Your Holidays in Lord Howe Island
Tourism is our Lifeblood
Lord Howe Island’s first tourists began arriving on ships in 1883. Transport has evolved over time, from ships in the early days to modern day aircraft. Flying boats initially brought up to 42 guests to Lord Howe from Rose Bay in Sydney up until 1974.
In 1974, a runway was constructed on Lord Howe. This has enabled modern day, fast turbo prop aircraft to land on the short 886m runway!
There are approximately 350 permanent residents & only 400 guests at any one time! It is never crowded.
The tourist industry contributes approximately 30 million dollars to the Island’s economy annually. It is the Islands primary source of income.
Lord Howe Island is a truly special place & we want to share it with you!
Lord Howe has been closed due to the Covid 19 pandemic since March this year. Here at Reef N Beyond Eco Tours we value your business & look forward to seeing you back in our Covid Safe environment. To assist you get started we have now installed a contactless booking system on our website! Booking prior to arrival is highly recommended & simple.
The Geology
Lord Howe Island is the eroded remains of a 6.9 million year old shield volcano. It consists of 28 Islands of various sizes. The main Island is approximately 11km long with the widest point just over 2km. The tallest peak on the Island is Mt Gower at 875m. The Island is approximately 56 square kilometers in area.
Ball’s Pyramid is located 23km to the southeast of Lord Howe Island. At 552m, it is the tallest sea stack on the planet. It too is the remnants of a shield volcano. It is approximately 1.1km long with the widest point at the base approximately 600m.
The entire Island is eroding rapidly & is likely to be completely submerged in 200,000 years! So you had better hurry!
Location
Lord Howe Island is located 780km NE of Sydney & 582km east of Port Macquarie. Just a 2 hours flight will get you overseas & no passport required! Qantaslink & Eastern Air Services provide regular flights to the Island.
The Climate
Lord Howe Island has an amazing temperate, sub tropical climate. The air temperature ranges between 29’c & 12’c. Water temperature is ideal at between 19’c & 26’c. The Island is lush & green for the majority, with the occasional dry periods between December & February.
The ideal time to visit the Island is between September & June. Winter is our low season & visitors can expect a cooler climate, with some Island services limited. It is an ideal time for getting away, a reconnaissance trip, bush walking or just snuggling in & reading a book!
Flora & Fauna
Lord Howe Island has an abundance of unique endemic terrestrial & marine flora & fauna. Almost half of the plants are only found on here! Kentia Palms are the signature endemic palm species & have been exported all over the world.
Lord Howe Island is the home of the rarest insect in the world! The Phasmid was discovered living on Ball’s Pyramid in 2001. It once inhabited the main Island, but was thought to have become extinct approximately 100 years ago.
Lord Howe is the home of approximately 16 species of seabird. They inhabit the main island, surrounding Islands & Ball’s Pyramid. They provide exceptional photographic opportunities.
The marine life is amazing too, with 500 species of fish & 90 species of coral. Guests often comment on the quality & variety of our coral. Don’t forget your mask & snorkel.
Something for Everybody
Lord Howe Island is a truely unique holiday destination that has something for everybody! It has a large variety of accomodation options. There are plenty of touring options are available.
Lord Howe Island is never crowded! See you soon