The birth of an island; a cradle for life.

Islands are extraordinary places to visit. There are no fewer than 8,222 of them off the coast of mainland Australia, and even though I had the good fortune to travel to many of the more significant ones over the course of my career, Norfolk was the one that stole my heart.

Like all oceanic islands, Norfolk has taken its time to evolve. The volcanic eruptions that formed the underlying geology took place around 3 million years ago, with vegetation colonising the landscape after soils had formed. Once there was habitat, animals came, seeking shelter and sustenance, floating or flying in from afar. Over time, many species morphed to become unique - ideally suited to life on Norfolk.