If you are looking for a quiet destination where nothing and nobody bothers you, we recommend Lord Howe Island. This is a destination where it is highly unlikely that you will meet someone you know.
This island of the Australian continent, with white sand beaches, is 11 kilometers long and 2.8 kilometers wide. With its crescent shape, it surrounds a blue water lake and the southernmost coral reef in the world.
It is part of a group of islands, all of volcanic origin. Due to its great beauty and biodiversity, the group of islands was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.
Lord Howe Island is located in New South Wales, in the Tasman Sea. It is a place with all the ingredients to disconnect from the civilization that usually surrounds us. Mobile phones have no coverage, so we have no choice but to enjoy the environment without technological interference. On the island, the “numerus clausus” works, no more than 400 people are allowed at a time (apart from its inhabitants).
The most used and recommended means of transport is the bicycle. Its use allows us to enjoy the landscape in all its splendor.
About 300 inhabitants live on the island throughout the year. There is a small town with a single street, it lacks tall buildings, but it has restaurants, a picturesque golf course, spas and luxury hotels, with which we can complete a comfortable vacation stay.
What to Do on Lord Howe Island
On Lord Howe Island, you can practice all the activities that the natural environment offers us: water activities, among which we highlight snorkeling on its coral reef and diving with the possibility of sharing the depths of the sea with multi-colored fish, corals and green turtles. The island also offers us opportunities for surfing and fishing. At Ned’s Beach, when the tide is low, you can feed the fish.
Excursions to explore the island can take us to the volcanic peaks of Mount Lidgbird (777 meters) and Mount Gowe (875 meters). To access the latter, there is a guided day trip, a hike will lead us to the top and, once there, you can climb the summit of the mountain.
Do not miss the walk among Kentia palm trees, which will take us to Malabar Hill, where the cliffs enter the ocean invading its waters. In Transit Hill you can admire the best panoramic views of the island and, continuing on the same road, we can reach Blinky Beach, known by locals as “champagne surf”.
You can also visit some of the nearby islands such as Ball’s Pyramid, a rocky islet that formed from the remains of an eroded volcano. This islet is located 16 km from Lord Howe Island.
How to Get There
You can access by plane, from Sydney or Brisbane. The flight lasts two hours. On the official website of the island you can find more information about its accessibility.
The area is not free from the threats of climate change.
The increase in temperature affects the flora and fauna of the place, especially in the habitat of Mount Gower, since there is no possibility of migrating to higher areas.
About 64 native species of angiosperm plants and more than 30 birds inhabit the island, some of them in danger of extinction such as the “woodhen”, a flightless bird native to the island.
Unfortunately, the reefs are also threatened by climate change.