Lord Howe Island

A World Heritage volcanic island in the Tasman Sea, capped at around 400 visitors, with the Mount Gower climb, Ball's Pyramid and the world's southernmost coral reef lagoon.

Lord Howe Island lies in the Tasman Sea, about 780 km north-east of Sydney, and belongs to the Australian state of New South Wales. About 11 km long, it is the remnant of a volcano some 7 million years old, and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site together with its surrounding islands in 1982. At the island's southern end rise two steep peaks, Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird; the north is hills and sea cliffs, and on the west coast the world's southernmost coral reef encloses a turquoise lagoon. No more than about 400 visitors can stay on the island at any one time, there is no large-scale development, and residents and visitors mostly get around by bicycle, with a 25 km/h speed limit. Highlights: fish feeding and snorkelling at Ned's Beach, glass-bottom boats and kayaking on the lagoon, picnics at North Bay, the Malabar Hill and Kims Lookout loop, a guided climb of Mount Gower, and boat trips or dives out to Ball's Pyramid. It is also a birdwatching hotspot, where red-tailed tropicbirds, boobies, flesh-footed shearwaters and the endangered Lord Howe woodhen are all common. The best time to visit is Sep–May, with the warmest water Dec–Feb; Jun–Aug is cooler and windy, and some boat tours stop running. QantasLink flies from Sydney or Brisbane in about 2 hours; the small planes have strict baggage limits, and flights and accommodation must be booked well ahead. Plan on 4–6 days; prices on the island are high, so come prepared for limited cash access and internet.

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Itineraries