MARCH 2014: Lord Howe Island

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It was out 20th wedding Anniversary and my turn to Take Kathy away on a surprise weekend.

It was almost a bigger surprise than I had wanted with the trip to the airport just happening to coincide with the time a truck decided to lodge it self in the harbour tunnel. Following some major panic as there is only one flight a day and the rest of the week was fully booked, we managed to fight through the traffic and get there on time.

Despite the small twin proped plane not helping on settling the nerves, the flight was not that bad.  As we took the steep decent to the island with the pilot masterfully dealing with the unique cross winds we touched down in another world.














Our home for the next 4 nights was Pinetrees, the oldest accommodation on the island, and it was a perfect match to this laid back tropical oasis. Not a pretentious resort, its simplicity was outdone by the friendly staff and magnificent food.  It also had the best lagoon side boat shed to sit and have a beer and watch the sun go down. With no locks on the room doors and the ability to leave your bike anywhere with the knowledge it will be there when you get back, no internet, TV or mobile phone coverage, this place is easy to disconnect from the rest of the world. There was even an honesty box in the boat shed where you take a beer.








It did not get long for the stress of the morning to disappear as we headed out the bikes, the most popular means of transport, to get a lay of the land.






The days were spent on some of the most spectacular walks up Mount Lidgbird and Goats cave, and Kims lookout.  Unfortunately they closed the Mountain walk up Mount Gower so i guess this is a good excuse to come back one day. We kayaked around to North Bay and strolled along deserted beaches which many of the times we had all to ourselves.  One of the hotel staff told us that the island is often quoted as a place for the "newly weds or the nearly deads".  And with the island limited to only 400 at an one time it was easy to find a place all to your self.















While we could have eaten the magnificent lunches at Pinetrees every day (this was the best lamb I have ever had!) most days they provided us a packed lunch so we could stay out.










We went for several snorkels in the turquoise blue waters with the myriad of tropical fish such as Angelfish, Butterfly fish and Wrasses and small reef sharks as well as soft and hard corals. The marine environment at Lord Howe Island was a major driver for the World Heritage listing due to its unusual mix of temperate and tropical marine species.  This was topped of with a great turtle tour as we glided over the resting green turtles sitting amongst the corrals getting cleaned.  Getting even closer to the fish was a trip to Neds Beach where schools of fish swim between your feet coming to the surface mouths open ready to be hand fed.














Birdlife was also interesting with the Lord Howe Island Woodhens now a common site thanks to some great conservation efforts bringing them back from extinction.  These, along with the numerous sea birds made it a twitters (no not the social media site) dream.






We experienced the island in all of its unique colours with the first few days surrounded my stormy clouds and the last day a magic blue sky.  What a trip.