Lord Howe Island

New South Wales

Lord Howe IslandOne of the most pristine and protected islands in the Pacific, Lord Howe Island is blessed with idyllic beauty from lush forest canopies to dramatic peaks and surrounding sparkling waters and reef.

Lord Howe Island is a World Heritage-listed paradise located 660 kilometres off the north coast of New South Wales and less than two hours' flight from Brisbane or Sydney. At any one time, you'll be one of only 400 visitors on Lord Howe Island. Relaxed and unhurried, this island is best explored on bicycle or foot. 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 form Lord Howe Island Marine Park, one of the largest in New South Wales. Enjoy scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking and fishing. Or explore walking tracks and Lord Howe's 64 unique species of flowering plants and seabird colonies. A wide range of accommodation styles, sumptuous spa treatments, beautiful hotels and great din-ing make Lord Howe Island the perfect getaway.

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Things to do

Scuba dive the Admiralty Islands

Just 15 minutes by boat from Lord Howe rests an intriguing group of volcanic formations, dubbed the Admiralty Islands. Large pinnacles, coral reefs, larger schools of fish and diving depths of 15-40 me-tres characterise the islands. Eager divers flock to this area, and for good reason. Around 25 dive sites scattered around the atolls harbour some of Australia's best diving spots. Noddy Island, Rupert's Reef, Sugarloaf Island, Tenth of June Bombora, Tenth of June Deep, Flat Rock and North Rock are just a selection of spots which offer incredible diving rich in diverse marine life.

Snorkel Erscott's Hole

Home to 500 fish species and 90 species of coral, Lord Howe's snorkelling is second to none. A luxuriant garden of staghorn coral dominates the iconic snorkelling destination that is Erscott's Hole, a natural wonder within a protected intertidal groyne. Snorkelers can get up close to tame fish conditioned to daily visits by glass-bottom boats. See amazing double-header wrasse and the chameleon-like bluefish, which can change its body colour from dark green to sky blue in a matter of seconds, are common sightings.

Kite Surfing

Lord Howe Island is very well known for the strong winter winds, making it a great location for kite surfing. Lord Howe Island offers amazing kiteboarding experiences, with locations for both flat and surf water kiteboarding available. Guides will transport your gear all over the island to find the best spots each day. Keen boarders head to the lagoon or Ned's Beach to glide through unspoiled waters and admire the scenic surroundings. For information on great kite surfing pack-ages at Lord Howe Island, please visit the Lord Howe Island Kite Surf website.

North Bay

At the North of Lord Howe lies North Bay, a secluded beach accessible only by foot or water. Travellers admire migratory sea birds and take short walks to Mount Eliza, Old Gulch and Herring Pools from the bay, or laze the day away on the white, sandy beach. Amazing snorkelling opportunities can be found here, with a large variety of fish, turtles, stingrays, and colourful corals all common sightings. Snorkelers can also explore the wreck of the Favourite, which has rested on the ocean floor since 1965.

Take a bushwalk through The Valley of the Shadows

Massive banyan trees and 20 metre high forests of Kentia palms cast brooding shadows in this enclave on the east coast. Situated near Clear Place, the Valley of the Shadows is one of the more unusual bushwalks you will ever do. You will see banyan trees with huge 'limbs' that cover almost a hectare (or two acres). The banyan tree's aerial roots grow down from the branches to the soil and the tree looks like it's 'walking' across the terrain.

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