Above: First thing I noticed when I stepped out of the airport were the short double digit number plates on some cars. I also saw a single digit one. Most were four digit though.
Gabriel dropped me off at the airport around 0730 for my 0935 departure to Norfolk Island from Sydney Airport’s international terminal. The check-in queues appeared unruly with some kiosks not working properly. Despite that, I got to the gate with plenty of time to kill before boarding the 2h35 flight. While waiting, a Qantas A380 taxied past bearing the name “Sir Reginald Ansett”; one wouldn’t have expected this some 15 years ago when Qantas and Ansett were competitors!
Norfolk Island looked gorgeous as we flew in ahead of schedule. The rolling emerald hills dotted with Norfolk pines and small white beaches contrasted well with the turquoise Pacific. I cleared the arrival formalities relatively quickly but had to wait for the others that were sharing the complimentary shuttle to various accommodations.
This destination is quite the opposite to New Zealand in terms of its tourism target market. While NZ is popular with thrill-seekers, NI is popular with “newlyweds and nearly-deads” (that’s the way I heard it being described many years ago). In fact, we learnt on the flight that there were two couples (unrelated) that were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary today.
The oldie appeal didn’t put me off as this stopover is essentially free (cost-neutral in term of airfare and taxes compared to a non-stop SYD-AKL flight) apart from the accommodation.
After checking into the Pine Valley Apartments, I explored Burnt Pine township. Finding the supermarket, I decided to self-cater my dinners and stocked up on a few items.
Further ideas to explore the island today didn’t materialise. The east-bound flying, early morning wakeup and time change too its toll. I was rather drowsy most of the afternoon. I felt like an early night but I started feeling wide awake after a short lie-down. I hate east-bound travel with a vengeance. In the opposite direction, I’d be waking up bright and early every day and dropping dead in bed every evening.