Lord Howe Island Adventure

We fly from Sydney to Lord Howe Island early this morning to maximise our island time, and to avoid flight cancellations which occur more frequently with later departures. 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.

Today is about slowing down, settling in, and learning about all the things that make Lord Howe Island so special. We provide you with a map of the island, take you on an orientation walk, and visit the museum for a private lecture by world-leading naturalist, Ian Hutton (autobiography link)

Conveniently, our accommodation has a general store just down the road should you wish to pick up any snacks or lunch items. However, be prepared for prices to be significantly higher than on the mainland. Alternatively you may wish to pack a few shelf-stable staples from home, taking into account the reduced baggage allowance for flights to the island.

The remainder of the day is free for you to settle into island life until we all gather for dinner and chat about our days ahead.

Meals Included: Lunch, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: approx. 3km

Today is all about experiencing Lord Howes beautiful underwater world, and tonight is about witnessing it’s nocturnal world on a guided walk.

Our timing for today’s water 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. 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 lagoons calm waters are 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.

Following dinner, we explore some of the walking trails at night with Ian Hutton. We search for unique island landbirds including the ever-popular Woodhens, endemic bugs, bats and butterflies.

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

We begin with breakfast at The Anchorage, a local eatery conveniently nestled between our accommodation and Lagoon Beach.

Meeting us for our trek today is Jae De Clouett (about link). Jae knows these trails like the back of his hand through his work revegetating and maintaining Lord Howe Islands unique flora.

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.

After lunch, we continue through rainforest following the trail up to Smoking Tree Ridge intersection.

From here, you have a choice of 2 out-and-back spur trails. You can continue up to Goat House Cave or you can climb Intermediate Hill. The Goat House Cave option is a demanding climb and is a good test if you plan to hike Mount Gower. Intermediate Hill is shorter and easier but still has steep sections. Alternatively, if you want to save your legs, a little rest and quiet nature time here is possible until we all regroup. One of our guides will go to Goat House and the other to Intermediate Hill.

The Goat House spur trail is 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 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.

The Intermediate Hill spur trail 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.

Once again returning to the Smoking Tree Ridge intersection we complete our walk together down to Kings Beach.

As we’re on the Southern side of the island we venture to the base of Mount Gower to watch Providence Petrels this afternoon at sunset. Watching these rare seabirds ride the currents up and down Mount Gowers impressive cliff face is truly special.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 9km or 11km

Today, we explore the island’s northern 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 Mount Eliza, 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 6km

If you’re up to the challenge, trek with us up Mount Gower. 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 climbs 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 relies on agreeable weather conditions for it to go ahead.

The other option today is to visit Blackburn Island. We travel by kayak from Lagoon Beach over to Blackburn Island. Then we take you on a guided walk learning about the natural history of the island. Upon returning by Kayak you have an optional outside yoga session with Nikki from Lord Howe Yoga prior to dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner + 1 drink
Walking Distance: 14km (Mount Gower)

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?

We do offer a gentle walk today to Transit Hill if you want some more trail time. From our accommodation we walk to the start of the trail. The trail gently ascends through lush forest, showcasing the incredibly diverse endemic species that have contributed to the island’s World Heritage status. 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.

The trail then descends through 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 via the coastline to relax and get ready for our final dinner on the island.

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

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 us to the small airport for our 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: –

We grade the overall walking on this itinerary as MODERATE (excluding Mount Gower)
(see our grading system)

This grading is provided as general advice only, and is based on our assessment and also feedback from past participants. Please consider your level of fitness and experience in regard to this rating, and if you’re unsure please contact us for more information. Mount Gower is rated CHALLENGING.

Smoking Tree Ridge loop

Distance: 7km
Elevation Gain: 325m
Elevation Loss: 325m

Goat House spur trail

Distance: 4km
Elevation Gain: 450m
Elevation Loss: 450m

Intermediate Hill spur trail

Distance: 2km
Elevation Gain: 100m
Elevation Loss: 100m

Northern Trails

Distance: 6km
Elevation Gain: 275m
Elevation Loss: 275m

Mount Gower

Distance: 14km
Elevation Gain: 875m
Elevation Loss: 875m

Transit Hill

Distance: 7km
Elevation Gain: 150m
Elevation Loss: 150m

10 REASONS TO GO WITH US

Realistic Itineraries
we want you to love and be inspired by Lord Howe Island. This tour itinerary is well-designed and realistic, allowing you to complete the full itinerary ….. we don’t over sell and under deliver

Be Fulfilled
this itinerary is designed to maximise your awe and leave you fulfilled. You can walk all the trails on the island (including Mt Gower), snorkel and kayak on the stunning coral reef, witness Providence Petrels at sunset, learn about the unique flora and fauna with resident expert naturists, walk historical Blackburn Island, and enjoy outdoor yoga. We’ve planned this itinerary so you get the full experience and time to relax ….. you won’t leave feeling unfulfilled

Nature Connection
we want you to feel de-stressed and re-energised. So, our guides are also nature facilitators with skills to immerse you with your surrounds. Not only do we guide and share our knowledge, we also provide invitations for you to slow down and connect deeper with nature (included activities such as an introduction to Ocean Ecotherapy ) <learn more about Ocean Ecotherapy here> ….. we’re pioneers of active adventure with deep nature immersion

Group Fitness
we want you to succeed and maximise your enjoyment, so pre-tour training walks, training programs, and group chats online are provided leading up to your walking tour (included as part of the tour price). These will assist you to practice on terrain that you are likely to encounter, meet your guides and other group members, ask questions on what to expect, receive advice on the trail, travel, and the destination, and gauge your level of fitness. Many people underestimate the difficulty of walking these trails and end up under-prepared and unfulfilled ….. so we invest in your preparation

Meaningful Moments
we will bring your Lord Howe Island experience alive ….. a guide book and phone App can’t do this as well as our local guides

Flexibility (2 guides)
our departures have 2 experienced guides (1 guide is with you for the entire tour, plus local guides for the active activities). Having 2 guides means we can better cater for group dynamics and individual needs. Factors such as sickness, injuries and incidents can mean changes to the itinerary become necessary, and if there was only 1 guide then these changes will impact on your expectations and your level of enjoyment ….. avoiding this is why we always have 2 guides

Safety
our wilderness trained guides carry comprehensive group first-aid kits, satellite communication devices, and safety equipment. Our Adelaide based guide supports local guides on this tour. In addition, safety procedures are in place, and constant communication is undertaken with local emergency services. There isn’t mobile phone coverage along sections of this trip ….. so for your safety, we always have multiple communication devices

Timing
we go at the best time of the year for comfortable conditions. We can’t guarantee perfect weather everyday, but you can book with confidence 

Small Groups
a maximum of 12 only on each departure. Meaning, it’s better for the environment, and you won’t feel like you’re just a number in the crowd

Travel Assistance
our in-house travel specialists can assist you with travel insurance. If you’re arriving from interstate or from international destinations we can also package any accommodation, flights, and add-ons in addition to this tour. Package your Lord Howe Island walk with us and save stress, time and money

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.