TOP 10 ON LORD HOWE ISLAND- Climb Mount Gower, an 875m giant
(eight hours return) with sheer cliffs and
rope-assisted ascents. Not for the
fainthearted! - Swim in the Herring Pools, deep blue
rock pools accessed at low tide from the
rocky Old Gulch Beach in the north (itself
a great spot to snorkel). - Catch a wave at Blinky or Ned’s Beach.
In the right conditions the surf pumps on
the western side of the island. - Feed the fish at Ned’s Beach. The
locals of all species are incredibly friendly
on Lord Howe. - Kayak to North Beach. Loan a kayak
from Pro Dive, pack a snorkel and your
lunch and head off. You’ll probably have it
all to yourself.
6. Hike Malabar Ridge and Kim’s Lookout
for breathtaking 360-degree views of the
island, the dramatic sea cliffs of the
northern coastline and the Admiralty
Islands.
7. Hike Goat House Cave to arrive more
than halfway up Mount Lidgbird. It’s hard
yakka, but incredible views of the island
and Balls Pyramid await.
8. Go snorkeling at Old Settlement Beach.
This protected cove is the perfect place
to get up close and personal with a turtle.
9. Cruise the Admiralty Islands, a cluster
of islets to the north of Lord Howe.
10. Visit Balls Pyramid, an iconic sea stack
that has to be seen to be believed.
week with a greater variety of fish and
incredibly healthy coral in shallower
water, this deep exploratory dive in
breathtakingly clear water with some of
Lord Howe’s fiercest critters, will long
stay with me. A true diving adventure.FIERY BEGINNINGS
Lord Howe is comprised of the
crumbling remains of a seven-million-
year-old volcano. The 14km² crescent-
shaped landmass is defined by towering
peaks and jagged cliffs thickly forested
in subtropical rainforest, in whicharound half of the native plants are
endemic. The island was uninhabited
until the British stumbled upon it en
route to the penal settlement of Norfolk
Island in 1788, with communities in the
South Pacific apparently unaware of its
existence prior to that. Settled in the
1830s, some land was cleared on Lord
Howe, but for the most part it’s virgin
forest, so you’re going to want to pack
your hiking boots – there are numerous
excellent tracks to explore by foot. The
island is a refuge for vast numbers
of birds – in excess of 200 species, infact – from the ethereal white terns to
the charismatic red-tailed tropicbirds,
which perform acrobatic courting
rituals alongside the island’s sheer cliffs
like psychedelic pterodactyls.
These volcanic beginnings have
created an incredible underwater
topography offering caverns, crevices,
trenches and drop-offs for divers
to explore. All of this in world-class
visibility, where 40m is not uncommon.
It’s fair to say Lord Howe Island is
heaven for divers of all levels, with an
incredible diversity of sites to explore.THE ‘411’ ON ARRIVING BY
BOAT
Those looking to sail to Lord Howe
Island need to be well prepared; there
are limited moorings, strict anchoring
regulations and no slipway or repairs
services. But don’t let that put you off- with the right level of self-sufficiency
and forward planning, Lord Howe
Island is a boaties’ paradise.
There are 18 public moorings
available in the Lagoon on the western
side of the island, which must be
booked before departure through the
governing Lord Howe Island Board
(LHIB). These are assigned based on
vessel size and cost $45 per night, plus
a $35 booking fee and a $42 per person
environment levy. There’s a two-week
56 tradeaboat.com.au