8 Day - Norfolk Island Bounty Festival
Departure Date: Sunday, 6th June 2010
Tour Cost: from $2980 per person twin share
Norfolk Island is a fascinating destination and in 2010 Down Under Coach Tours gives you the opportunity to travel to this historic place for the Island's Bounty Festival. Norfolk is a real surprise...words and pictures can't do it justice...experience first hand this idyllic, picturesque South Pacific Island with friendly people, tempting cuisine, wonderful local tax free shopping and time for leisure.
Your escorted tour is timed to coincide with Bounty Day celebrations and each day is filled with carefully planned activities: historic and island discovery tours, Brekky Bush Walk, Bounty Day picnic lunch, Mutiny on the Bounty, Cyclorama, all evening dinners including a Progressive Dinner, Island Fish Fry and the hilarious Night as a Convict. Each day is structured to leave free time for shopping, relaxing, swimming or just enjoying some of the other activities on Norfolk Island. Join us and be prepared to fall in love with this panoramic island paradise!
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY—BRISBANE—NORFOLK ISLAND (D)
Sunday 6th June 2010: An early start for travelling companions joining between Hervey Bay and Caloundra with coach transfer to Brisbane. (Brisbane and Gold Coast home pick up—limited area conditions apply). All passengers are greeted by your Down Under Tour escort at Brisbane International Airport for check-in flight for Norfolk Air Flight O7 331 (time subject to confirmation). Touch down and welcome to Norfolk Island! Be greeted by the friendly staff of Pinetree Tours who will transfer our group to Norfolk Island’s leading Resort, the South Pacific Hotel. This evening enjoy a light supper at your Hotel.
DAY 2 ISLAND INTRODUCTION (BD)
Monday 7th June 2010: After breakfast enjoy an overview of this wonderful Island. Our guide introduces us to Norfolk’s beautiful scenery, rich history and heritage and the way of life that is enjoyed today. Your Guide will keep you informed and entertained as you journey around Norfolk taking in some of the impressive sights it has to offer.
Visit historic Kingston and see the most popular beach on Norfolk, Emily Bay plus the famous convict buildings. Marvel at the Melanesian Chapel with its beautiful stained glass windows, enjoy the views from Cascade and Anson Bay and finish the tour with morning tea at an old historic home. This beautiful home was built by Fletcher Quintal, a descendent of the “Bounty” mutineers, Fletcher Christian and Matthew Quintal. Free time this afternoon to absorb the ambience of this wonderful island. This evening enjoy a memorable dinner at Barney Duffy’s Charcoal Grill, Norfolk’s premier steak house.
DAY 3 BOUNTY DAY FESTIVAL (BLD)
Tuesday 8th June 2010: After breakfast it’s off to the Bounty Day festivities. Experience the re-enactment of the landing of the Pitcairn settlers on Norfolk Island. Watch Bounty descendants dressed in traditional clothing re-enact this landing in an old longboat as it was 150 years ago! See the parade to the cemetery to lie wreathes in memory of ancestors gone.
Hear the traditional hymns sung by family members old and young then enjoy a refreshing morning tea served beside the contrasting convict ruins. After official Grace it is then time to feast in true Norfolk style. A wonderful assortment of meats, fish, salads, roast veggies and traditional bread is served with wine and/or orange juice followed by an array of Island desserts. You will return to your hotel around 3.00pm. The remainder of today is at your leisure. Tonight enjoy a 3 course Carvery Dinner at your hotel.
DAY 4 BUSHWALK & CYCLORAMA (BD)
Wednesday 9th June 2010: Get your walking shoes on for an early pick up this morning for a Breakfast Bush Walk. See some of Norfolk Island’s lush green rain forests and spectacular coast line with a choice of an easy stroll through One Hundred Acres Reserve, or for the more energetic, a leisurely 3.5 km walk from Mt Bates to Captain Cook Monument. If you’re lucky you may spot one of Norfolk’s endangered and very rare Green Parrots. After building up an appetite on one of these fantastic walks you will all be transferred to scenic Anson Bay for a delicious BBQ Breakfast. (Note: Anyone not wanting to do the walk will be transferred direct to Anson Bay for the BBQ Breakfast).
Free time, then at 1.00pm we visit The Cyclorama. Produced by local artists over a period of 15 months, The Cyclorama presents Norfolk Island’s history in a unique and fascinating way. Step into another time and place as you become a part of this magnificent artwork. After The Cyclorama you may like to pop into Guava Gallery and view some artwork by talented local artists. This evening a feast not to be forgotten as we journey to Island homes for a four course Progressive Dinner! Indulge in some of Norfolk’s traditional dishes, and at the same time be welcomed into the homes of your friendly hosts for a touch of true Island living and history.
DAY 5 CONVICT SETTLEMENT TOUR, FISH FRY & MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY SHOW
(BD)
Thursday 10th June 2010: Breakfast at your hotel, then some free time to relax before being taken back in time for a discovery tour of the fascinating Georgian settlement at Kingston. During the Convict Settlement Tour you will wander through the cemetery, The Old Military Barracks and other convict ruins. Your guide will give an insight into the engaging, if somewhat barbaric history during the second penal settlement, a time where suffering and cruelty were the norm in our now idyllic paradise.
This tour will prompt much discussion as you finish the afternoon with an appetising afternoon tea. Tonight enjoy an eye catching, taste bud tantalising Island Fish Fry feast at scenic Puppy’s Point. Enjoy a meal and the views perched on top of one of Norfolk’s majestic cliff tops surrounded by stately Norfolk Pines, watch the sea birds coming in for the night and the sun setting out in the Pacific Ocean.
Tonight you will be transferred to the spectacular outdoor amphitheatre for the Mutiny on the Bounty Show. Watch as descendants of the mutineers bring the story of the “Mutiny on the Bounty” and historic events to life. Experience the heartache and happiness as love is lost and then found again amongst the English men and Polynesian women on beautiful Tahiti. Be sure to bring a warm jacket this evening as the sea breeze can be quite chilly.
DAY 6 GARDEN TOUR & CONVICT NIGHT (BD)
Friday 11th June 2010: After breakfast tour some of the Island’s loveliest gardens beginning with a visit to Norfolk’s major orchard ‘Natural Choice’. Paddy Cavill will explain her horticultural style of gardening and show her specialist lowchill apple cultivation.
Next, visit a nursery and then a gorgeous private garden with spectacular views of Kingston and Nepean Islands. Over morning tea a local historian gives a talk on this area with a history dating to 1788. Free time until it is time to get ready for a night of great fun with Norfolk’s longest running theme night, Night as a Convict. Uniforms are supplied so be prepared for an epic night of laughter, games and convict mayhem!
DAY 7 ISLAND TOUR & SOUND & LIGHT SHOW (BD)
Saturday 12th June 2010: Breakfast at your hotel, then some free time to relax. At 1.00pm grab your camera as we join the Tin-A-Aii Tour to some of Norfolk Island’s most beautiful places. Be prepared for some breath taking sites that support James Cook’s description of Norfolk Island as a “paradise”.
Following a poolside BBQ dinner be transported back to the convict era with the sensational Sound and Light Show. As the use of real life sounds and theatrical lighting break the still starry night, costumed actors will merge with the ruins to bring real convict stories to life, mesmerising you with tales of death, misery and the horror of these decades.
DAY 8 NORFOLK—BRISBANE—HERVEY BAY (B)
Sunday 13th June 2010: After another wonderful cooked breakfast the morning is at leisure. From 8.30am – 11.00am outside the Post Office there is a very nice market with locals selling home-made goodies, arts & crafts etc. Sadly, we must say, SEE YORLYE GANE! Board Norfolk Air flight O7 334 (flight time subject to confirmation).
Welcome home!! Touch down at Brisbane International Airport with return arrangements for Brisbane and Gold Coast passengers. Passengers enroute to Hervey Bay enjoy coach transfers home. Thank you for joining us and we trust you will return home with many cherished memories of your Norfolk Island Paradise.