5-12 October Norfolk Island YL Mini DXpedition
Biny ZL2AZY

The idea of going to Norfolk Island became very attractive as time went by. Not only was I going to be able to spend some more time with some of the DXers, but I was also going to be able to have some R & R To top this off the OM decided to join me.

We have heard a lot of good things about Norfolk Island, its history, culture and island hospitality. There are no interrupting cell phones or container trucks pounding down the roads, You can hire a car for $20 a day but then you have very little mileage to cover since the Island is only five km long and something like four km wide, but very hilly, hardly any bicycles ridden. One school accommodates all classes, and the one main street, has the only supermarket. Milk arrives there from New Zealand. One litre costs $4.50, so the islanders use long life milk instead.

Norfolk Island is tax free. Most shops offer top branded items from overseas so there is the chance to buy something discounted, Clarks shoes, all kinds of garments, children's games .......Most visitors come from Australia, so our group containing foreign radio operators created a lot of interest. Hardly ever had visitors from Sweden, Norway, Canada or England made it to the Island. As for us New Zealanders, we repeatedly came across our countrymen in all walks of life, at the rental car firm, in the watch shop, home hosting and offering tours.

Visitors will never be left short of things to do. There is a South Seas Smorgasbord, Sunset Fish Fry, a Sound and Light Show, Convict Ruins Tour, Island Culture Tour, Old Time Music Hall, Progressive Dinner, Breakfast Bush Walk and lots more. The Progressive Dinner took in four Island homes and finished with a sing song. TV is not that great but home entertainment is.

The OM and I were accommodated in a hotel for the first three nights and then moved in with the radio gang at Aunt Em's Guest House for the last four nights. So we were able to see Elizabeth VE7YL in operation on the morse key, and June VK4SJ, Ella G0FIP and Gwen VK3DYL operating on phone along with some of the others who relieved from time to time.Collectively a number of hours were clocked up. June and Ella almost lost their voices and had to stand aside for a day. We came back to New Zealand refreshed.

photo:

Elizabeth VE7YL Gwen VK3DYL
Kirsty VK9NL and Biny ZL2AZY
at Aunt Em's.