10 of the best things to do on Lord Howe Island

From exploring misty peaks and underwater worlds to beach-hopping and fish-feeding, Lord Howe Island is a paradise for the adventurer and the nonchalant alike.

Cast off from the New South Wales coast and voluntarily maroon yourself on a glittering island paradise. Lord Howe’s pristine waters backdropped by looming mountains somehow conjure the intoxicating feeling that you’ve stumbled upon a truly lost world. Ancient and entirely untethered from the everyday, the best things to do on Lord Howe Island range from plunging into gemstone waters and communing with native species.

Slip into the underwater metropolis of the world’s southernmost coral reef to watch its high-vis beauty or scale moody Mount Gower to wander an enchantingly mist-draped forest. Whether you love to slow it right down or wind things up with a heart-pounding adventure, these are the must-do activities to enjoy before unwinding in your tropical accommodation.

Golden sunsets, tropical plates and beaches that look too perfect to be real – Lord Howe Island is paradise served fresh.

Best time to go to Lord Howe Island

cycling on Lord Howe Island — Explore this lush island on two wheels. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The easy answer is that there’s no perfect time to go to Lord Howe, as it’s perennially perfect. But while the temperature is ‘pleasant’ year-round, if you like it on the warmer side, you might opt for summer with average temperatures of 25 degrees. The most popular time to visit, however, is between September and May. Winter, on the other hand, is quieter and you’ll still enjoy plenty of warm and sunny days with a minimum of 12–14 degrees and a water temp that hovers around 18-degrees.

How to get to Lord Howe Island

scenic views of Lord Howe Island at sunrise — The ‘Galapagos of the South’ is rich with unique flora and fauna. (Image: tom-archer.com)

Although Lord Howe Island seems to occupy a space somewhere in the vicinity of paradise, it’s actually in NSW. Just 700 kilometres northeast of Sydney on the same latitude as Port Macquarie.

To get there, you’ll need to fly either from Sydney with QantasLink or with a charter through Eastern Air Services from the Gold Coast, Newcastle and Port Macquarie.

Things to do on Lord Howe Island

1. Experience one of the best day hikes in the world

sun rises over Lord Howe Island — Hike at sunrise to see spectacular island views. (Image: tom-archer.com)

The first thing you’ll notice as you fly into Lord Howe is the looming, Jurassic-looking Mt Gower. Often adorned with a foggy halo, this 875-metre sentinel dominates the island from almost every vantage.

It beckons adventurers to its fern-festooned top where a misty forest rewards hikers with glimpses of endemic woodhens and views of the surrounding waters that dazzle like polished gems.

Though ranked one of the best day hikes in the world, as a physically demanding, challenging grade 5 hike over tricky terrain, those considering climbing to Mount Gower’s summit should do so only with one of the island’s licensed guides, including Sea to Summit Expeditions guide, Jack Shick. As Lord Howe’s most experienced mountain guide, with over 2400 trips to the summit under his belt, Jack has taken walkers up the mountain regularly for over 30 years.

2. Spy Native Birdlife

a white tern resting on a tree branch, Lord Howe Island — Keep an eye out for some of the world’s rarest birds on Lord Howe Island. (Image: Destination NSW)

Seasoned twitchers will already be aware of the rich bird-watching opportunities on Lord Howe. With 14 species choosing to nest here come the breeding season, give your binoculars a spit and polish in anticipation of spotting a red-tailed tropicbird, muttonbird, and the star-attraction, one of the world’s rarest birds, the providence petrel. This seabird is so predator-free that its curiosity makes it a fascinating attraction. At dusk, if you call to the sky of circling petrels, you may be able to divert one from its flight to pop down and get a better look at you.

3. Explore Beneath the Sea

scuba diving beneath Lord Howe Island — Discover over 60 world-class dive sites beneath Lord Howe Island. (Image: Jordan Robins)

No matter whether you’re an accredited diver or prefer to snorkel, you’ll have plenty of underwater colour to ogle at this declared state marine park with 500 species of fish and 90 coral species. As you glide through the pristine waters, you’ll easily spot the high-vis kaleidoscope beneath the surface.

Perfect for kids and novice snorkellers, the calm lagoon is protected by the world’s most southern coral reef, while for divers, there are 60 sites to explore, most within a 20-minute boat ride. Keep a goggled eye out for rare and endemic species, including Spanish dancers, double header wrasse and the Ballina angelfish.

Prefer something a little more adrenaline pumping? With waters surrounding Lord Howe Island being the only place in Australia where you can view Galapagos Whaler sharks, it’s now possible to get up close by booking a Galapagos Shark experience with Dive Lord Howe or Reef n’ Beyond . These guided tours will not only provide you with fascinating facts about the majestic creatures, but also teach you how to swim safely with them.

And with freediving becoming ever more popular, Liv For the Sea is a great new way to dip your toes into this exhilarating underwater experience. From freediving training courses to day trips and private charters, founder Liv Rose will introduce you to the best underwater locations in just one breath. The season runs from November to May when visibility is at its peak.

4. Bask in some beach time

Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird as seen from Blinky Beach, Lord Howe Island — Take in views of Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird at Blinky Beach. (Image: tom-archer.com)

If a good book beckons – this is a holiday after all – unfurl your towel and pop your beach brolly for a sun-soaked session on the sand.

Whether it’s swimming in the lagoon, surfing at Blinky Beach, or spotting turtles and exploring the seclusion of Old Settlement, you’ll find the right stretch of shore to suit your vibe.

Hungry for more? As well as being the best spot for snorkelling on the island, Ned’s Beach is where you’ll find the friendliest fish in the country. You need only wade into the glittering waters here before you’re immediately swarmed by fish, mouths agape and waiting for you to deliver dinner.

The mullet, wrasse, garfish and silver drummers, among others, will nibble right out of your hand, making it a wildly thrilling experience for all ages. Grab a handful of approved fish food from the dispenser on the beach and swim in to wait on these finned diners. You can also hire snorkel gear from the beach, simply leave your money in the honesty box.

5. Quench your island thirst

filling a glass with tap beer at Lord Howe Island Brewery — Lord Howe Island Brewery pours experimental brews made from unique foraged finds. (Image: Heidi Morris)

One of the most popular watering holes for locals, Lord Howe Island Brewery has special permission by the Permanent Park Preserve to scour the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Island for unique ingredients to pop in their hops. The brewers then send these foraged finds off for testing before fermenting them to create experimental flavours. Often host to live music and events, Lord Howe Island Brewery provides a shady spot to taste the effervescence of their efforts while snacking on pizza, fresh from their woodfired oven.

Gin more your thing? Get down to Lord Howe Island distilling Co for a behind-the-scenes look to learn about at how the island’s first distillery produces its award-winning small batch gins. Made using wild and endemic botanicals found on the island, gin from the distillery’s range can be sampled during a guided tasting session with co-founder, Anthony Riddle, including those such as Wild Lemon and Hibiscus, Mountain Rose, and Reef Gin.

6. Check out Balls Pyramid

a bird flying above the Balls Pyramid on Lord Howe Island — Balls Pyramid stands 551 metres high. (Image: Destination NSW/Eugene Tan)

As far as rock formations go, Balls Pyramid is fairly spectacular on account of it being the tallest sea stack on the planet at 551 metres high. Jutting out like a giant spearhead 23 kilometres southeast of the island, you can spot the stack from lofty vantages around the island, but it’s well worth taking a boat charter to get face-to-rockface with it.

It also happens to be one of Australia’s best scuba diving sites with its basalt walls plunging to the depths below and providing shelter for all manner of sea life from turtles to dolphins and marlin. And for those who love fishing, while the marine park surrounding Lord Howe Island is off limits for commercial fishing, Ball’s Pyramid is one of the best spots offshore for recreational anglers to hook kingfish, tuna, and wahoo, with several chartered boat operators available to take you there.

7. Transform on a wellness retreat

a woman doing some yoga on Lord Howe Island — Find Zen on a meditative retreat with Lord Howe Yoga. (Image: Emily Spirling)

Nirvana gets a little closer when you’re staying on tranquil Lord Howe, but you can shorten the distance between you and your contentment goals further with a yoga and wellness retreat. Karma Being ’s five-night retreat that packages up daily yoga, meditation and breathwork, as well as most meals, a snorkel tour and transfers, among other inclusions. If you’d rather not commit to a full five days, join a casual class with Lord Howe Yoga where local instructor Nikki Belliveau will guide you through an outdoor session by the lagoon. Nikki also hosts workshops and a regular 1-day wellness retreat.

8.  Picnic like a pro

Believe it or not, one of the best things to do on Lord Howe is going for a picnic. Islanders love it so much there are dedicated picnic areas and BBQ facilities dotted all around the island.

You could pack your own, but if you want to experience a true taste of Lord Howe, why not let an award-winning local picnic operator do it for you? Taking out Gold for Excellence in Food Tourism at the NSW Tourism Awards in 2023, and Silver for Excellence in Food Tourism at the 2024 Australian Tourism Awards, Love Lord Howe ’s Couples or Small Group Picnics set up includes a low table, cushions, crockery, cutlery, glassware and a delicious grazing platter. Setting up in the best location on the day, there’s also the option to add champagne, wine and soft drinks.

9. Walk on the wildside

hikers taking the cliffside walk up Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island — Conquer the cliffside trail up Mount Gower. (Image: Tourism Australia)

While Mount Gower is the beast to conquer, Lord Howe Island’s other beautiful peaks, trails and beaches also deserve your attention. Take a guided tour with Lord Howe Island’s newest walking tour operator, Wildside Walks . With a background in environmental restoration and conservation, founder Jae De Clouett offers informative full and half-day tours to some of the island’s best and lesser-known gems, including Valley of the Shadows, Goat House Cave, Northern Hills, and Wildside Walks’ latest offering, Mount Gower Saddle Trek.

Alternatively, wander the island yourself. See here for the best walks on Lord Howe.

10. Take to the dark skies

Did you know Lord Howe is one of Australia’s best stargazing destinations? This year, the island will celebrate its dark sky status with the introduction of Dark Sky Festival . The inaugural event, planned to take place this year, from April 26 to May 1 will include events such as expert-led stargazing and astrophotography workshops, a Dark Dining experience, a nocturnal wildlife walk with a local naturalist, panel discussion Science Talks, a Stargazing Yoga and Wellbeing Experience, and Dancing Under the Stars.

Now read our guide to everything Lord Howe Island.

Originally written by Lara Picone with updates by Bonita Grima

With a foundation centred in craftsmanship and human experience, Island House distils a family’s connection to place into a timeless design-led stay on Lord Howe Island.

“I’ve got my grandfather’s Super 8 footage of landing on the lagoon, with the water slapping up against the windows.” Timmy Maxwell’s parents visited Lord Howe as children, when flying boats serviced the island from Sydney’s Rose Bay. Today, I skim over the same glassy lagoon to touch down beside it on the short airstrip built in 1974 – but the view must look unchanged: a crescent-shaped island of volcanic peaks fringed with golden sand and a shock of turquoise.

The story behind Island House

Timmy himself began holidaying here in 2000, after his parents jumped at the chance to buy their own parcel of paradise 600 kilometres off Australia’s east coast. Fast-forward 25 years and we meet at Island House , the meticulous result of a five-year build he completed with his father, Michael Maxwell. Opening in 2020, they transformed what was once a cluster of holiday apartments into a luxury eight-guest hideaway.

The lodge comprises two distinct properties – North House and South House – designed by the father-and-son duo in collaboration with Newcastle-based Derive Architecture & Design. Their sleek and understated exteriors are crafted from hardwood and copper, and set on elevated platforms to preserve the natural landscape.

Hidden within a grove of endemic Kentia palms and centuries-old banyan trees, the two houses are connected by an al fresco area that serves as a central gathering point and, each sleeping four, can be booked separately or together.

The design honours the landscape

True to its setting on Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982 where visitor numbers are capped at 400 at any one time, Island House treads lightly, capturing rainfall, drawing on solar power and treating sewage onsite to protect the island’s fragile ecosystem. It’s a place of careful consideration, where everything – from customised daily adventures to meals prepared by a private chef – feels intuitive.

coastal views from Island House, Lord Howe — Island House is a launchpad for exploring Lord Howe’s wild coastline. (Image: Jonny Fuhri)

The experience unfolds from a grounding in design, with a visual language shaped by the layering of Michael and Timmy’s shared history. “We really wanted to do something that reflected our passions and spoke to our personal experiences and inspirations,” says Timmy. Michael’s career in finance and property ran parallel to cultural pursuits such as restoring wooden boats and architectural homes and serving as chairman of Sculpture by the Sea.

While Timmy’s path blends adventure (a sense of which, from fishing to trail running, was first fostered here on the island) with hospitality; by the age of 24 in 2013 he had opened his own Sydney wine bar, Kubrick’s, before turning his sights back to Lord Howe. With touchpoints to draw on such as sound, art, sculpture, furniture, food, architecture and adventure, “this language of celebrating what’s really timeless started to come through,” Timmy tells me.

Danish design, books and First Nations art inside the South House at Island House, Lord Howe — South House, a medley of mid-century Danish design, books and First Nations art. (Image: Anson Smart)

That ethos finds form in mid-century Danish furniture, sourced in Copenhagen – with original pieces from leading proponents of the movement including Poul Kjærholm, Hans Wegner and Finn Juhl – alongside Italian marble, American oak floorboards and stainless steel. There are botanical sculptures by Alison Coates. A whole wall of books. Ceramics from Kyoto, copper bathtubs and a significant collection of Indigenous Australian art, including pieces by celebrated Ngan’gikurrungurr woman Regina Pilawuk Wilson and the late Pintupi man Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri, a founder of the Western Desert art movement.

an outdoor copper tub at Island House — An outdoor copper tub at Island House. (Image: Anson Smart)

The Maxwells’ love of music is expressed through each house’s sound system; Timmy admits to having “nerded out” over the statement Wilson Audio speakers that anchor the North House lounge. Fanta-orange sculptural forms that look not unlike robots. “They’re both high-spec and forgiving,” he says. Fuzzy round the edges – like the evenings my partner and I spend curled up here, drinking wine and listening to music in a way we haven’t for ages.

the outdoor lounge at Island House, Lord Howe — Outdoor lounging at Island House. (Image: Anson Smart)

Every design choice reflects an investment in craftsmanship and an instinct for what feels right to humans – not least the proportions, with North House seemingly hitting a golden ratio with its four-metre ceilings. Strategically placed skylights keep us connected to the outdoors; when the sun shines, shafts of light illuminate curated corners while palm shadows dance across the walls. It’s a place to cocoon in after a day spent in the elements.

The role of food and hospitality at Island House

chef Kimie Uemeto preparing Japanese dishes, Island House, Lord Howe — In-house chef Kimie Uemeto prepares fresh food, often with Japanese flavours. (Image: Anson Smart)

The human aspect is at play in every moment our hosts anticipate for us. When our snorkelling trip in the lagoon ends abruptly in a torrential downpour, general manager Anna Klein is already waiting at the shore with towels and the car to whisk us back to warmth. With our beach barbecue plans pivoted, chef Kimie Uemeto has prepared a hearty pumpkin soup to enjoy in-house – exactly what we need.

picnic on Lord Howe Island — Private picnics are par for the course while staying at Island House. (Image: Anson Smart)

The next morning, we head out on a walk, waving g’day to the omnipresent Lord Howe woodhen, the island’s endemic flightless bird, and follow a trail through bushland to 360-degree views from Transit Hill. The weather has turned fine and on our return to the house, plans for our ‘we curate, you cook’ lunch have been switched for a beach picnic. Anna has laid out a rug under the shade of two palms, and all that remains is to cycle down to Ned’s Beach and raid a hamper packed with whipped feta to slather on soft rolls, with juicy tomatoes and fresh salad greens. “Pack your snorkels,” Anna had advised – and soon enough we wade into the bath-like sea, snorkelling the coral just offshore in gin-clear water.

Chef Kimie Uemeto with a fresh catch at Island House, Lord Howe — Chef Kimie Uemeto with a fresh catch. (Image: Anson Smart)

Dinners, too, are intuitive affairs, with Kimie working with whatever produce is available on the island, from freshly caught fish to daily finds at the Nursery down the road. “It’s very different from what I used to cook in Japan, because I used to cook very traditional cuisine,” she says. Moving here from Sydney five years ago with her young family, she has learned to be flexible. “Here on the island, you don’t know what’s available tomorrow,” she says. “I like cooking with my feeling. And this place allows me to do that.”

Exploring other Lord Howe Island highlights

Timmy Maxwell and head brewer Alastair Gillespie at Lord Howe Island Brewery. (Image: Anson Smart)

We visit the Nursery the next day, a greenhouse project the Maxwells oversee that grows fresh produce as well as cultivating Kentia palms for export (a tradition that goes back to Victorian times; the world’s most popular endemic plant is native to Lord Howe). It’s on the same site as the Lord Howe Island Brewery , which father and son also founded, and which serves as a community hub. It’s open Thursday and Saturday for woodfired pizzas and drinks in the convivial beer garden and offers weekly tours for those keen to go behind the scenes of one of the world’s most remote breweries.

Our own visit in April coincides with the inaugural Dark Sky Festival and we join a Science Talk hosted at the brewery one evening. Among topics ranging from the transit of Venus to black holes and moon illusion, we learn about light pollution and the importance of dark sky conservation. How the planet would benefit if we all turned our lights down.

By design, not much has changed on Lord Howe Island since the days the flying boats splashed down on the lagoon. There’s still no mobile reception on the island, and being totally out of range as we are out and about exploring feels like a rare liberty. An apparent luxury in a too-connected world. Some guests looking forward to a digital detox, says Timmy, are disappointed to learn that Island House has Starlink and ask for it to be turned off.

Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower, Lord How Island — The island’s famed peaks, Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower. (Image: Destination NSW/Tom Archer)

Lord Howe Island is an otherworldly place. The afternoon we freewheeled down to the base of Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower confirmed this: a fierce burst of post-rain sunshine sent rainbows shooting across the famous peaks, while providence petrels – which nest nowhere else on Earth – swirled overhead. Lord Howe evolved out of step with the rest of the planet and in its gloriously lo-fi way it retrains you to be human. True enough, when we head back to Island House after our dark sky talk, we stoke the fire, dim the lights and watch nothing but the flickering flames.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

SmartLynx Australia operates daily flights from Sydney, with a flight time of under two hours. Eastern Air Services offers weekly flights and charters from Port Macquarie, the Gold Coast and Newcastle.

Staying there

Nightly rates at Island House start from $4260 for a single house and $8660 for a full-site buyout and include: custom island adventures such as guided hikes, snorkelling and diving; dedicated equipment room for guided and self-directed exploration; in-house dining by chef Kimie Uemeto, who pairs freshly sourced local ingredients with Japanese culinary techniques; fully stocked pantry and bar; private picnics with mountain views or beach settings; complimentary hotel car transfers and airport pick-up and drop-off.

On the horizon

Lord Howe Island’s next Dark Sky Festival is planned for 16–23 May 2026. And stay tuned for news of Michael and Timmy Maxwell’s next accommodation project, set to launch in southern Tasmania.

view from the palms, Lord Howe — Peeking through the palms. (Image: Anson Smart)

10 of the best things to do on Lord Howe Island

From exploring misty peaks and underwater worlds to beach-hopping and fish-feeding, Lord Howe Island is a paradise for the adventurer and the nonchalant alike.

Best time to go to Lord Howe Island

How to get to Lord Howe Island

Things to do on Lord Howe Island