Island Wildlife & Scenery

The wildlife and scenery that is present of Lord Howe Island is something that you will find hard pressed to experience at any place in Australia. It is an island that is so condense with an array of natural flora and fauna that it is a nature lover’s paradise. Lord Howe Island is a little known paradise to many visitors to Australia and to many Australians also. Rising out of the sea off the NSW coast is one of Australia's tiniest treasures, the dreamy, crescent-shaped Lord Howe Island. Just 11kms long and 2kms wide curved round an aquamarine lagoon, the island was World Heritage listed in 1982 for its unique beauty and rare collection of flora, fauna and marine life as well as having a well developed accommodation industry.

Forests cover two thirds of its landmass, while its many beaches are safe, pristine and tranquil. At the southern end the towering mountains of Mt. Lidgbird and Mt. Gower stand sentinel over this land of perpetual spring making it a sanctuary for all who visit.

In an effort to maintain and protect this pristine environment, Lord Howe's tourist intake is strictly controlled, with 400 visitors allowed at any one time. Just 10,000 tourists visit the island each year! Additionally, residents on Lord Howe are not permitted to own cats and with the island's vast collection of wildlife and birds, it's easy to see why. There are 130 species of birds, 24 butterfly species and 14 species of seabirds which breed in colonies on the island. The island is also home to 14 species of land bird, including the once endangered Lord Howe Island Woodhen.

Lord Howe Island has some of the best diving in the world with 490 species of fish, 93 coral species, 4% of which are unique to Lord Howe and two accredited Diving Schools. The submerged plateau of Lord Howe is 1,000 metres deep with the opportunity to dive walls, caves, swim-throughs and pinnacles, reefs, gutters and craters. Consequently, water sports such as diving and snorkelling are popular on Lord Howe, as is deep sea fishing. There are also regular sightings of whales and dolphins.

Lord Howe Island is unique among inhabited Pacific islands in that less than 10 percent of the island has been cleared for human use. Despite this, a large number of endemic birds are now extinct, and the native fauna is threatened by introduced species. However, the majority of the island group is well preserved as a World Heritage Site and as the control of exotic animals continues, some regrowth of vegetation is occurring.

With is pristine lagoons, crystal blue waters that are teeming with an array of underwater species and land dwelling creatures that are just waiting to be discovered by you, Lord Howe Island is a true paradise with remarkable wildlife and scenery galore. So call us today so that we can begin to arrange your holiday of a life time to this beautiful island escape.