New South Wales’ idyllic paradise Lord Howe Island has been ranked the world’s fifth best region to visit next year by global travel authority Lonely Planet in their new publication, Best in Travel 2020; released recently.
“Parked in the middle of nowhere… this visually stunning island makes an instant impact on the senses with its jaw-dropping World Heritage-listed beauty,” Lonely Planet writes.
Lord Howe Island is pure paradise. Just 11 km by 3 km, the crescent-shaped, UNESCO World Heritage-listed island is the ultimate getaway, with fine weather and just 400 visitors allowed at any time.
Spend your days exploring the island in many ways, some of which include:
1. Hike world-class mountains: It’s not for the faint-hearted, but the one-day hike to Mt Gower (875m) is considered one of the world’s best climbs. The guided, eight-hour return walk provides some of the island’s most rewarding experiences including encounters with rare flora.
2. Dive right in: Tropical and cooler waters collide in the ocean around Lord Howe, resulting in the world’s southernmost reef, 90 coral species, green and hawksbill turtles and 500 species of fish — perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling. More than 60 dive sites lure divers of all skill levels; local operators offer PADI diving courses, while glass-bottom boat tours are another option.
3. Visit Ball’s Pyramid: Twenty-three kilometres to the south of Lord Howe Island is a spectacular 550-metre spearhead of grey basalt that seemingly explodes from the ocean. A cruise to Balls Pyramid is astonishing.
4. Big-game fishing: Lord Howe is a top destination for big-game fishing for yellowfin tuna, wahoo, marlin and more. The island’s abundant waters are home to more delicious fish including whiting, trevally, bonefish, Australian salmon, spangled emperor, bluefish and wrasse.
5. Bird watching: With 14 species of seabird breeding on the island, Lord Howe is Australia’s premier bird-watching destination, boasting more than 130 permanent and migratory bird species, among them the woodhen, unique to the island. In the Winter, it’s a breeding ground for providence petrels that wheel in the sky in huge numbers.
6. BBQ Islander Style: Lord Howe’s 11 beautiful beaches are perfectly suited to barbecuing outdoors, with their golden sand and spectacular views of the island. Make the most of the abundance of locally sourced seafood and cook yourself some dinner in this picturesque setting.
7. Board a wave at Blinky Beach: Have you ever dreamt of catching a wave without the hassle of competing with a crowd? The unspoilt, white sand beach known to locals as Blinky’s, has some of the best breaks on the island and is crowd free.
8. Cycle through lush forests: Rent or borrow a bike from your accommodation and explore the island at your leisure, with little or no traffic at all.
9. Discover the history: Learn more about this incredible island by visiting the Lord Howe Island Museum. A treasure chest of natural history, fantastic collections, excellent learning resources, changing displays, inspiring information, great gifts and lots of interactive ways to enjoy learning more about this truly unique place on our planet.
10. Play a round of stellar golf: Originating from a market garden in 1969, the course has been developed and expanded into one of the most picturesque and challenging courses in Australia. From the shadows of the imposing Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower, the course meanders through the lushly vegetated Kentia Palm forest out into the gently undulating open fairways along the ocean foreshore providing the golfer with many challenges along the way.
For more information on Lord Howe Island go to www.visitnsw.com
