“A Magical Taste of Paradise” 5 of 5 starsReviewed 2 days ago NEW We stayed at the Shearwater Scenic Villas on the beautiful Norfolk Island We were met at the airport by two of the nicest and friendliest people you could ever have wished to have taken care of you . Dick and Rowena manage the 16 amazingly picturesque acres that Norfolk Island has to offer. THis amazing couple met us with such warmth and affection and sorted out our car hire for us. The accommodation comes with car hire which in itself is wonderful but Debbie and I decided at 4pm on the Saturday whilst walking on the beach that we would try and check out Norfolk Island for the new year. What this meant in real terms was that we booked our trip fro 1730 on the evening New Zealand time and the Airplane was due to fly from Wellington the next day at 0700 to Auckland. We were catching a flight to Norfolk from Auckland that is filled with local islanders seeing their families for the new year so to get a sweat at this short notice was close to miraculous. Dick and Rowena managed to scour the island for a hire car for us and given the short notice this was an amazing achievement add 99% were taken. They guided us to shearwater and as we approached our last minute booked apartment the scenery took our breath away, we are world travelers and believe me to have this affect meant that the vista was stunning. We were still pinching ourselves as the scenery and views got even better at our apartment . We had a stunning view of the ocean and Phillip Island as well as Nepean Island. We looked out on one of Norfolk Islands grandest and most beautifully historic pines, this tree was around when the great James Cook set eyes on this paradise. To the left hand side was a stunning cliff top view of Emily Bay and the World Heritage historic site of Kingston. Cows grazed on the cliff tops and the sun shone on the Shearwater Villas. Our Apartment was beautiful and had sliding doors at the front and the side. It had a lovely kitchen , a seated area, a beautifully comfortable bed and an amazingly modern and clean bathroom. We were invited to use the owners swimming pool if we wished which was next to the apartment and we were told that if we needed anything then just ask. There was a wonderful area to sit outside and gaze at the ocean and by night the most incredible starlit skyline that I have ever had the privilege to have witnessed. There was another seated area to the side by the swimming pool that also had a magnificent cliff top view of the ocean. You can move between the outside seated areas to avoid direct sunlight if like me you do not always do well in the gamma rays. Charise our host and owner was next door and could not do enough for us and our other guests who were based in her amazing and modern self contained villas. We arrived on the Sunday and were invited next door along with the other guests by Charise, Dick and Rowena for lovely food and drink. Nothing at Shearwater is too much trouble. These wonderful people care fore your every need and genuinely mean what they say, Charise took the time to book a New meal for Debbie and myself at a wonderful local restaurant for New Years Eve. This is a small island and this was for New Years Eve, take into account how late we booked this kind of hospitality is rare and so deeply appreciated. In our apartment was an amazing book telling the incredible history of this beautiful island and that of the Pitcairn Islands whod]s descendants those of the HMS Bounty moved to Norfolk Island when Pitcairn had become to small, this was granted by Queen Victoria. I mention this book as it was written by Charises late husband Peter Clarke. This book brought this amazing island to life for us and added to the magical feeling that we felt all week. Debbie and I rate world travelers, we spent New Year in 2012 in Vancouver and Whistler, We got married in Kauaii and engaged on Mauritius. I can honestly say I have never visited a more beautiful island in my life. I have never met a more friendly group of people, they all wave every time you pass in the car whether on the street or passing you in their own cars. The food here is stunning and fresh, no sign of any fast food restaurants. The hospitality here is second to nowhere I have ever been. I believe that the people who are lucky enough to live their daily lives on this island are amongst the luckiest on earth. The views around this stunning island are to die for, it has amazing hills and cliffs and an incredibly delightful little bay. It has history, botany, amazing food and a wonderful little town called Burnt Pine. In terms of accommodation and welcome this was as good as any five star entertainment in cities like New York, Vancouver and Melbourne not in terms of high end and money but in terms of beautiful, serene, clean and incredibly friendly. If you seek a place that appeases the soul, gets you away from commerciality and modern trappings and allows you to breath the finest and purest air with the warmth that humankind talks about but very rarely delivers then Norfolk Island is for you. If you wish to find that side of life that you thought might be lost for ever or even not exist, then Norfolk Island is the place for you We will return as part of us never left Regards Steve and Debbie Shakesheave-Thomas Pukerua Bay New Zealand
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 19:33:18 +0000
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