and the middle of Spring. We did go for a swim at Emily Bay, the water was beautiful - cold but beautiful.

Go to the Bond Store in Burnt Pine for the Farmers Markets on Saturday 7am-9.30am and the Art and Craft Markets on Sunday 8.30am-11am. Visit Strawberry Fields and the mazes. A small hedge maze and a much larger one further in the garden. There are funny little signs all through the garden.

 Even a stop in the car park to read the parking signs is worth it.

Drive to Mt Pitt, and do a bush walk. There are many walks on Norfolk Island, long and short, bush and coastal.

Walks in the Botanical Gardens, along forest boardwalks, and a visit the Discovery Centre;

Captain Cook Lookout - good walks and great for a picnic lunch.

Discover Cascade Bay, the jetty used when the seas are too rough at Kingston Pier.

... and the Cockpit Waterfall, if running. Best to go a day after rain, which gives the  road time to dry out to make it driveable and the waterfall may be running. Cascade Bay also has the remains of the whaling station.

Take time to explore St Barbabus Church. 

Look at the different shell patterns on both sides of the benches.

And check the giant fig at the back of the church along with the old headstones that have been removed from the valley. 

One of the most fascinating things we were fortunate enough to see was the unloading of the cargo ship at the historic Kingston Pier. If you are lucky to be visiting when you are there, take a picnic lunch down to the heritage pier and just watch. We didn't try Geocashing there, and should have. We found out late in the trip that the information centre has details.

In the centre of town (Burnt Pine) is a display of hands.

 We learnt the display is a push for Self Government for Norfolk Island. There is a tent embassy in Kingston with information and we had a good chat with a fellow there about it.

 We drove every road and came across a bottle house,

 a street of 'roof' house names....

So much more - the giant Moreton Bay Figs, cultural tours, Colleen McCullough's home, the art galleries, the unique cafes and shops .....

..... and don't forget to check the phone book for the nicknames section!