Norfolk Island Lawn Bowls

TRAVEL         

              Norfolk Island is a self-governing territory under the authority of Australia.  All travelers must come through Australia or New Zealand with arrivals and departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle and Auckland.  The flight is an international flight and takes between 2 and 3 hours.  All travelers must hold onward/return airline tickets and proof of accommodation to travel to Norfolk.   The Organising Committee is pleased to assist with any information to facilitate travel arrangements.

              PASSPORTS 

              All visitors require a passport valid for at least six months longer than the period of intended stay.  (Australians may obtain a document of identity from Australia Post free of charge.)  An Australian visa, valid for 30 days beyond the period of intended stay, is required unless holding an Australian/New Zealand passport l.  An Australian visa must be valid for 30 days beyond period of intended stay.   If you are travelling through Australia it essential to acquire an Australian MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA to allow your re-entry to Australia after the event.         

              BOOKING TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION

              Self-contained units have been reserved for players at a modern complex within easy walking distance of the venue.   Three Norfolk Island travel agents are co-ordinating both airline travel and accommodation bookings for the tournament.  All three offer a range of packages and we strongly recommend that you utilise one of them to facilitate all your arrangements.  Contact details are:

Melissa Longcake                     Juliette Grant                            Joe Adams

The Travel Centre                     Burnt Pine Travel Pty. Ltd.        Travelworld

PO Box 172                             PO Box 475                             PO Box 226

Norfolk Island                          Norfolk Island                          Norfolk Island

Ph: +6723 22502                     Ph: +6723 22195                     Ph: +6723 22781

Fax: +6723 23205                   Fax: +6723 22155                   Fax: +6723 23066

melissa@travelcentre.nf            juliette@burntpinetravel.nf         joe@travelworld.nf

ACCOMMODATION  Players’ accommodation has been reserved within easy walking distance of the venue.   Accommodation is modest but spacious  and each unit can accommodate a friend or supporter who will be responsible for the cost of their proportion of the accommodation. So, if one person shares the room they are responsible for half the cost.  Please inform your travel agent when making an athlete or supporter reservation; they know what to do.

              INSURANCE The World Bowls Organising Committee, the Norfolk Island Bowling Club & Bowls Council, Inc. and World Bowls do not insure players or spectators during travel to or from the competition and will not be responsible for any expenses arising out of sickness, injury, other disability or loss of life during the event.  Travel insurance is essential;  please make arrangements with your travel agent when making your bookings.

              THE VENUE  The Bowling Club, where all games will be played, is in the heart of the shopping centre, only a three or four minute drive from the Airport.   Norfolk is a very small island, and nowhere is more than ten minutes drive from anywhere else.

              MEDICAL and DENTAL:  Norfolk Island has a 23-bed hospital which provides a dental clinic, physiotherapy services, pharmacy and 24-hour emergency service.   Phone: +6723 22091.  Australian Medicare does not extend to Norfolk Island.

              LANGUAGE  English is spoken on Norfolk but you’ll also hear the locals speaking Norf’k, a unique language derived from the speech of the Bounty Mutineers and their Tahitian wives who settled Pitcairn Island in 1790.  It has a lilting quality,  very pleasant on the ear.   The United Nations has added Norf’k to  its list of endangered languages.

              CLIMATE      One of Norfolk’s many blessings is a subtropical climate.  Average maximums from 18º-19ºC in winter;  23º-25º in summer.   Average rainfall is 1328mm per year with average humidity in the 74%-79% range.  Wettest months are May to August;  driest November to January.  Bring a jacket for the cooler evenings.

              CURRENCY          Norfolk uses Australian dollars.   Travellers cheques and most credit cards are widely accepted.   There are branches of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac Banking Corporation in Burnt Pine;  a Commonwealth Bank ATM and a Cashcard ATM, as well as some limited EFTPOS.

              CUSTOMS     Imports of fruit, vegetables, flowers and seeds are prohibited.   Pork and poultry from New Zealand are also prohibited.   The duty-free allowance for passengers over 18 years of age is 2.25 litres of alcohol and 250grams of tobacco products.

              DRIVING              Driving is on the left-hand side of the road and livestock has right of way.  Speed limit is 50kph except in the shopping centre and the heritage area at Kingston, where the limit is 40kph.  Locals give a friendly “Norfolk Wave” to all passing vehicles.  You are encouraged to do the same.

              TRANSPORT            There is no public transport, although there is one taxi.  A car is often included in accommodation packages;  insurance and petrol are the only costs.  Otherwise rental cars are readily available from around $30 per day.

              ELECTRICITY  240 volts ac, 50 cycles, using a 3-pin Australian-style plug.   Electricity generally is excellent, but is produced by diesel generators.  A surge protection device for delicate electronic equipment, particularly computers, is recommended.

              KEEPIN IN TOUCH WITH HOME:  The Secretariat will be happy to receive and pass on all communications for players.   Players should ensure all communications clearly identify the intended recipient.  There will be a small charge for outgoing emails and faxes dispatched by the Secretariat. 

              There are internet cafes on Norfolk, at a cost of $6 for a half hour or $9 for an hour.

-o0o-

                          Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any enquiries or   need further      information – full contact details are on the first               page of this information sheet.               Norfolk Island offers many        attractions for visitors and full information can be found                  at         www.theworldofnorfolk.com.au