Lord Howe Island - Places to See

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This was published 15 years ago

Lord Howe Island - Places to See


Physical Features
Lord Howe Island is part of a series of volcanic pinnacles which lie on a submarine ridge which runs from the north island of New Zealand. The volcanic action occurred 7 million years ago. The pinnacles include Balls Pyramid (it stands 552 metres out of the sea and was first climbed as recently as 1965); Gower Island, Sugarloaf Island, Mutton Bird Island, Blackburn Island and the Admiralty Islands. Both of the island's mountains - Mount Lidgbird (777m) and Mount Gower (875m) - are volcanic in origin. Over the past 130,000 years sand and saltwater have combined to form a rock known as calcarenite which is common on parts of the island. This calcarenite has fossilised a number of unusual extinct creatures including a large horned turtle.

The coral reef of the western coast of the island is the southernmost coral outcrop in the world and has over 60 different species.

What is its World Heritage Listing?
Lord Howe Island was awarded its World Heritage listing based on its exceptional natural beauty and its collection of rare and endangered plants, birds, and marine life. The island demonstrates World Heritage values by providing habitats for populations of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, in addition to being one of the major seabird breeding sites in the southwest Pacific. The prisitine waters surrounding Lord Howe Island also hold Marine Park Status.

Flora and Fauna
It is claimed that when the first Europeans landed on the island there were only three types of animals - two lizards and a bat - native to the region. There were, obviously, more substantial numbers of birds, insects, spiders and snails. Today 18 species of landbirds and 14 species of seabird breed on the island.

The Lord Howe Island Board have produced a number of excellent sheets which provide detailed information on the flightless and rare Woodhen (the island is home to this endangered species), the island's range of land animals including all the birds and invertebrates, the island's plant life, the marine life and the seabirds. This is an island where the nature lover, with a pair of binoculars and an eagerness to explore, can spend weeks investigating the flora and fauna.

Walking Trails
There is really only one road on the island and it runs from a little beyond the jetty in the north down past the airport to Salmon Beach in the south. There are numerous tracks around the island including tracks to the top of Mount Gower (875m) (this can only be undertaken with the assistance of a guide as their is no path) as well as the smaller rises - Intermediate Hill (250m) and Mount Eliza (147m). The Lord Howe Island Board has produced a sheet describing each of the island walks and rating them from one to ten. The walks include:

Transit Hill
A grade 3 walk through rainforest and along the Blinky Beach.

Clear Place
A grade 2 walk through a palm forest and along Middle Beach.

Stevens Reserve
A grade 1 walk through a rainforest with interpretative signs.

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Max Nicholls Track
A grade 4 walk up Dawsons Ridge, through rainforest and on to North Beach.

Mount Eliza
A grade 3 walk up Mount Eliza offering good views of the nesting seabirds (in season).

Old Gulch
A grade 1 walk along North Beach to a deep cavity in the cliffs.

Malabar and Kim's Lookout
A grade 3 to Malabar and grade 5 to Kim's Lookout with excellent views over the island and an opportunity to see nesting birds (in season).

Coastal Track to Rocky Run and Boat Harbour
A grade 5 walk around the coast to see birds and enjoy the view.

Goat House
A grade 8 walk to Goat House Cave on the side of Mount Lidgbird. Great views and walking through wet rainforest.

Intermediate Hill
A grade 6 walk up Smoking Tree Ridge through the rainforest.

Little Island
A grade 2 walk through a palm forest with great views up to Mount Lidgbird.

Mount Gower
A grade 10 walk to the top of Mount Gower (875m). You must be accompanied by a licensed guide. Be warned: if you are scared of heights there is one section where you walk along a path which is only about 1 metre wide and there's nothing between you and the ocean far below.

True Quietness
There is a limit of 400 on the visitors to the island and the speed limit for the few vehicles is restricted to 25kph. Consequently there are no crowds and there is a true sense of tranquillity..


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