15 September 2024
8 mins Read
Cast off from the New South Wales coast and voluntarily maroon yourself on a glittering island paradise. Lord Howe’s pristine waters backdropped by looming mountains somehow conjure the intoxicating feeling that you’ve stumbled upon a truly lost world. Ancient and entirely untethered from the every day, spend time here plunging into gemstone waters and communing with native species.
Escape to the glittering tropical paradise that is Lord Howe Island. (Image: Destination NSW)
Slip into the underwater metropolis of the world’s southernmost coral reef to watch its high-vis beauty or scale moody Mount Gower to wander an enchantingly mist-draped forest. Whether you love to slow it right down or wind things up with a heart-pounding adventure, these are the best things to do on Lord Howe Island.
A rainbow paints the sky with multicoloured hues at Lord Howe Island. (Image: Destination NSW/Eugene Tan)
The easy answer is that there’s no perfect time to go to Lord Howe, as it’s perennially perfect. But while the temperature is a fairly consistent ‘pleasant’ year-round, if you like it on the warmer side, you might opt for summer with average temperatures of 25 degrees. The most popular time to visit, however, is between September and May. Winter, on the other hand, is quieter and you’ll still enjoy plenty of warm and sunny days with a minimum of 12–14 degrees and a water temp that hovers around 18-degrees.
Lord Howe Island features the world’s southernmost coral reef. (Image: Destination NSW/Eugene Tan)
Although Lord Howe Island seems to occupy a space somewhere in the vicinity of paradise, it’s actually in NSW. Just 700 kilometres northeast of Sydney on the same latitude as Port Macquarie.
Go kayaking on the sparkling blue waters of Lord Howe Island. (Image: Destination NSW)
To get there, you’ll need to fly. Either from Sydney with QantasLink or with a charter through Eastern Air Services from the Gold Coast, Newcastle and Port Macquarie.
Take in the beauty of Lord Howe Island. (Image: tom-archer.com)
The first thing you’ll notice as you fly into Lord Howe is the looming, Jurassic-looking Mt Gower. Often adorned with a foggy halo, this 875-metre sentinel dominates the island from almost every vantage.
Walk along the cliffside trail up Mount Gower. (Image: Destination NSW)
It beckons adventurers to its fern-festooned top where a misty forest rewards hikers with glimpses of endemic woodhens and views of the surrounding waters that dazzle like polished gems. You can take one of the guided tours to the summit, but do note, that the challenging 14-kilometre-return track requires a decent level of fitness and certain fortitude in regard to heights.
Reach the 875-metre summit. (Image: Destination NSW)
Seasoned twitchers will already be aware of the rich bird-watching opportunities on Lord Howe. With 14 species choosing to nest here come the breeding season, give your binoculars a spit and polish in anticipation of spotting a red-tailed tropicbird, muttonbird, and the star-attraction, one of the world’s rarest birds, the providence petrel. This seabird is so predator-free that their curiosity makes them a fascinating attraction. At dusk, if you call to the sky of circling petrels, you may be able to divert one from its flight to pop down and get a better look at you.
Keep an eye out for some of the world’s rarest birds on Lord Howe Island. (Image: Destination NSW)
No matter whether you’re an accredited diver or prefer to snorkel, you’ll have plenty of underwater colour to ogle at this declared state marine park with 500 species of fish and 90 coral species. As you glide through the pristine waters, you’ll easily spot the high-vis kaleidoscope beneath the surface.
Go snorkelling beneath the crystal clear waters. (Image: Destination NSW)
Perfect for kids and novice snorkellers, the calm lagoon is protected by the world’s most southern coral reef, while for divers, there are 60 sites to explore, most within a 20-minute boat ride. Keep a goggled eye out for rare and endemic species, including Spanish dancers, double header wrasse and the Ballina angelfish.
Keep an eye out for rare species. (Image: Destination NSW)
With no commercial fishing and an abundance of marine life, Lord Howe is an angler’s nirvana.
Cast a line. (Image: Destination NSW)
Whether you’re keen on the chase of game fishing or reeling in big ocean dwellers, such as Lord Howe kingfish, yellowfin tuna and wahoo, grab your best fishing shirt and bait up for a day that’s off the hook. Serious sporters can join a charter, but if you’re just keen for a laidback cast-off, head to one of the beaches or the jetty.
If a good book beckons – this is a holiday after all – unfurl your towel and pop your beach brolly for a sun-soaked session on the sand.
Spend some time lounging on Ned’s Beach. (Image: Mark Fitzpatrick/Destination NSW)
From the lagoon to Ned’s Beach, the eastern Blinky Beach and the seclusion of Old Settlement, you’ll find the right stretch of shore to suit your vibe.
Blinky Beach is famous for surfing. (Image: tom-archer.com)
Lord Howe Island Brewery has been granted special permission by the Permanent Park Preserve to scour the UNESCO World Heritage-listed island for unique ingredients to pop in their hops. The brewers then send these foraged finds off for testing before fermenting them to create experimental flavours. Grab a shady spot at the brewery and taste the effervescence of their efforts while you snack on wood-fired pizza.
As far as rock formations go, Balls Pyramid is fairly spectacular on account of it being the tallest sea stack on the planet at 551 metres high. Jutting out like a giant spearhead 23 kilometres southeast of the island, you can spot the stack from lofty vantages around the island, but it’s well worth taking a boat charter to get face-to-rockface with it.
Balls Pyramid stands 551 metres high. (Image: Destination NSW/Eugene Tan)
It also happens to be one of Australia’s best scuba diving sites with its basalt walls plunging to the depths below and providing shelter for all manner of sea life from turtles to dolphins and marlin.
Plunge into the vibrant and colourful waters of Lord Howe Island. (Image: Jordan Robins)
The fish at Ned’s Beach are as well-trained as they are well-fed. You need only wade into the glittering waters here before you’re immediately swarmed by fish, mouths agape and waiting for you to deliver dinner.
Experience incredible fish-feeding at Ned’s Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)
The mullet, wrasse, garfish and silver drummers, among others, will nibble right out of your hand, making it a wildly thrilling experience for all ages. Grab a handful of approved fish food from the dispenser on the beach and swim in to wait on these finned diners. You can also hire snorkel gear from the beach, simply leave your money in the honesty box.
Meet friendly fish up close at Ned’s Beach. (Image: Mark Fitzpatrick; Destination NSW)
Nirvana gets a little closer when you’re staying on tranquil Lord Howe, but you can shorten the distance between you and your contentment goals further with a yoga and wellness retreat. Karma Being’s five-night retreat that packages up daily yoga, meditation and breathwork, as well as most meals, a snorkel tour and transfers, among other inclusions. If you’d rather not commit to a full five days, join a casual class with Lord Howe Yoga.
Find Zen on a meditative retreat with Lord Howe Yoga. (Image: Emily Spirling)
While Mount Gower is the beast to conquer, Lord Howe’s other beautiful peaks and beaches also deserve your attention. From Malabar Hill to Mount Eliza and secluded coves snuck into cliffs, there’s plenty to unravel. See here for the [Best Walks on Lord Howe].
Malabar Hill offers breathtaking views of the island. (Image: Destination NSW)
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I have been to Lord Howe 3 times and stayed with Ginny Retmock. What a beautiful relaxing place, and am still wanting to come again