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Lord Howe Island Museum and Visitor Centre

The architect-designed Lord Howe Island Museum opened in 2002. The museum has a range of innovative displays on the island's World Heritage environment.

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Corner of Lagoon Road & Middle Beach Road, Lord Howe Island NSW 2898

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Couple viewing the historic artifacts major collection on a visit to the Lord Howe Island Museum

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Lord Howe Island, New South Wales © Destination NSW

Guide to Lord Howe Island

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• Getting to Lord Howe Island
• When to visit

Leave the pace of modern life behind when you visit World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island.

The lush natural paradise of Lord Howe Island isn't far from Sydney, but once here, you will feel worlds away. With only 400 tourists permitted here at any one time, you can soak up the solitude or mingle with friendly locals, peppering your stay with indulging spa treatments, incredible food and wine and adventures in the stunning natural landscape. With nothing but clean air and lush mountainous terrain around you, you're in for a relaxing and recharging nature-filled escape.

The only way to get to Lord Howe Island is with a two-hour flight from Sydney. Flights depart daily, and there are connecting flights from all Australian capital cities. There’s a limit of 400 tourists on the island at any one time, so make sure you have a confirmed accommodation booking before arranging your flights.

• Lord Howe Island Airport (LDH) is 2.5km (1.5mi) from the island’s main town and services domestic arrivals
• Your accommodation provider will offer complimentary airport transfers

A limited selection of rental cars is available on Lord Howe Island, but you can explore much of this tiny island on foot, or hire bicycles to get around.

Lord Howe Island is a nature-lover's paradise at any time of the year. Summers are pleasantly warm and ideal for swimming, snorkelling and water sports, while the mild winters are made for bushwalking through the island's ancient forests.

• High season: Spring and summer (September to February)
• Low season: Winter (June to August)
• Don’t miss: With hundreds of thousands of seabirds breeding on the island, there are plenty of birdwatching opportunities from November to June. From September to May see shearwaters (muttonbirds) return to the island at dusk, after feeding at sea.

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Lord Howe Island Museum and Visitor Centre

Lord Howe Island has a new architect-designed Museum that was opened in 2002. The museum has a range of innovative displays on the island's World Heritage environment, community and history going back to 1788.

There is also a learning and scientific centre holding valuable archives, photographs and records, many of which have been digitised and can be browsed on their public computers. The museum library contains the largest collection of Lord Howe Island books, maps and journals in the world, and can be viewed by appointment with the Curator.

Weekly lectures are available for the visiting public; and scientists often present their research projects at special lectures.

The museum shop provides you with all the maps and guide books you will need for your visit, plus a host of local art, photographs and souvenirs.

Within the museum, the Coral Café produces coffee and lunches every day; and evening meals several days of the week. The museum has a public wifi network for visitors.

The Lord Howe Island Visitors Centre is located in the museum foyer and has a centralised booking facility and can provide information on accommodation, activities, events, dining and other information about the island.

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Lord Howe Island

• 1.1 History
• 1.2 Geography
• 1.4 Climate
• 2.1 By plane
• 3 Get around
• 6.2 Supplies
• 6.3 Local produce
• 11 Stay safe

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Lord Howe Island is a UNESCO world heritage declared island around 600   km off the coast of New South Wales . A place of unique beauty with volcanic mountains and rainforest lying between surf and lagoon beaches. Lord Howe has the world's most southerly coral reef, with an amazing diversity of marine life, and several species only seen in the waters of the island.

The island was discovered in May 1788 by the HMS Supply, on a voyage from the newly settled Sydney town. There is no evidence of any human habitation of the island prior to this. The island soon became a supply point on trips to Norfolk Island, as well as a base for whaling.

The lagoon of the island was used until 1974 as a stopover point for flying boats to America and New Zealand, as well as to bring visitors to the island.

Lord Howe Island is crescent-shaped, 10   km long and 1.5   km wide at its greatest width. The island forms the top of an extinct underwater volcano and seamount, projecting above the surface of the ocean. The eastern facing crescent of the island, together with a reef, forms a lagoon on the eastern side of the island. The water here is generally calm. On the western side of the island there are several sandy surf beaches.

The population of Lord Howe Island is approximately 350 people. Only 400 tourists are permitted to visit the island at any one time. Unlike on an island resort, the people who are providing services to you are likely to be residents of the island. Some families have lived there for generations. The people have a genuine affection for the island, and knowledge of the best spots to snorkel, walk, and picnic. The non-existent mobile phone network is substituted by a people network, with messages passing between locals and tourists when they encounter each other around the island. If you are seeking genuine warmth rather than the superficial niceties, the people of Lord Howe won't disappoint, with the superficial niceties being a bonus.

The best weather on Lord Howe is undoubtably in summer. The warm summer months, tempered by the oceanic breeze, matches the island outdoor lifestyle. Winter is cooler, rainier, and windier. Tropical cyclones do occur on the island, but they are rare.

Lord Howe Island has a small airport, with a notoriously difficult landing. This restricts operations to small turboprops only. QantasLink fly daily (more frequently in summer) from Sydney using Dash 8-200 36 seater aircraft, while Eastern Air Services operate small 10 seater twin props to Lord Howe a few times a week from Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Gold Coast. Flight time is roughly two hours. If you have anything in the way of significant luggage (or fear of flying) you'll likely find QantasLink the better option.

Due to the limited number of seats, it is essential to book in advance, at the same time as you book your accommodation. Whichever route you choose, fares hover around $1000-$1200 return, making this by some margin the most expensive domestic air route in Australia. Qantas do release a (very) limited number of reward seats which can be purchased with frequent flier points. As Qantas set the "price" in points for their flights by distance rather than the equivalent cash fare, this represents good value.

The airport at Lord Howe has a terminal building with a kiosk open for departing flights, toilets, and a waiting area. There is also an outside area where you can sit and watch the arrivals and departures.

All services are met, and you'll be asked where you are staying as you arrive.

Weather conditions can sometimes be hazardous for landing on Lord Howe, and it's not unheard of for flights to make the entire trip to the island, only to fail to land and return back to the mainland. This is particularly the case in the winter months. Aircraft weight and balance frequently sees luggage left behind, to travel on a flight the next day or later the same day.

If you are planning to dive on Lord Howe Island, bear in mind that there is no decompression chamber on the island. Be sure to follows the rules regarding diving within 24 hours of flying.

The main roads of the island connecting the airport, accommodation, restaurants and golf club are within easy cycling distance. The bicycle comes into its own and is the most popular form of transport, with bike racks situated everywhere.

Walking is easily possible around the town and between most accommodation and the beaches.

The island's roads have a slow speed limit.

There is no taxi service or public transport on the island. All accommodation providers include transport to and from the airport on arrival, and transport to dinner at 6:30PM. The restaurants all provide transport back to your accommodation after your meal.

• Wilson's Hire . Some accommodation provides bicycles, but Wilson's provides the bikes for everyone else. They have lots of bikes here, but like everywhere else on Lord Howe, it pays to book in advance. from $8 per day .  

Look around, it is a beautiful place. The views from high vantage points are amazing. There are also many places to visit like the remnants of the underwater volcano.

• Botanic Gardens . There is a small botanic garden on Lagoon Road just past the museum. However, the whole of Lord Howe Island is a botanic garden, with many examples of large Banyan Trees and Pandanus scattered along the front of the Lagoon. free .  
• -31.527987 159.0665 1 Lord Howe Island Museum ( On the corner of Lagoon Road and Middle Beach Road ), ☏ +61 2 6563 2111 . 9AM – 3PM daily. . One room outlining the history of the island, and another highlighting its environmental features and world heritage status. Entry by donation .  
• Catalina Wreckage . The Catalina Monument is adjacent to the bike parking at Old Settlement Beach. The Australian Air Force flying boat crashed while attempting a landing on the lagoon in bad weather, striking the top of the Malabar Ridge above. The wreckage of the Catalina still lies in place on the side of the ridge facing Old Settlement, visible from the path behind the beach.  

Lord Howe Island is very much geared up for outdoor recreation: bush walking, trekking, guided and self-guided walks, fish feeding, swimming, surfing, Scuba diving , snorkelling, kayaking, bird-watching and reef walks are all popular. Sports are also an option: golf, tennis and bowls especially. Deep sea, rock and shore fishing charters are available. For the more laid back, options include picnics, barbecues, bicycling and dining out. Available for hire are golf clubs, tennis racquets, bicycles and helmets, scuba and snorkelling gear, paddle skis and spy boards.

• Tennis . The court is opposite Thompson's Store. Hire is $10 per hour, book at the store. Racquets and balls are available.
• Golf . Clubs are available at the clubhouse. The course is meticulously maintained. Green fees of $40 are due, and payable via an honour system at the clubhouse.
• Snorkel . There is snorkelling available off just about every beach on the island. Ned's Beach is the jewel in the crown, with corals, tropical and reef fish just metres from the shore. Some of the best accessible snorkelling is at Escott's Reef, near the edge of the reef off the airport. It is a fair swim from shore, and a boat trip may be in order for this one. Comet's Hole is the best place to see the Galapagos Shark, around 100m offshore from the airport runway. Hawkbill turtles can be seen around the lagoon and Ned's. Green turtles are best seen munching on the sea-grass off Old Settlement Beach. You can rent snorkels at Wilsons, or on the beach at Ned's.
• Dive . Several operators run SCUBA trips to the surrounding reef areas, and to nearly Balls Pyramid.
• Glass Bottom Boating
• Stand up Paddleboards
• Bushwalking . The most popular walk is up to Malabar Ridge. The best approach is from the track that meets the road about 50m short of Ned's beach. Like everything else on Lord Howe, once you leave the lagoon some hills are involved. You ascent the ridge, to lookout over the birdlife living on the cliffs overlooking the turquoise sea. You can walk further to Kim's lookout, and descend via the North Bay track to Old Settlement Beach. Serious walkers can pre-book full-day guided walks up Mount Gower.
• Fishing . Spear fishing is not permitted.
• Fish Feeding . The food dispenser on Ned's takes $1 coins.
• Jetty Jumping . A favourite with the kids at high tide.

Only Australian currency is accepted on Lord Howe Island. Foreign currency and travellers cheques are not accepted or exchanged. Credit cards are accepted widely but not everywhere. A surcharge of around 2% applies to using credit cards at many places, with Australian EFTPOS being an alternative for which there is no surcharge. There are two banks on the island, Westpac and Commonwealth open some hours on weekdays. The post-office is an agent for some others. There is a single ATM on the island, just inside the entrance door to the Bowling Club, with the entrance door (like most other doors on Lord Howe) usually open.

Island prices are generally higher than mainland prices owing to freight costs and the size of the market. Expect to pay a little more than you would in a convenience store in a capital city, say around $5.10 for a litre of milk, and around the same for a loaf of bread or $9.90 for a loaf of sourdough.

There are three small shops on the island that carry groceries, liquor, fruit, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, clothing, souvenirs and snacks. You have to choose from what is available. If supplies of an item dwindle, don't expect to see it restocked until the day after the ship arrives.

• Thompson's Store ( Next to the post office and the co-op in town ). 9AM-6PM . Small range of groceries, drinks and ice-creams. A handful of snorkels to purchase and some beach clothing.  
• Joy's Shop . Just before Heartbreak Hill on Middle Beach Road, up from the museum. The largest range of food and other supplies on the island.
• Diamonds ( formerly The Top Shop ) ( between Thompson's store and the lagoon ). The place to buy fresh seafood caught on the island. Will deliver to your accommodation. Limited opening hours.  

Local produce

There is also a small hairdressing salon, limited beauty and masseur facilities and arts and crafts.

• The Beach Boutique

There is a choice of restaurants on Lord Howe, catering mainly to a high end market. Expect to pay up around $25 for mains at the clubs, and $35 to $55 most other places. Limited choice is usually the order of the day, expect only four or so dishes on the menu each night, and for half of them to be locally caught fish.

The general arrangement is to book your restaurant for the night before noon. There is usually a booking sheet out the front of each restaurant for this purpose if you want to cycle around, or you can call them from the free phone out the front of Thompson's Store. You should then put your name down at your accommodation for a lift, and the restaurant will then provide you with transport home. Because of this arrangement, with accommodation providing a lift at 6:30PM, dinner commences at this time.

For lunch, Thompson's Store sells hamburgers around $8 each 11AM-2PM. You can get rolls and sandwiches from the Anchorage or from the Coral Cafe for around $15 until 2PM.

Most accommodation has some facilities for preparing your own food. There are barbecues on the beach, well stocked with wood, but you will need matches and probably firelighters.

You should have a good plan for where and how you are eating each day. Restaurants do book out. The lunch take-away option is gone from 2PM. Shops close for provisions around 6PM. Making a decision on dinner at 5PM can mean you go hungry.

• Pandanus . Modern Australian on week nights, with a slightly cheaper Asian menu on Saturday and Sunday nights.
• Beach House on the Moon . Only open two nights a week. Communal eating, as reasonably priced as anywhere.
• The Anchorage . Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with bookings only really necessary for dinner. Even if you haven't booked, you may still get a table here. Right in the centre of town, with Steak and seafood to match any on the mainland. Around $35 for a main. Also good for a coffee and a muffin any time of day.
• Bowling Club . Pie night Monday night. Closed for dinner Saturday night.
• Golf Club . Pizza night Sunday night. Make sure to book well in advance to watch the sun go down from the balcony.

There are no pubs on Lord Howe, but there is a bar at the Bowling Club and the Golf Club with a mix of locals and visitors. The Crooked Post near the lagoon is a small cocktail bar specialising in island-inspired cocktails. Friday night tends to be the biggest night, but even then things tend to be quiet by 9PM. Most people aren't at Lord Howe for the nightlife.

Lord Howe Island is small, so location doesn't usually come much into play when deciding where to stay. However, there is a small ridge along the island, and some accommodation is at the top of the hill. Due to the strict limit on visitors and the limited accommodation, it is absolutely essential to book your accommodation in advance, at the same time as booking your flight.

• Arajilla Retreat , Old Settlement Beach , ☏ +61 2 6563 2484 , toll-free: 1800 063 928 , fax : +61 2 6563 2022 , [email protected] . Doubles $848-1,056 . ( updated Jun 2017 )
• Capella Lodge , ☏ +61 2 9918 4355 , fax : +61 2 9918 4381 . Doubles $550-590 .  
• Lorhiti Apartments , ☏ +61 7 3366 8000 , fax : +61 7 3366 8377 , [email protected] . Doubles $90-250 .  
• Pinetrees , ☏ +61 2 6563 2177 , fax : +61 2 6563 2156 . Doubles $300-310 .  

There are no mobile phone towers on Lord Howe Island, and consequently no mobile phone reception of any kind . There are coin operated public phones in town, and at several locations around the island.

Internet (two terminals + Wi-Fi) is available for a fee at the visitor information centre when it is open. Some accommodation providers have Wi-Fi or terminals as well. The Internet connections aren't particularly fast, and if something breaks that needs replacement, it can be unavailable for weeks.

Australia Post has a postal agency on Lord Howe Island open M-F 9AM-1PM & 2PM-4PM. From Sep-May airmail is dispatched and received every day except Friday. In the winter months, mail is dispatched whenever flights operate.

The MV Island Trader provides a surface freight link with Port Macquarie every fortnight. The arrival of the boat can be quite an event in itself. Every local will be able to tell you when the boat is due, and the whole population can turn up at the post office to collect their consigned shopping. You'll see the pallets heading up from the boat to the shops, and soon after the fresh produce and other selections hit the shelves. Expect whatever you see come ashore to be on the menu and in the shops for the next couple of weeks.

Although the island walks are well formed, all the cliffs are unfenced. Some of the island's lookouts are named for the people who have fallen and died there. Take care near the cliff edges. The island locals will tell of occasions where people have broken limbs on the Gower walk, having to wait in the bush overnight while a rescue helicopter is sent from the mainland.

The island has a small hospital, with a doctor resident on the island on-call. He is used to stitching up all kinds of bicycle related falls, but for anything more serious a medivac to the mainland may be required.

Unless you arrived by yacht or private aircraft, the only connections are back to the Australian East Coast or New Zealand .

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Your ultimate guide to Lord Howe Island

• When To Visit

There aren’t many areas left in Australia that have no wi-fi signal but if you’re looking for a place where you can truly switch off and have a screen break, Lord Howe Island will be your dream destination. Everyone instinctively slows down when visiting this natural island paradise, where the speed limit is only 25 km per hour. There are only 400 visitors allowed on this tiny island at one time so plan your trip well ahead.

Things To Do on Lord Howe Island

The island is a haven for nature lovers. It has been world heritage listed since 1982 because of the scenic beauty, the biodiversity of plant species and the wildlife. Spend your days bird watching, snorkeling, diving, doing fun water sports or hiking along sandy beaches and into lush forests. The pristine environment is home to over 130 species of permanent and migratory birds and is one of Australia’s most interesting bird watching destinations.

Lord Howe Island is a bush walker’s paradise. From easy beach walks through palm and banyan tree forests to more challenging mountain hikes like the Seven Peaks Walk which scramble along cliff sides and give incredible views across the island and out towards the Tasman sea, there’s something for everyone. One of the best day treks in the world is the Mt Gower climb, an 875 metre challenging climb. You need a very high level of fitness but the forest of clouds at the top will be your reward for training for this hike. Fifth generation Norfolkian and local mountain guide, Jack Shick, leads guided walks every Monday and Thursday.

Diving & Snorkelling

With over 60 world class dive sites to choose from, you could spend your entire holiday under the surface in the oceans surrounding Lord Howe Island. The water temperature remains between 18 and 26 degrees due to the warm ocean currents which flow through the area. With over 90 species of colourful coral and 500 species of fish known to live in the reefs, this is one of the world’s most spectacular diving and snorkeling regions. Don’t miss Ball’s Pyramid, the world’s tallest sea stack. The boulders are covered in vibrant red and green plant life, the coral is kaleidoscopic and, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the elusive angelfish, amongst the myriad of other marine species down there.

The golf course on Lord Howe island is well known as one of the most picturesque in Australia. It is located in proximity to the majestic Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird, and these huge mountains seem to tower in the distance. Whether you come to play your nine holes in the annual Golf Tournament held each November or you play a friendly round as part of a relaxing holiday, this unique course offers many challenges as you traverse through kentia palm forests and out on to the shore. The Lord Howe Island Golf Club holds an Easter competition and regular Friday afternoon and Sunday Social games. The locals will welcome you.

For a fishing experience that you will never forget, get out on the water with Brad Wilson of Sea Lord Howe.  As a 6th generation islander, he knows more than most when it comes to anything Lord Howe Island.

Jack Shick’s Noctiluca can take you out deep sea fishing for kingfish, trevally, wahoo and tuna, while the Lulawei offers sunset fishing trips.

7 unforgettable experiences to make the most of Lord Howe Island

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Best Time To Visit Lord Howe Island

The temperate climate of the island means that it is a year round destination for holiday makers . Between September and May it is warmer and excellent weather for swimming and ocean activities. For bird watchers, there is something happening all year round. In January, early breeder birds like Sooty Terns, Brown Noddies and Masked Boobies are nesting and fledging. By the end of August you can see the mutton birds arrive and towards the end of October the Red-tailed Tropicbird is breeding along the cliffs.

Choosing Where To Stay on Lord Howe Island

Arajilla Retreat has luxury accommodation for the discerning traveller. With a fine dining restaurant and encompassed by a thick palm forest, it is a peaceful and stunning retreat from the world. A similarly luxurious option is Capella Lodge . The furnishings are chic and the property has magnificent ocean views. The spa uses gloriously fragrant native Australian botanical products to pamper you from head to toe.

For the budget traveller , self contained apartments are available. Try Ocean View Apartments , Leanda-Lei Apartments or Somerset Apartments for a range of one, two or three bedroom apartments where you can relax after a long day of sightseeing.

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Tours & Packages Lord Howe Island

One of Australia’s great walks, the Seven Peaks Walk , is a five day guided trek through some of the incredible peaks on this world heritage listed island. Explore the beaches, oceans, forests and mountains by day and retire to a luxurious warm shower and comfortable bed at the Pinetrees lodge in the evening.

To really experience the wonders of the ocean that surrounds Lord Howe Island, take a deep sea diving tour from September to June to one of the 60 spectacular coral reef dive sites in the region or charter a fishing boat with a local guide. If you’d prefer not to get wet, Lord Howe Environmental tours runs day trips. You can hike, kayak, learn about the maritime history of the island or explore the flora and fauna with an experienced guide.

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Top Places To Eat On Lord Howe Island

The best Lord Howe Island restaurants and cafes

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From casual cafes to fine dining experiences, there is something to suit every taste and budget. Fresh seafood is a staple on every menu in town but the townsfolk are sensitive to dietary requirements so you’ll find excellent gluten-free food and vegetarian fare.

The Anchorage is open for every meal every day of your stay on the island. The restaurant serves fresh, modern Australian cuisine and delicious breads and cakes are made on site.

The restaurant at Arajilla Retreat is another exceptional place to dine if you’re staying at the property. Open seven days a week for all meals, you can also organise picnics to take away. If you’re clever enough to catch a fish during the day, the chef will prepare it to order.

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Lord Howe Island: 10 Best Things to Do & Guide

Once I became aware of all the amazing things to do on Lord Howe Island, I knew I had to visit Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed island paradise one day.

So when I wanted to go somewhere special for my 40th birthday, Lord Howe Island came to mind as the place to go.

I wanted to visit Lord Howe Island to climb Mount Gower , so I could sit on the summit on a beautiful day and admire the incredible island views.

I also wanted to hand-feed the fish at Ned’s beach , relax at the fabulous beaches on Lord Howe Island, and scuba dive Balls Pyramid , a fantastic pyramid-shaped sea stack.

My hopes were high when planning a visit to Lord Howe Island, a small pristine island off the coast of mainland Australia with beautiful twin mountains and a great-looking coral lagoon.

Annoyingly, nothing went to plan and my trip to Lord Howe seemed to be more of a curse!

I say this because the Greek Gods sent terrible weather during my stay, which ended up ruining my entire trip.

The weather truly sucked, but I still managed to do a few good things on Lord Howe Island.

However, the vision of paradise I wanted to see on the island never revealed itself to me.

Oh, well, I suppose them’s the breaks!

I’ll show you some great pictures of Lord Howe Island looking like paradise from other photographers, as well as some great videos about Lord Howe Island, whereas my pictures are mostly gloomy.

The differences between a heaven and hell experience when going on an island holiday will be plain to see.

Lord Howe Island is sometimes called the Galapagos of Australia , or even the Bora Bora of Australia .

The island paradise (when the weather is good 🙂 ) is one of Australia’s best-kept secrets.

Only 400 visitors are allowed on the island at any given time, which means plenty of space for everyone, so you can easily comprehend why it’s a very exclusive destination.

That means Lord Howe Island only gets around 20,000 visitors annually, which is peanuts compared to other island paradises in the world — especially Hawaii.

They must love ecotourism on the island, and who can blame them?

Best Things to do on Lord Howe Island

My visit to Lord Howe Island was a massive letdown due to the crappy, crappy weather, meaning I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do.

Even though I missed out, I still know about many of the amazing things to do on Lorde Howe Island.

Lord Howe Island is one of Australia’s hidden gems, so knowing about the best things to do on Lord Howe Island may inspire you to visit the island.

The picture here was taken on the day of my departure. As you can see, the weather on Lord Howe Island turned out bad and this was taken a relatively good day. Paradise lost!

The saddest part for me had to be missing out on climbing Mount Gower, which was one of the main reasons why I decided to visit Lord Howe Island in the first place.

I can’t even recall going for a swim! That’s how much the weather sucked!

Okay, so I didn’t do everything I wanted to do, but I somehow still managed to do a few amazing things on Lord Howe Island.

Water-based activities for me were limited, but many of the best things to do on Lord Howe Island involve the ocean.

Things like swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, paddle boarding, kayaking, and fishing.

Even if you just confine yourself to these water-based activities, if the weather is good, you’ll love the place. One thing everyone must do is:

Feed the Fish at Ned’s Beach

This fantastic fish-feeding experience on Lord Howe Island blew my mind. I had seen it on TV and I couldn’t wait to experience feeding the fish at Ned’s Beach.

In fact, it is the very first touristy thing I did on Lord Howe Island. The lady who picked me up at Lord Howe Airport took me there prior to taking me to my accommodation.

Somehow, we started talking about Ned’s Beach, and before I knew it, we were at the spot.

Ned’s Beach is situated in a beautiful cove, as you can see in the bottom section of this picture.

Unfortunately, I never experienced anything like this level of perfection during my stay on Lord Howe Island. Big sigh…

When we arrived at Ned’s Beach, we purchased fish pellets from a self-service vending machine inside a shed for one dollar.

Keep that in mind because you will require a $1 coin if you want some fish food.

Then we went into the ocean in less than knee-deep water. I was very skeptical at first because there were no fish in sight.

To my astonishment, it didn’t take long because fish started appearing out of nowhere as soon as some pellets were thrown into the sea.

Then the feeding frenzy began. It was pretty amazing!

Ned’s beach has a variety of fish, including mullet, silver drummer, trevally, wrasse, garfish, and parrot fish.

If you’re lucky, you may even see large kingfish swimming around, over 1m in size.

I did see some bigger fish, but I don’t think I saw a kingfish.

All the fish have the good fortune of being inside a protected marine reserve at Ned’s beach, so the bad news is that if you love fishing, you won’t be able to catch any of them.

If they allowed you to go fishing at Ned’s beach, you’d probably clean the place out in no time.

The unbelievable thing is that you don’t even need a fishing rod to catch the fish. You could probably pull them out of the water with your own hands if you wanted to. Well, that’s what it feels like.

You even start thinking that the fish would be willing to beach themselves to get a bit of food.

Some of the fish were only in 5 cm of water. They even flopped around on top of my feet!

Ned’s Beach was voted Australia’s Cleanest Beach in 2005, so it is also a top spot to go snorkeling.

If you feel a nip at your leg, don’t worry, it’s probably just a hungry fish.

Keep an eye out for Galapagos whaler sharks as they can come into the shallows. You may even see a turtle at Ned’s beach if you’re lucky.

Feeding the fish at Ned’s beach was a great start to my Lord Howe Island adventure.

Lord Howe Island Water Activities

Visiting Lord Howe Island is mostly about enjoying the beach and the surrounding ocean.

Every type of water sport is available, including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, kite surfing, and windsurfing.

You can even go surfing. Blinky Beach is supposed to be an excellent place to catch some waves.

Snorkelers and scuba divers can also have a great time on Lord Howe Island.

Fishing is another enjoyable thing to do on Lord Howe.

I never felt an urge to go for a swim during my stay at Lord Howe due to the weather being quite chilly and miserable.

But if the weather is on your side, the beach is where you’ll want to spend a considerable amount of time. I wonder who this guy is?

Hiring a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard to enjoy some water activities would be fun.

On a calm day, the sea is flat like glass, so you could easily paddle over to the island in the distance, known as Blackburn island.

In the photo below, the weather doesn’t look too bad. However, it still didn’t make me want to go for a swim.

Best beaches – Lord Howe Island

There are about 15 beaches on Lord Howe Island, including one named Lovers Bay.

The beautiful thing about the beaches on Lord Howe Island is that there are no stingers.

Tropical beaches in Queensland are notorious for stingers, but not on Lord Howe.

The main beach on the island is known as Lagoon Beach. It is where most of the action takes place.

I’d say this beach would have to be the best beach on Lord Howe Island.

This is the dream!

Scuba Diving

I went scuba diving at Lord Howe, which was a pretty good experience.

One of the best things to do on Lord Howe Island is scuba diving  Balls Pyramid  if you can.

The problem is that it is in the open ocean, so weather conditions must be good before the dive operator will take you there.

Plus, it is supposed to be a technically tricky dive due to strong currents, so you need good diving experience to handle it.

We dived very close to the mainland in a sheltered cove of Lord Howe Island.

I didn’t have enough weight attachments to my belt, so when my oxygen ran low, I couldn’t stop myself from rising to the surface.

I tried grabbing onto a rock and ended up cutting myself. Quickly after that, I rose to the surface.

Once on the boat, the scuba diver operator bandaged my hand.

Afterward, when the boat returned to shore, all of the scuba divers had tea and coffee. Overall, it was a pretty good experience.

Amazingly, when I departed from Lord Howe, I saw the scuba dive operator at the airport.

I told him that he had it pretty good on the island. His reply was: you have to come back, or something like that.

Turtle Tours on Lord Howe

I never saw a turtle at Lord Howe, even though I went to the recommended beach.

I went walking around in the ocean just below my private parts. The sea was cold, and the water was choppy, so I didn’t stay long.

In the distance, I could see a glass bottom boat anchored in the water, but I never saw any turtles around the place.

Going on a glass-bottom boat ride would have to be one of the best things to do on Lord Howe Island if you get to see a giant turtle.

Settlement beach is the place to go. Apparently, turtles are often in less than 1 foot of water. You can see them eating sea grass, so I’m not sure what I did wrong.

They aren’t scared of people and are used to people walking close to them. Spotting them may also depend on the tides.

People who do see them, often report seeing the turtles in the late afternoon.

Climb Mount Gower on Lord Howe Island

One of the best things to do on Lord Howe Island has to be climbing Mount Gower.

On a great day, the views are fantastic!

But as you can see, the weather for me was terrible. Clouds were ever-present over both of the twin peaks during my entire stay.

Even if I did get to the top, the scenic views over the island wouldn’t have been there.

So pray to the weather Gods that you get some decent weather if you ever visit Lord Howe.

I didn’t do that, which is probably why it turned out so shitty.

The Mount Gower climb can only be done with a licensed guide and it takes about eight hours.

If you go, Lord Howe’s 14 km long signature hike will take you to the summit of Mt Gower, a mountain 875 meters above sea level.

It is worth the effort because you’ll have stunning views of Mount Lidgbird and the entire island on a good day.

Climbing Mount Gower was genuinely one of the main reasons why I wanted to visit Lord Howe Island in the first place.

You have to go with a licensed guide when climbing Mount Gower, but I seriously thought about sneaking to the top on my own.

I resisted the urge only because it seemed pointless.

If I fell due to a slippery slope or something, I’d be in big trouble. There are sheer cliffs on the walk to the summit, and you do need to use ropes on occasion.

The views from the top of Mount Gower wouldn’t have been any good during my trip, so I resigned to the fact that it wouldn’t happen during my trip.

The weather forecast was terrible during my entire stay, so there was no hope.

Tip: If you want to climb Mount Gower, arrange to do it before you are on the island. Bookings may be limited and they don’t go every day of the week, so you need to book.

In my case, staying for five nights on Lord Howe Island, I would have thought that the weather would have given me at least one day to do the Mount Gower climb, but no such luck.

Most of the time, dark clouds lurked about, and due to the wetness of the slopes making things slippery, it was never going to happen.

Here’s a good video showing what the climb up Mount Gower involves. It looks awesome!

Hiking Tip:  Die-hard walkers may even want to go on the six-day Seven Peaks Walk.

Capella Lodge

If there is one super dreamy place to stay on Lord Howe Island, be it in a hotel, a luxury lodge, or anywhere on Lord Howe Island, then Capella Lodge would be the place I’d pick. Capella Lodge is simply outstanding!

It has to be in the best spot on Lord Howe Island. I promise you’ll be living the dream if you have sunny weather.

It is expensive, so mere mortals probably won’t be able to stay at the exclusive Capella Lodge, which has a hefty price tag, but you can always walk past with a feeling of deep envy.

The place has the best views of Mount Gower. However, it is located 4km from the main village, so you will probably need a golf buggy to get around comfortably, and that’s exactly what I saw the lucky few people doing.

Tip: You can also eat at the restaurant, even if you’re not staying there. Put it down as a must-do.

Official Website: Capella Lodge

Balls Pyramid

One of the best things to do on Lord Howe Island, which technically isn’t on the island, is to visit Balls Pyramid .

It is the tallest sea stack (ocean pinnacle) in the southern hemisphere. Spectacular cliffs rise from the ocean, making the place an incredible attraction.

Balls Pyramid is situated approximately 27 km southeast of Lord Howe Island.

Amazingly, Balls Pyramid is 1 km long and stands 521 meters above sea level.

People have climbed it in the past, and people fly over it.

The safer option is to go on a boat tour to enjoy Balls Pyramid.

Balls Pyramid is also famous for a super rare 12 cm long flightless stick insect that lives on it. As such, it has the highest level of conservation status.

Another top thing to do is scuba dive at Balls Pyramid if you’re adventurous. The dive site has been included in the world’s top 50 best dive sites.

Seeing a very rare Ballina Angelfish is also something to watch out for when diving Balls Pyramid. If you dive balls Pyramid, I seriously envy you.

Eat at great restaurants on Lord Howe Island

There are some great restaurants on Lord Howe Island. Two restaurants I can highly recommend are Pinetrees Lodge and Arajilla Retreat .

Pinetrees Lodge was very memorable and the lodge is fantastic. It’s probably a great place to stay as well.

The chef at Pinetrees Lodge served up the best pork belly meal I have ever eaten.

I had a fish meal the night before, so I wanted to try something different.

At the time, I was a bit disappointed because the two choices for mains were something like kingfish or pork belly.

Incredibly delicious comes to my mind when thinking about the meal.

After I finished my meal, the waiter asked me how it was. I told him it was great and to compliment the chef. It was delicious!

Arajilla also served up a top-quality main meal and a delicious dessert.

One night I also went to the Anchorage restaurant , which offered simpler dining.

It was good, but I wouldn’t say they’re in the same league as Pinetrees Lodge or Arajilla Retreat. Both of those restaurants are extra level.

I also went to another restaurant which I can’t remember the name of, but it may have been Pandanus.

You have to book ahead for all the restaurants, and they can fill up quickly, so don’t leave it too late. I usually made my bookings the day before and had no issues.

Your accommodation provider will drop you off at the restaurant for dinner, and when you’ve finished, a staff member from the restaurant will offer you a ride back to your accommodation. It’s a good thing because the island has hardly any lights.

I had a pizza at the golf club for my last dinner on Lord Howe.

I walked back to my accommodation after finishing my meal at Arajilla and also after eating the pizza at the Golf club. Still, I got a ride back to my accommodation from every other restaurant.

Tip: You can also make your own BBQ dinner at public barbecues along the beach. Buy a BBQ pack from one of the stores. It will probably be much cheaper than dining out all of the time.

Lord Howe Island Walks

Lord Howe Island is small enough to explore on foot, especially if you walk the island in sections. Do one side of Lord Howe Island on one day and the other half on another.

The island is just 11 km long and, on average, 2 km wide, so you can see most of it in only a few days.

Bird watching is hugely popular on the island. They have something like 130 bird species, so keep an eye out when you’re walking around.

There are no snakes or sandflies, which is excellent to know.

One of the most accessible walks in Lord Howe is to walk to Lagoon beach from your accommodation. You will probably do it regularly.

Popular Lord Howe Island hikes

• Old Gultch – 20 minute return walk
• Intermediate Hill / Transit Hill – 45 minute walk
• Little island – 45 minute walk
• Malabar hills and Kim’s lookout walk – 5 hour return hike
• Mount Eilza – 0.6 km up a steep path (Note: Mt Eliza track may be closed from March to September due to the nesting of migratory birds.)
• Goat House Cave – 4 hour return (6 km) hike

Goat House trek is probably a good option for a longer hike if you don’t want to go on a Mount Gower guided walk.

The last part even involves using a rope to pull yourself up a steep stack, which can be challenging. I didn’t quite get to Goat House Cave after deciding to cut my walk short.

Goat House Cave on Mt Lidgbird is about halfway up the 777-meter mountain.

Here’s a picture looking north from the Goat House cave climb. As you can see, it offers some pretty good views.

Walking Map – Lord Howe Island

Here is an excellent Lord Howe Island map  (Exploring Lord Howe Island brochure), so you can get your bearings.

The walks on Lord Howe Island are signposted, so it isn’t hard to find the walking trails on the island.

You can also get the map at the visitor’s center. It’s free, so you have to get one.

Ride a bike around Lord Howe Island

Riding a bike around Lord Howe Island seems to be a fun thing to do.

There are something like 15 beaches to explore, so going on a bike ride will make it so much easier to get around.

Most of the beaches can be accessed by bike. Cars shouldn’t be driving over 25 kpm, which makes things very safe.

There will be some steeper hill sections in certain parts of the island. The fun part will be riding down the slopes. Keep an eye out for birds.

The great thing about riding a bike around Lord Howe Island is that it will allow you to cover much more ground. You can then stop and relax at places for longer.

Wherever you go, there will be plenty of magical sights on Lord Howe Island.

Here’s a track filled with Kentia Palms on either side of Anderson Road.

The island is covered in natural forest, banyan trees, and beautiful kentia palms.

I found it surprising to learn that Kentia palms are the biggest export on the island.

At some point, you will probably want to stop for a drink at the Anchorage.

This place in the village town center is probably where you can hire bikes if you want to.

I never went for a bike ride on the island because the roads and pathways were often wet.

My preference was to walk around everywhere. But, I have to say, on a sunny day, riding a bike on Lord Howe Island would be hard to beat. I still saw a few people riding bikes.

If you’re staying at Capella Lodge, bike hire is complimentary. Lucky you.

Play golf on Lord Howe Island

One of the best things to do on Lord Howe Island for golf lovers is to play a game of golf.

You won’t want to miss out on playing a round of golf on the nine-hole golf course with very scenic five par 3s and four par 4s.

Lord Howe Island golf course looks pretty good to me, and I did notice it when walking around the island.

I would have played golf, but the weather was extremely crappy during my stay. On my visit to Lord Howe, it looked nothing like these beautiful pictures.

If you are staying on Lord Howe Island for four or five nights, make sure you order a pizza at the golf clubhouse at some point.

They served me a delicious pizza, even though I never booked to go there for dinner.

I didn’t think you’d have to book to get a pizza, but since they need to ensure they have enough ingredients for the night, it is a requirement.

Luckily, the guy still made me one.

Inside the golf clubhouse, I had a drink while waiting for my pizza to be made.

Someone was selling raffle tickets while I was there, so I bought one. I can’t remember the prize, but I think it may have been a food basket, including a chicken.

I told the person to give it to my accommodation provider if I won.

When my pizza was ready, I ate it outside. It was an excellent end to my dining experience at Lord Howe.

Kim’s Lookout

There is a track from Ned’s beach to Malabar Ridge and beyond to Kim’s Lookout .

Kim’s Lookout will give you some great views of Lord Howe Island all the way to Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird on the other side.

It’s another amazing thing to do on Lord Howe Island.

Lord Howe Island Hotels

You will have to arrange accommodation before you arrive on the island.

Get this, your accommodation provider will either pick you up or get someone to pick you up from the Lord Howe Island airport on arrival. It makes you feel extra special.

Most people on the island have several part-time jobs, from picking up people at the airport to driving them to restaurants and possibly even doing certain activities on the island, like snorkeling excursions for example.

There are a variety of accommodation providers on Lord Howe Island, including:

1. Admiralty Apartments 2. Arajilla Retreat 3. Beachcomber Lodge 4. Blue Peter Beach House 5. Blue Lagoon 6. Bowker Beach House 7. Capella Lodge 8. Earl’s Anchorage 9. Ebbtide Apartments 10. Hideaway Apartments 11. Howeana Apartments 12. Lagoon Landing 13. Leanda-Lei Apartments 14. Lorhiti Apartments 15. Milky Way Apartments 16. Ocean View Apartments 17. Pinetrees Lodge 18. Somerset Apartments 19. The Broken Banyan Apartments 20. The Treehouse Bungalow 21. Waimarie Apartments

During my visit, I stayed at Hideaway Apartments after emailing the Lord Howe Island tourist office with my preferred dates and telling them I wanted to go scuba diving.

I would be happy to stay there again, but I’d most likely choose to go somewhere different if I ever did revisit Lord Howe Island. Just for a change.

Remember, your accommodation must be booked before arrival.

Lord Howe Island paradise (or hell in my case) only allows 400 visitors on the island at any one time, and there are only about 350 residents, so the place has a very relaxed vibe.

If you’d like to visit Lord Howe in peak season — between mid-December and the end of March  — you may have to book six to twelve months in advance to get your preferred accommodation.

It is a popular place because the island is at capacity most of the year, except during wintertime.

Best time to visit Lord Howe Island

I went in February, and the weather was bad. It probably shouldn’t have been as terrible as it was for that time of the year, but what can you do?

If you want to go swimming, your best bet is to go between September and April, the drier months.

So skip the colder and wetter months of May, June, July, and August.

The Winter months are from June to August. Wind can also spoil your time during September and October, so you still need a bit of luck on your side.

You’ll probably be better off visiting Lord Howe between January and April for the best swimming conditions.

So, how did it go so wrong for me?

I visited Lord Howe Island for five nights in late February , thinking I could easily tick off all the amazing things to do on Lord Howe Island.

The problem, though, was the weather. It ruined all of my plans.

Light rain, drizzle, heavy downpours, stormy winds, and not seeing the sun for most of my time on Lord Howe meant that my holiday was mostly wrecked.

Put it this way, my time on Lord Howe Island would have been so much better if I had great sunny weather.

Tip: Do all you can to ensure great weather on the island. Even if it means booking a trip at very short notice and staying in less desirable accommodation. All of the accommodation on the island is pretty good anyway. If you want to stay at Capella Lodge, you may have to book well in advance, so you’ll need to pray for good weather in that case.

Lord Howe Island Paradise

Watching this Lord Howe Island video may inspire you to visit this dreamy paradise.

Lord Howe Island looks unbelievable when the weather is fantastic.

How to get to Lord Howe Island

I should have realized that things weren’t going to go smoothly at Sydney airport.

While waiting for the plane flight to Lord Howe, it got delayed by about an hour on multiple occasions, maybe two or three times.

At one point, I heard someone on the speaker requesting Lord Howe Island passengers to come to a particular area in the airport to take any essential items from their checked baggage, such as medicine.

I didn’t bother going and took a big chance that my luggage would get there. Luckily it did.

Others weren’t so lucky because I later discovered they had spent their whole time on Lord Howe Island without receiving their checked luggage.

They even had to buy clothes on the island. Jesus, I’m so glad that didn’t happen to me.

Sydney to Lord Howe Island Flights

Lord Howe Island is located 700 km northeast of Sydney.

If you’re going to be in Sydney, here are some recommendations regarding the best things to do in Sydney in one day .

Getting to Lord Howe Island will take about 2 hours from Sydney.

You can get a plane flight from Sydney to Lord Howe on most days, but tickets are always pretty expensive — over $1,000, I’d say.

I noticed that the smaller plane was full of passengers, so tickets do sell out.

Brisbane to Lord Howe Island Flights

Flying out from Brisbane is another option, and it also takes about 2 hours, but they don’t operate as frequently as Sydney.

Other Flights

Limited flights from Port Macquarie may also be available at certain times of the year, and maybe even from Coffs Harbour. Both of these towns are in New South Wales.

Cancellations

The main thing to worry about would be experiencing a cancellation due to bad weather and strong winds.

It can make landing on the small airstrip very difficult for the pilot, so take out travel insurance in case you have any delays.

You may have to start or end your trip a day or two late, which could be costly.

My accommodation provider told me to take out travel insurance but I foolishly ignored it. So so close to things going totally wrong.

Getting to Lord Howe Island by boat is not an option unless you have your own, so most people have to rely on flights.

Flight Tips

No passport is needed for Australian residents. The weight limit for baggage is slightly less than usual, so make sure you’re within the weight restrictions.

Further Information – Lord Howe Island

Here are a few more websites to help you plan your trip to Lord Howe Island.

Official website: Lord Howe Island

Website (tour operator): Lord Howe Island Tours

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Lord Howe Island is a beautiful sub-tropical island north-east of Sydney, Australia.

Lord Howe Island Facts

• Getting To Lord Howe Island
• Lord Howe Weather
• Lord Howe History
• Lord Howe Geology

There's nothing like Lord Howe Island for sheer diversity of natural attractions, from rugged coast to spacious pristine beaches.

• Balls Pyramid
• Blinky Beach
• Erscott's Hole
• Malabar Hill
• Old Settlement
• Transit Hill

Lord Howe Island offers so much to experience.

• Bike Riding
• Bird Watching
• Snorkelling + Scuba Diving

Lord Howe Island is simply enchanting, with a wide choice of accomodation from budget to pure luxury.

• + Accommodation
• Beachcomber Lodge
• Blue Lagoon Lodge
• Earl's Anchorage
• Ebbtide Apartments
• Howeana Apartments
• Lagoon Landing
• Leanda-Lei Apartments
• Lorhiti Apartments
• Milky Way Villas Lord Howe
• Ocean View Apartments
• Pinetrees Lodge Lord Howe
• Somerset Apartments
• The Broken Banyan
• The Tree House
• + Luxury Accommodation
• Lord Howe Luxury Accommodation
• Admiralty Apartments
• Bowker Beach House
• Capella Lodge
• Island House

Lord Howe Island Discover Australia's very own treasure island.

World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island

World Heritage-listed for its outstanding natural beauty, remarkable geology and rare collection of birds, plants and marine life, Lord Howe is surrounded by the world’s southernmost coral reef. The pristine waters teeming with marine life and rare coral from Lord Howe Island Marine Park, one of the largest in New South Wales.

Luxury Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island has a few excellent luxury offerings. There are luxury, high-end lodges and a recently opened self-catering luxury beach house. The rooms are certainly worth the cost, blending five-star amenities and service with unbeatable locations right on the coast.

Capella Lodge Capella Lodge is a place where sophistication, style and beauty come together in a seamless bond with the natural surroundings.

Bowker Beach House Bowker Beach House caters for 2 adults only; exclusive, extremely private, and in a stunning location on Lord Howe Island's beautiful lagoon beach.

Arajilla Lodge Arajilla Lodge goes above and beyond to create an atmosphere that is both pampering and rustically tropical, with views of the ancient Banyan forest and the ocean.

Map of Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island Experiences

There are plenty of ways to explore this amazing natural paradise. Crystal clear waters are perfect for swimming, snorkelling, diving, kayaking and surfing while, on land, the trek to the summit of Mt Gower is recognised as one of the best one-day hikes in the world.

Snorkel + Scuba The diversity and scope of the snorkelling and scuba diving at Lord Howe Island is an easy lure for serious divers who want the thrill of having the ocean to themselves.

Lord Howe Beaches There are 11 beautiful beaches on Lord Howe Island, with one that you can wade into the shallow waters and hand-feed the mélange of fish that swarm to your side.

Hiking on Lord Howe Lord Howe Island boasts miles of fantastic trails that range from casual walkers to summit scrambles with mountains on both ends of the island.

With only one police officer, a 25km/hour speed limit, no mobile phone service and a strict cap on the number of tourists who can visit the island at any one time, this travel destination is one of the most unique in the Pacific. But it's the remoteness that makes Lord Howe Island such a magical place. Read some quick Lord Howe Island facts and learn more about this amazing destination.

Lord Howe Island History Lord Howe Island was first visited by British Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball on 17 February 1788 when his ship, the HMS Supply, passed by on its way from Botany Bay to Norfolk Island

Getting To Lord Howe Qantas offer year-round services to Lord Howe Island from Sydney. Flights take just under two hours. Flights from Port Macquarie are also available with Eastern Air Services.

Weather + Climate Lord Howe's sea breezes prevent summers from becoming too hot and the warm waters of the Tasman Sea help to keep winters mild. There is no bad time to visit.

Lord Howe Island Geology

The crescent-shaped Lord Howe Island is about 11 Kiliometres long, and about two kilometres wide at its widest point and a fraction of a mile (0.3kms) wide at its narrowest point. The geology of Lord Howe Island is typical of island remnants whose active volcanic past helped carve out the bays, islets and curving bends of the coastline.

Balls Pyramid Arguably the star of all the amazing natural attractions is Balls Pyramid, the highest sea stack on the planet.

Mt Gower Towering 875 metres above sea level, the spectacular Mt Gower is Lord Howe Island's highest point.

Erscott's Hole Erscott's Hole amd the surrounding reef is easily the snorkelling highlight of Lord Howe Island.

Australia's last great paradise

More great australian travel destinations.

• Great Barrier Reef
• Kangaroo Island
• Fraser Island
• Blue Mountains
• Hunter Valley
• Kimberley Australia
• Cable Beach
• Wiki Australia
• Great Ocean Road
• Australia's Best Beaches
• Port Stephens
• Lord Howe Island

About 'Lord Howe Island Australia'

Lord Howe Island Australia is a 'Web Magazine' website that is dedicated to all things related to Lord Howe Island. We are passionate about Australia's last great island paradise, its vast marine and wildlife, its lagoon and white sandy beaches, its crystal clear turquiose waters and the unforgetable experiences that are waiting for all who visit. Our aim is to discuss Lord Howe Island, its history, its environment, its wildlife and its spectacular destinations. We hope that this website will inspire all who visit, just as much as Lord Howe Island has inspired us.

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Travel and tourism website design by Jimmyweb Sydney website design by Jimmyweb Blue Mountains website design by iVent

• Hiking and Day Walks
• Experiences

Explore the island's walking trails

Although only 11km long and 2km wide, Lord Howe is laced with dozens of delightful, well-marked walking trails; nearly two thirds of the island is a Permanent Park Preserve. The choice ranges from easy strolls at sea level through lush kentia palm and banyan forests, to moderate cliff-top hikes where you’ll see seabirds wheeling on the thermals, to the challenging 875 metre Mt Gower climb – rated as one of the best day treks in the world.

• Northern Section
• SOUTHERN SECTION
• CENTRAL SECTION

Max Nichols memorial track to North Bay

1.5 km one way, moderate. This walk commences at the picnic area at Old Settlement beach. The track crosses a cleared paddock and then winds its way up to the top of the ridge. The climb is demanding, though made easier by the steps. The track then descends steeply to the picnic area at North Bay where there are toilets and barbecue facilities. Return can be either by the same track, or at the Dawsons Point Ridge junction take the track to Malabar, and continue down to Ned’s Beach.

0.6 km one way, moderate. The Mt Eliza walk starts at the picnic area at North Bay and climbs up to the summit of Mt Eliza, 147m above sea level. The track is very rocky and steep. From September to March, sooty terns nest along the trail and on the summit. During this period the track is closed to the public, to protect the birds and their young.

0.3 km one way, easy. This is a short level walk, mostly along a timber boardwalk, from the picnic area at North Bay to the small rocky cove known as Old Gulch.

Malabar Hill to Dawsons Point Ridge

1.5 km one way, moderate. The Malabar walk commences at Neds Beach, with the start of the track located off to the side of the road, before you reach the grassy section at Ned’s Beach. A climb up an open grassy slope to Pooles Lookout with its commanding views. From the lookout, the track leads to the summit of Malabar Hill, 208m above sea level. This section of the climb is interspersed with tree roots and rocks, and is of a relatively moderate grade. The track then follows the cliff edge to Dawsons Point Ridge, past Kim’s Lookout, you can either turn left and walk back down the Max Nichols Memorial Track to Old Settlement Beach, or turn right and walk down the many stairs that lead to North Bay.

GOAT HOUSE CAVE

2.1 km one way, difficult. Access is from Lagoon Road, turning left at the bottom of the hill after Capella Lodge. The track leads initially to up Smoking Tree Ridge. From this point you turn right and continue up the ascent to the Goat House Cave . The track up to the Goat House Cave is very steep, and is a demanding climb. The track is narrow and is interspersed with tree roots and rocks. There are sections of trail where ropes are used to assist the climbers.

MOUNT GOWER

4.5 km one way, difficult – only accessible with a guide. The Mt Gower walk is very hard and demanding, and takes about 8 hours to complete. This walk must only be attempted with a licensed Gide. Ask your lodge proprietor for contact details for licensed guides. In preparation for this walk, ensure you have adequate footwear and clothing.

COASTAL TRACK TO BOAT HARBOUR VIA MUTTONBIRD POINT LOOKOUT AND ROCKY RUN

3.5km one way, moderate. This walk commences on Lagoon Road near the turn-off to the airport. It follows the eastern coastline. The track is narrow in parts and is interspersed with tree roots, rocks, fallen vegetation and leaf litter. Approximately 1.4 km along the route, a sidetrack descends a short distance to a lookout platform with views across to Muttonbird Point. The main track leads to Rocky Run Creek. Here you can branch off and follow the creek to the ocean, or you can continue the walk to Boat Harbour. From Boat Harbour, you can return along the coastal track or branch off at Rocky Run Creek and continue over Smoking Tree Ridge to the southern end of Lagoon Road. Follow Lagoon Road north up the hill past Capella Lodge and the golf course to your original starting point.

INTERMEDIATE HILL

1km one way, moderate. The track to Intermediate Hill branches off 0.2km from the commencement of the Coastal track (see above). It is a steep and demanding climb to the summit of Intermediate Hill, 250m above sea level, but well worth the walk as the viewing platform at the summit provides some of the best vistas on the island including excellent views of Ball’s Pyramid. From there you can backtrack to Lagoon Road, or continue to Smoking Tree Ridge. The descent to Smoking Tree Ridge is very steep and extra care should be taken on this section of the walk.

LITTLE ISLAND

3km return, easy. The Little Island track starts at the southern end of Lagoon Road. It is an easy walk along an old service road meandering through forest and arriving at a grassy section. The furthest location one can reach before you need a guide to climb Mt Gower.

TRANSIT HILL

1.2km one way, easy. This track starts opposite the Administration Office and goes part way up Bowker Ave before branching off through the palm forest and coming out along the fence line about the Pinetrees’ paddock. From there it climbs steadily to the summit of Transit Hill. The lookout platform on the summit gives an excellent 360 degree view. Return can be either the same track, or continue further for another 0.5km to Blinky Beach. This section of the walk is much steeper and slippery when wet. From Blinky Beach you can walk back along Lagoon road.

STEVENS RESERVE

1.2km return, easy. The Stevens Reserve loop track is a walk that starts opposite the boat sheds on Lagoon road. The track is relatively flat, narrow in sections and is interspersed by tree roots. Interpretive signs along the way make this an informative and interesting walk.

CLEAR PLACE / VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS

1.2km return, easy. This is an easy, fairly level walk that starts at Middle beach, and continues around a large land slip, through palm forest and out to The Clear Place. A short diversion just before The Clear Place takes you down to the Valley of the Shadows.

FORESHORE WALK

0.5 km one way, easy. This track commences at the boat sheds, head south to the Aquatic Club blind the hind dune and continues south along the foreshore past the Pinetrees boatshed. It offers an alternative to walking along Lagoon Road. Another option is to take a stroll along Lagoon Beach. We’re sure you’ll find your own way along this one.

Walking Track Map

Download the Lord Howe Island Walking Track Map.

Related links

Lord howe environmental tours.

Guided Mount Gower tour

SEA TO SUMMIT EXPEDITIONS

Lord howe nature tours.

Guided nature, bird watching and reef walks

WILDSIDE WALKS LORD HOWE ISLAND

Guided walks tours

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