Visit Lord Howe Island: The World’s Last Paradise Awaits
Nestled in the turquoise embrace of the Tasman Sea, Lord Howe Island beckons with its untouched beauty and captivating mysteries. This crescent-shaped volcanic gem, part of New South Wales, Australia, offers a rare and rewarding escape from the modern world. From lush forests to the world’s southernmost coral reef, every inch of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed paradise invites exploration. Whether you seek adventure, relaxation, or a chance to connect with nature, a visit to Lord Howe Island promises an unforgettable journey.
Why Visit Lord Howe Island?
Known as “Australia’s last paradise” or “the world’s last paradise”, Lord Howe is an archipelago of 28 islands. The main island of Lord Howe has an area of 56 square kilometers, stretching nearly 12 kilometers.
Lord Howe has all the qualities to be a destination that attracts many tourists, which can lead to overcrowding: lush green mountain peaks, pristine white sand beaches, and clear water to see fish swimming. However, this island nearly 600 km east of Australia is always deserted. The only sounds when hiking through the rainforest or in the mountains are from wild animals.
The secret to having a pristine landscape is to limit the number of visitors. For more than 40 years, Lord Howe maintained a limit of 400 visitors at a time by fixing the number of rooms that could be accommodated overnight. This move aims to protect the habitat of many endemic species on the island as well as help UNESCO recognize the island as a World Heritage Site.
The visitor limit also created a unique experience that attracted a lot of interest. Currently, there is a fully booked motel until 2026. Room prices at accommodation facilities range from 200 to 3,000 USD. Return airfare from Sydney to the island during peak summer can cost nearly $700.
Visit Lord Howe Island: Australia’s Pristine Paradise
Isolated from the mainland, Lord Howe Island boasts an incredibly rare diversity of flora, fauna, and landscapes. Its ecosystem developed from submarine volcanic activity over 7 million years, resulting in a unique blend of species. Pristine forests cover most of the land, and the surrounding waters are protected under the Lord Howe Island Marine Park.
Nature on the island is given top priority, and policies are in place to protect this. More than 85% of the island’s area is still primary forest, about 70% is in a conservation area and all development activities in this area are prohibited. Residential areas account for 15% of the area.
Unique Flora and Fauna
The island has many species of plants and animals that are not found elsewhere. Additionally, there are more than 1600 terrestrial insect species inhabiting Lord Howe Island, with around 60% found nowhere else in the world. The tropical forests are filled with climbing plants, orchids, and birds. At the top of Gower, ideal for hiking, is a rare and endangered cloud forest. Particularly, the island’s most famous endemic export product is the seeds of the Kentia palm, a world-famous indoor palm tree.
On the beach, you can walk past colonies of Providence Petrels, gray-white seabirds with curved black bills. The birds are considered very friendly to humans, visitors can even get close and catch them.
Nature Right Next to You
The charm of the island is that it makes you close to nature. The beaches are just a few minutes walk from hotels and motels or 5-10 minutes by bike or boat to the main reef. You have to spend 3-4 hours to visit the Great Barrier Reef but you definitely won’t see as many things as here. Indeed, there are about 500 species of fish, crabs, starfish, and urchins living around this coral reef.
One of the most beautiful places to dive is the Ball Pyramid, the world’s tallest sea rock located 24 km east of the main island, surrounded by caves and waters with many rare marine creatures.
10 Interesting Facts about Lord Howe Island
From rare wildlife encounters to the world’s southernmost coral reef, this secluded gem offers a wealth of surprises. Join us as we explore ten captivating facts that will ignite your wanderlust!
1. The History of Lord Howe Island Discovery
Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball discovered Lord Howe Island in 1788 during his journey to establish a penal settlement on Norfolk Island. He named the uninhabited island after British Admiral Richard Howe and the sea stack to the south became known as Ball’s Pyramid.
With 202 recorded bird species, Lord Howe Island is a birdwatcher’s paradise.
2. Ball’s Pyramid on Lord Howe Island
Ball’s Pyramid, the world’s largest sea stack, sits 23 km south of Lord Howe Island. This 550-meter spearhead of grey basalt is isolated in the Pacific Ocean and teems with extraordinary bird and marine life. While recreational climbing is prohibited, the surrounding coral reefs make it a sought-after diving and snorkeling destination.
3. Lord Howe Island Phasmid
The remarkable Lord Howe Island Phasmid, a large stick insect, was believed extinct until its rediscovery in 2001 on Ball’s Pyramid.
Once native to Lord Howe Island, it was nearly wiped out by rats accidentally introduced by a shipwreck in 1918. Successful breeding in captivity at Melbourne Zoo aims to reintroduce this unique insect to the island.
4. World’s Southernmost Coral Reef
Snorkelers and divers can explore the world’s southernmost coral reef surrounding the island. Vibrant marine life, crystal-clear waters, and colorful corals await beneath the surface.
5. Strict Biosecurity Measures
The island also applies strict biosecurity procedures to combat invasive species. Imported goods and visitors to the island are carefully inspected. The island government also uses sniffer dogs to detect rats and frogs and built a station at the beginning of the trail for pedestrians to scrub shoes and sandals to prevent the fungus from spreading. The level of conservation on the island is strict but makes visitors excited from the moment they step off the plane.
The island also eliminated introduced wild pigs, goats, and cats. New breeds of domestic cats have also been banned since 1982.
6. Rat Eradication Success
In 2019, the government strongly promoted the rat hunting campaign. The initiative is widely supported. Nevertheless, the use of chemical rat poison and regular inspection of people’s homes to kill rats makes many people uncomfortable. Many native animal species thrived after successful rat eradication programs.
7. Climate Challenges
The island still faces the threat of climate change. Air and ocean temperatures change over long periods and the El Nino phenomenon causes many coral reefs to bleach and cloud forests to gradually die.
8. From Isolation to Accessibility
Today, you can visit Lord Howe Island in just two hours by plane from the mainland, but in the past, the island was isolated. For decades, the only way to reach the island was by seaplane. According to the Australian National Maritime Museum, seaplanes first took off and landed on the island after World War II, with a travel time of three hours. Life on the island at that time was considered slow and immaterial as there was no television, internet, or telephone.
In the 1970s, the government built an airstrip on the island. Thus, seaplanes are no longer in use. Life is more modern but many aspects at Lord Howe have not changed as they did a few decades ago. People do not need to lock their doors when leaving their homes, and there is no public phone service except wifi.
9. Education and Cost of Living
There is no school on the island, so children all study remotely or on board. Food is transported by cargo ship every two weeks, so the cost of living is three times higher than on the mainland. An apple on the island costs 2 USD, and a liter of milk costs nearly 2.7 USD. To reduce living costs, people also grow vegetables and fruits.
10. Humans of Lord Howe Island
Despite the challenges, the people of Lord Howe Island feel lucky to live as they do: refuse excess, recycle everything, and have free time to surf, swim, and hike every day. The main means of transport on the island is by bicycle. Indeed, people on the island have a spirit of respect and environmental protection from a very young age. They are aware of the simplest things like not dropping ice cream wrappers.
Life on the island is like living in a documentary.
Unveiling the Island’s Secrets: A Conclusion
Discover, explore, and cherish, Lord Howe Island is more than a destination. It’s an invitation to immerse yourself in nature’s wonders. As you snorkel with turtles, hike to Mount Gower’s summit, or simply breathe in the salty air, remember that this secluded haven is a gift to be treasured. Let the island’s unique flora, fauna, and warm community leave an indelible mark on your soul.
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Khoi Nguyen
Khoi Nguyen builds The Broad Life with a desire to inspire people go exploring the world and live a more interesting, experience, and adventurous life. This blog shares the stories, pictures, and experiences at destinations where he has traveled to.
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