Lord Howe Island Adventure

Upon our island arrival, we are transferred to our accommodation, where we’ll spend the week in the subtropical surroundings of Somerset Apartments. Lush palm groves, colourful Hawaiian hibiscus and the heady aromas from frangipani flowers immediately relax us.

The remainder of the day is free for you to settle into island life until we all gather together for dinner and chat about our days ahead. There is a general store just down the road from our accommodation should you wish to pick up any snacks or lunch items in the afternoon so you are ready for tomorrow’s adventures. Be prepared for prices to be significantly higher than on the mainland! Regular items can be in excess of 100% dearer, for example, a carton of UHT milk costs approximately $5. Alternatively, you may wish to pack a few shelf-stable staples from home, taking into account the reduced baggage allowance for our flight to the island.

Please note: We are offering to package return flights with this trip which can be at reduced fares. Generally, flights to Lord Howe Island are limited and can sell out, also there are no public sale fares to this destination. Please advise us at the time of booking if you wish for us to package your flights.

Meals Included: 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: –

Today provides an excellent chance for us to stretch our legs after yesterday’s travel. We begin with breakfast at The Anchorage, a local eatery conveniently nestled between our accommodation and Lagoon Beach. Grabbing extra for your trail lunch, either ordered with breakfast or sourced elsewhere (at your own expense), we prepare ourselves for an incredible day of island adventuring.

On the trail, we ascend Intermediate Hill, then follow Smoking Tree Ridge. The incline ever increasing on our way up to Goat House Cave. It’s a demanding climb but such a rewarding experience as we notice the flora change the higher we get. Often shrouded in mist, the cool moist air offers a welcome reprieve to our exertions, and the mosses and ferns lend an ethereal beauty to the trail – especially the endemic species such as Mountain Rose, Pumpkin Tree, Fitzgeraldii and Big Mountain Palm.

The final section of the climb has ropes for assistance if needed as we reach Goat House Cave – a rock formation amongst the cliffs. Here, we break for lunch where views across the entire island, including the rugged east coast where Rocky Run, Boat Harbour, George’s Bay and Red Point can be admired. Another viewpoint looking southward reveals the vast cliffs of Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower’s summit.

We return via the same trail, arriving at Kings Beach for refreshments. Perhaps you’ll be tempted by a swim below the impressive backdrop of the Southern Mountains before we head back to Somerset Apartments in time to freshen up before our 2 course dinner.

Today’s trail is rated Grade 4 and has 450m elevation gain.

Meals Included: Breakfast, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 5km

Today is all about the pristine and crystal-clear waters surrounding the island. The beauty of this underwater world is astounding and must be experienced to truly appreciate its wonder.

Our timing for today’s activities is flexible and dependent on the tides. Once the currents can be predicted more accurately, our boat tour will be scheduled  to maximise our enjoyment. We will, of course, begin with brekky at our trusty local eatery before strolling down to the foreshore in readiness for our day on the water.

Over 2 hours on board a glass-bottomed boat, we will learn about and experience the enchanting watery world beneath our vessel. Bordered by the world’s southernmost coral reef, the lagoon is home to over 500 species of fish and 90 species of coral. Our ‘bird’s eye’ view is a real-life screensaver!

An optional snorkelling experience at Erscott’s Hole is on offer, along with the equipment provided. Or you can relax on the boat and keep viewing the stunning diversity of this exotic marine location through the glass bottom. For those interested in snorkelling, Erscott’s Hole is a prime snorkelling destination – an oceanic garden of Staghorn coral nestled within the Lagoon Sanctuary Zone. Get up close with double-header wrasse, stingrays, turtles, and the colour-changing Blue Fish.

Today we also have a self-guided kayaking experience within the lagoon on offer. This is an optional 1 hour activity loosely planned for after our boat tour, where you can paddle through the aquamarine waters at your own pace.

Meals Included: Breakfast, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: –

Today, we explore the island’s northeastern trails, starting at Ned’s Beach, where we appreciate its sheltered calm waters and marine sanctuary zone. From here, we take the trail up the volcanic ridge track to the summit of Malabar Hill, passing the Catalina wreckage along the way. The wreckage is what remains of the RAAF Catalina Flying Boat, which crashed at Lord Howe Island in 1948.

With our last few steps to the top, we’re immediately awe-struck. The views from the summit are marvellous and offer a sweeping panorama of not only Lord Howe, but across Sugarloaf Passage and to the whole Admiralty Island group. Plus, the fringing reefs of the Lagoon on the western side and the surrounding marine sanctuaries. We observe the seabirds as they soar over the rugged sea-cliffs below and marvel at the island’s isolation and varied landscape. Over 207 bird species have been recorded on Lord Howe, including the endangered Woodhen – a flightless and curious bird whose numbers plummeted to near extinction during the 1980s and is only found on Lord Howe.

We continue to follow the track across the North Ridge to Kim’s Lookout and then down to the protected waters of North Bay. It’s a perfect spot for us to stop for lunch and some further exploration around North Bay before we enjoy a boat ride back to Lagoon Beach. We take our time, stopping for a snorkel on the way where we can view coral and hopefully see some turtles.

Today’s trail is rated Grade 3 and has <200m elevation gain.

Meals Included: Breakfast, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 5km

Before beginning our day’s adventures along the island’s east coast trails, we fuel up with our daily breakfast at The Anchorage and make sure we each have our lunch provisions packed and ready for our day on the trails.

Our starting point for today is from Cobby’s Corner Beach, where we head along the flank of Intermediate Hill above Blinkenthorpe Bay. En route to Boat Harbour, we visit the Bird Observatory Platform above the Gannet colony at Muttonbird Point. A little further on, we stop at Rocky Run, where a cascading creek flows out from the rocky cove directly into the sea. The trail continues beneath a spectacular rainforest canopy before arriving at Boat Harbour, where we enjoy our lunch and a chance to swim or explore the boulder beach and cove.

From here, we start our return journey by continuing through the rainforest and following the trail up to Smoking Tree Ridge. The invitation to climb Intermediate Hill is worth the effort for the island’s unmatched views of Ball’s Pyramid. Standing 551 metres tall, Ball’s Pyramid is a basalt spearhead projecting from the ocean, about 23 km southeast of the island. It’s the world’s tallest sea stack and boasts intriguing underwater caves and spectacular sea creatures, proving irresistible to scuba divers and fishing charters.

Having caught our breath after the steep climb, we carefully descend back to Smoking Tree Ridge and follow the trail to where we started at Cobby’s Corner Beach. The Lagoon beckons us in for a cool-off before we return to our accommodation, eager to fill our bellies with another scrumptious dinner before an early night.

Today’s trail is rated Grade 4 and has <120m elevation gain.

Meals Included: Breakfast, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 7km

Spend today however you wish – time relaxing and wandering or book that boat cruise you’ve been eyeing. Perhaps you’d like to suit up and go for a dive?

If you’re up to the challenge, trek with us up Mount Gower (optional extra). At 875 metres, Mt Gower is Lord Howe’s highest mountain and a thrilling full-day trek with rugged beauty. It’s a climb with rope-assisted vertical drops that’ll get our adrenaline pumping and summit views that take your breath away. We’ll experience misty forests, ferns, mosses, and orchids. The trail is teaming with rare plants not seen anywhere else on the planet – there’s a reason why it’s considered one of Australia’s best day walks!

The Mt Gower Trek is rated hard, and this optional tour relies on agreeable weather conditions for it to go ahead.

Todays trail is rated Grade 5, and has 875m elevation gain.

Meals Included: Breakfast, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 14km

We have a more gentle walk today after the challenge of yesterday’s trek!

Once fed, we make our way to the Lagoon foreshore. Reaching the Transit Hill track, we take a trail gently ascending through lush forest, showcasing the incredibly diverse endemic species that have contributed to the island’s World Heritage status. This ecosystem developed from submarine volcanic activity dating back 7 million years, and the island’s forest has over 240 native plant species.

Reaching the top, the Transit Hill Observation Platform is the central viewpoint on the island. We take a moment to admire the surrounding land and sea-scapes, from North Head and the Admiralty Islands to the Southern Mountains and the extraordinary fringing reef system of the entire Lagoon and Blackburn Island.

Having ascended the hill from the island’s western side, the track now descends through the forest down towards Blinky’s Beach and Blinkenthorpe Bay on the eastern side. Here, we can enjoy some refreshments and a little ocean therapy before returning to our accommodation to relax and get ready for our final dinner on the island.

Today’s trail is rated Grade 3 and has <200m elevation gain.

Meals Included: Breakfast, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 3km

The time has come when we must say farewell to this island paradise after a week of exploring and experiencing one of the most magnificent destinations in the world!

After breakfast, our transfer returns you to the small airport for your flight back to the mainland. If you wish to extend your stay we are happy to assist with any additional accommodation or travel needs.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Walking Distance: –

This multi-activity adventure includes hiking, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and boat tours. There are uneven surfaces, steep inclines, and walking sandy or rocky trails on this trip, plus moving luggage to and from accommodation.  Please talk to us about your accessibility needs before booking.