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Lord Howe Island

Provided by: Destination NSW for Lord Howe Island

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Oceania Australia Lord Howe Island

In collaboration with Destination NSW for Lord Howe Island

Overview

Lord Howe Island The guide was updated: 2024-08-15

Lord Howe Island is a World Heritage-listed paradise where at any time of the year, you'll be one of only 400 visitors. A holiday on this exquisite subtropical island promises a serene and unhurried experience. Getting around by bike or on foot is the way to go here. This idyllic island boasts a wealth of activities, including exploring its gorgeous beaches, tranquil lagoons, magnificent coral reefs, and lush rainforest regions, all of which display the island's stunning natural beauty.

Facts

Population:	There are approximately 382 people who live on the island permanently. Also, only 400 tourists are allowed on the island at any given time. (2024)
Currency:	Australian Dollar (AUD) $1 = 100 cents
Emergency numbers:	Fire, Police & Medical Emergency: 000
Newspapers:	The Lord Howe Island Signal (published fortnightly): www.arr.news/directory/the-lord-howe-island-signal The Sydney Morning Herald: www.smh.com.au The Australian: www.theaustralian.com.au
Opening hours:	Typical hours for shops are 9am–6pm from Monday to Friday. Most shops are open during the weekend but with restricted hours.
Tourist information:	Lord Howe Island Visitors Information Centre (located in the Lord Howe Island Museum foyer) Corner of Lagoon & Middle Beach Road, Lord Howe Island Open Mon–Sat 9am–1pm, Sun 10am–1pm +61 2 6563 2114

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Top Things to Do

Lord Howe Island is a nature lover’s paradise. Go swimming, snorkelling or diving in the crystal clear waters of the most southern coral barrier reef in the world or marvel at magnificent landscapes and ocean views on an excellent range of walking trails and hikes.

Lord Howe Island Golf

Lord Howe Island Golf

Lord Howe is home to one of the most picturesque golf courses in Australia, which overlooks the towering Mt. Lidgbird and Mt. Gower. The nine-hole course meanders through the lushly vegetated Kentia Palm forest and out into the gently undulating open fairways along the ocean foreshore - providing the golfer with many challenges along the way.

Hand-feeding Fish at Neds Beach

Hand-feeding Fish at Neds Beach

Neds Beach Sanctuary Zone offers a unique opportunity to view an amazing diversity of coral, fish and other marine life close to shore. And you can hand-feed fish in this haven. Be part of a favourite Lord Howe ritual and help feed eager mullet, wrasse, garfish, silver drummer, spangled emperor and metre-long kingfish.

Snorkelling

Snorkelling

See up to 90 colourful coral species and 500 types of fish while snorkelling in the crystal clear waters of Lord Howe Island at Neds Beach, Lagoon Beach, Old Settlement Beach, Erscott’s Hole and Blinky Beach.

Diving

Diving

Lord Howe Island Marine Park brings together a mix of tropical, subtropical and temperate marine life found nowhere else on Earth, making it one of the world’s best diving sites. Discover the numerous atolls, pinnacles and reefs of the Admiralty Islands. Explore the basalt caves and reefs below Balls Pyramid, the world’s tallest sea stack. The waters are home to huge schools of violet sweep, rainbow runners, marlin, dolphins, turtles and rare species such as Spanish dancers, double-headed wrasse and Galapagos whalers.

Fishing

Fishing

Five major ocean currents intersect at Lord Howe Island and the waters are teeming with tropical, subtropical and temperate species of fish. The island's shallow lagoons contain trevally, silver drummer, bluefish and the double-header wrasse. Join a fishing boat adventure charter for the chance to hook Lord Howe kingfish, silver trevally, tuna, wahoo, cod species, marlin and more.

Bushwalking

Bushwalking

Lord Howe Island is great for walking and hiking. Although only 11 km long and 2 km wide, the island has many bushwalking options for a wide range of abilities. The most challenging is the 14 km Mt Gower hike, rated as one of the best day treks in the world. An experienced guide will lead you through this 875-metre ascent, an eight-hour return journey that requires ropes in some sections.

Birdwatching

Birdwatching

Lord Howe Island is one of Australia’s premier birdwatching destinations, with 14 species of seabirds breeding here in their hundreds of thousands. The island also has more than 130 permanent and migratory bird species, including the unique Lord Howe Island woodhen, vast flocks of migrating shearwaters and rare providence petrels.

Stand-up Paddleboarding

Stand-up Paddleboarding

One of the best ways to enjoy the crystal clear waters of Lord Howe Island is from a stand-up paddleboard. Rent a board at Neds Beach or Lagoon Beach and look out for wrasses, turtles and myriads of coral as you glide through the calm waters.

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