Lord Howe Island

About Lord Howe Island         

Lord Howe Island is a tiny Australian island in the Tasman Sea east of Port Macquarie. It's characterised by sandy beaches, subtropical forests and clear waters. In the south, a trail winds up soaring Mount Gower, with sweeping views. Ned's Beach in the north has calm fish- and coral-rich waters. The island is home to seabird colonies, including masked boobies. Dive sites surround the nearby Admiralty Islands.
Tourism
Lord Howe Island is known for its geology, birds, plants, and marine life. Popular tourist activities include scuba diving, birdwatching, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, and fishing. To relieve pressure on the small island environment only 400 tourists are permitted at any one time. The island is reached by plane from Sydney Airport or Brisbane Airport in less than two hours.The Permanent Park Preserve declared in 1981 has similar management guidelines to a National Park.
Facilities
With fewer than 800 people on the island at any time, facilities are limited; they include a bakery, butcher, general store, liquor store, restaurants, post office, museum and information centre, a police officer, a ranger, and an ATM at the bowling club. Stores are shipped to the island fortnightly by the Island Trader from Port Macquarie.There is a small four-bed hospital and dispensary.A small botanic garden displays labelled local plants in its grounds. Diesel-generated power is 240 volts AC, as on the mainland.There is no public transport or mobile phone coverage, but there are public telephones, fax facilities and internet access as well as a local radio station and newsletter, The Signal.
Tourist accommodation ranges from luxury lodges to apartments and villa units.The currency is the Australian dollar, and there are two banks.There are no camping facilities on the island and remote-area camping is not permitted. To protect the fragile environment of Ball's Pyramid (which carries the last remaining wild population of the endangered Howe Island stick insect), recreational climbing there is prohibited. No pets are allowed without permission from the Board. Islanders use tanked rainwater, supplemented by bore water for showers and washing clothes.

FOLLOW US