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To assist with your travel to
Lord Howe we recommend:
Getting there
Lord Howe Island lies approximately 600 km northeast of Sydney and
southeast of Brisbane, Australia, at the same latitude as Port Macquarie,
NSW. It forms part of the state of New South Wales.
How to get to Lord Howe
Apart from sailing your own yacht, the only feasible way to reach Lord Howe is by air.
QantasLink offers year-round scheduled services to Lord Howe Island. Flight time is under two hours, with flights departing from Sydney on most days, and from Brisbane on weekends.
A seasonal weekly service to the Island is also available direct from Port Macquarie from February to June and September to December.
There are connecting services with Qantas from all Australian capital cities and with QantasLink from many regional centres.
For further information on the QantasLink Lord Howe service, click here
When to go
Anytime!
Lord Howe Island’s climate is mild, year-round. Sea breezes prevent the summers from being too hot, while surrounding warm seas ensure pleasant winters.
Maximum temperatures on the island hover around 25 degrees Celsius throughout summer, dipping to an average of 19 degrees in winter, while daily minimums range from 20C in summer falling to around 12-14C in winter.
The most popular time to visit Lord Howe is between September and June, however even in the winter months (July and August), the days can be sunny and warm, while at night, roaring fires keep things cosy.
Where to stay
There are 17 properties to choose from. Most are family operated. They vary in size from 4 to 85 beds and offer a variety of services and facilities. Visitor numbers are limited to 400 at any one time. Camping is not permitted.
Disabled facilities
Some facilities available. Please check with your accommodation property.
Dining out
The Island has a number of fine restaurants serving modern Australian cuisine and offering a wide selection of wines, spirits and beers.
What to do
Bushwalking, trekking, guided and self-guided walks, fish feeding, swimming, surfing, SCUBA diving, snorkelling, kayaking, birdwatching, reef walks, golf, tennis, bowls, deep sea, rock and shore fishing, picnics, BBQs, bicycling.
Available for hire are golf clubs, tennis racquets, bicycles and helmets, SCUBA and snorkelling gear, paddle skis and spyboards.
Spear fishing is not permitted.
What to bring -
• Dress is casual, smart casual for evenings
• Swimming costume, hat and sun protection
• Shoes for bush and reef walking, flip flops, but bare feet are the island
‘uniform’
• Day pack for walks and beach trips
• A raincoat and wind-cheater are recommended owing to occasional showers and squalls that can occur at any time of the year.
The weight limit on Lord Howe flights is 14kg per person of checked baggage and 4kg of carry-on baggage. Excess baggage, such as golf clubs and surfboards, are carried on a subject-to-load basis. They are not guaranteed uplift on the same flight as the passenger, but usually do arrive within a day or two, if not the same flight.
Preserving Paradise
Lord Howe’s environment is pristine and we ask our visitors to help keep it that way. Your hosts will advise you on recycling and we ask that you take care to ensure that you do not unwittingly carry any unwanted pests to the island, including seeds (on shoes or clothes) etc.
Transport
You'll quickly understand why Lord Howe does not need public transport. All accommodation properties meet flights, providing free transport for arriving and departing guests.
Walking is a pleasure on the Island as you're never far from shops, restaurants or beaches. There are bicycles and helmets for hire and a limited number of rental cars.
Is it safe?
Yes! Families love Lord Howe: children can safely roam free. There are no snakes, no sand flies, no stingers. There is a limited number of cars and a 25 kph speed limit.
Conference Facilities
Some larger accommodation establishments are able to cater for conferences with up to 30 or 40 delegates. There are two church halls, bowling club rooms, golf club house, a small meeting room in the Museum complex, and a 150 seat community hall/cinema.
Communications
Many Island holidaymakers are delighted that Lord Howe Island is beyond the reach of mobile phone calls. Public phones are available, so are faxes. The Visitor Centre is open Monday-Friday 9am to 12.30pm and has an internet cafe. For further information please phone 1800 240 937 (freecall in Australia).
Medical
A small hospital and dispensary is situated on Lagoon Road. Consulting and dispensary hours at this four-bed hospital are 9.00am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday. However, the doctor and nursing staff are on 24 hour call in emergencies.
Time
Australian Eastern Summertime during daylight saving. Winter is 30 minutes ahead of Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Banks, credit cards and money
The currency is Australian Dollars. There are two banks on the Island: Westpac and Commonwealth. Credit cards are accepted widely but not everywhere. Please have cash or cheque book as a back-up. No auto tellers, however, Eftpos is available at some businesses.
Note: Foreign currency and/or travellers cheques are not processed on Lord Howe Island.
Shopping
A variety of stores carry groceries, liquor, fruit, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, clothing, souvenirs and snacks. There is also a small hairdressing salon, limited beauty and masseur facilities and arts and crafts. Island prices are generally higher than mainland prices owing to freight costs.
Electricity
240V AC 50 cycles, three-pin plug – the same as mainland Australia.
Sailing Yachts
Visiting yachts are welcome. For assistance please contact Port Operations Manager, Senior Constable Richard Buckley beforehand.
Phone 61 2 6563 2266.
International
Radio Contact Frequencies
HF 4125 VHF Channels 16 - 12
Post Office
Australia Post has a postal agency on Lord Howe Island open from 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. From September to May, airmail is despatched and received every day except Friday. In the winter months, mail is despatched whenever flights operate. Surface mail arrives fortnightly by ship from Iluka in northern New South Wales.
Church services
Anglican, Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist.
Tourist Levy
The tourism levy is included in your airline ticket. The levy helps us maintain a beautiful environment and particularly visitor’s facilities such as walking tracks, picnic areas, BBQs, shelter sheds and toilets.