Captain Cook Monument
When Captain James Cook landed on this Island in 1774 he explored only one segment on the north coast. Here is an extract from his log dated 11th October:
"After dinner hoisted out two boats in which myself, some of the officers and gentlemen went to take a view of the island ... we found no difficulty in landing behind some rocks which lined part of the coast and defended it from the surf ...
We found the island uninhabited ... the flax plant ... but the chief produce of the isle is Spruce Pines which grow here in vast abundance and to a vast size ... for mast, superior ... here are the same sort of pigeons, parrots and parakeets as in New Zealand ... the sea fowl are White Boobies, gulls, tern which breed undisturbed on the rocks and in the cliffs ...
I took possession of this Isle as I had done of all the others we had discovered, and named it Norfolk Isle, in honour of that noble family."
A monument to Captain James Cook and a scenic lookout have been erected on this northern part of the coast where he landed with his officers. Access to the lookout is via Duncombe Bay Road. Picnic tables, barbecues and toilet facilities are provided at the scenic headland.
The Bridle track can be accessed down the grassy slope from the monument. The Bridle track follows the coastline and offers views of the many islets, eventually linking with the Red Stone Link track which takes you to the Bird Rock lookout.