Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island is a narrow volcanic landform and the remnant of a shield volcano that became extinct millions of years ago. Its distinctive shape combines a striking mountain landscape with a lagoon and waters rich in species. The Lord Howe Island Group World Heritage Area includes the island’s northern and southern mountains. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, you can start by considering whether water activities, hikes, birdwatching or insights into the island’s history will shape your holiday.

Lagoon and life underwater

The waters around Lord Howe Island are home to more than 500 fish species and more than 90 coral species. At Ned’s Beach, you can observe coral, fish and other marine life close to shore. In the Special Purpose Zone there, visitors can hand-feed fish. For a different view of the lagoon, Lord Howe Environmental Tours operates glass-bottom boats in its protected, crystal-clear waters.

The Coral Viewing and Snorkelling Tour explores the lagoon’s diverse coral landscape and introduces visitors to the endemic Double-header Wrasse, stingrays and turtles. Snorkelling in Lord Howe Island Marine Park is another activity for which visitors use the park. If you’d rather explore the lagoon under your own steam, you can hire kayaks from local tour operators. The lagoon also offers sheltered conditions for stand-up paddleboarding; boards can be hired from tour operators at Lagoon Beach.

Hiking, mountains and birds

Dozens of well-signposted walking trails offer different ways to experience the island on foot. The climb to Mt Gower reaches 875 metres and is considered one of the world’s best day walks. An important point for planning your trip: visitors may only access Mt Gower with a licensed guide. Those interested in birdlife will find more than 130 resident and migratory bird species on the island. These include the endemic, flightless Lord Howe Island Woodhen, which was saved from extinction through local conservation work.

Fourteen seabird species also breed on Lord Howe Island, numbering in the hundreds of thousands. The Little Island Track can be walked between March and November to observe the courtship flights of the Providence Petrel. This period makes a practical difference to travel planning: if you want to experience this, plan your visit within the stated season. When choosing a holiday rental, you can make hiking and birdwatching key priorities for your holiday.

More island experiences

There are 13 kilometres of scenic roads and paths for cycling. If you’d like to plan activities beyond nature experiences, there’s also a public tennis court opposite Blue Lagoon, which is open to all island visitors. The Lord Howe Golf Course is a 9-hole course that runs through a Kentia palm forest and along the ocean’s edge. Visitors can play lawn bowls at the Lord Howe Island Bowling Club. These varied options give you more to consider when weighing up the mix of exercise, nature and leisure activities you want during your stay.

Island history and visitor information

The James Dorman Historical Gallery presents exhibitions on the island’s history, from its discovery and early settlement to shipping, the Kentia palm industry, flying boats, tourism and governance. The Lord Howe Island Museum focuses on the island’s World Heritage environment, community and history, which dates back to 1788. Together, these topics offer insight into the natural and human history of the island, without reducing it to its landscape alone.

The Lord Howe Island Visitor Centre is located in the museum foyer. There you can get information about activities, events and dining. For families and other travellers with varied interests, it may help to decide which experiences you’re looking for before searching for a holiday rental: the lagoon and ocean, trails and birdlife, or culture and island history. This helps keep the holiday experience that matters most at the forefront when choosing accommodation.

More destinations

Other places at the same level: Boggabri, Villawood, Myocum, Leeton, Cudal, Jenolan, Glenwilliam, Palmdale.

Back to the broader travel guide: New South Wales.