Lord Howe Island's new beach houses

It's one of those perfect blue-sky days when we fly into Lord Howe Island. I'd made the spectacular arrival into the island a few times now on Qantas Link's trusty Dash 8s, so averted my eyes from the dreamy vistas outside and turned instead to watch my mum seated in a window seat. It's Mum's first time to the island that National Geographic proclaimed as "the most beautiful in the Pacific". As we descend, the majestic peaks of Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird soar out of the sparkling lagoon. Shaking her head in utter disbelief, Mum's face says it all.

Within moments of leaving the quaint white-picket-fence airport, we've checked into Arajilla Retreat's brand new beach house, Blue Peter; the closest accommodation to the beach and a Lord Howe Island landmark. A hop, skip and jump across from Lagoon Beach, the building was in turn a haberdashery, an airline office, a general store, then home to the island's first espresso machine. It operated as Blue Peter Cafe for almost a decade and whenever we mention where we're staying, locals sigh and say they still miss it.

After lying dormant for years, Arajilla owners Bill and Janne Shead were given approval to turn the building into accommodation – on the proviso two licensed "bed" numbers were shifted from Arajilla. Only 400 visitor beds are allowed on Lord Howe at any one time.

They set to work transforming the property into a luxury fully self-contained two-bedroom beach house, just for two. The spacious interiors were painted white, louvre windows and plantation shutters installed, along with two bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen. The enormous kitchen comes with a Nespresso machine and is generously stocked with Arajilla muesli, milk, bread, butter, jams and honey, homemade biscuits, fruit and more.

Blue Peter's beachy interiors are offset by dark wood floors, pure linen bedding and fabrics and rugs by Sydney artist Julie Paterson of Cloth Fabric. Best of all is the enormous timber deck under an equally generous pergola bordered by lush foliage.

This is where we head each morning, taking our pot of tea with us and settling in for a morning of reading, interspersed by swims, strolls to the shops (which the locals refer to jokingly as the CBD), and regrouping in the late afternoon for G&Ts. While the house is self-contained, it is serviced daily and Arajilla staff are on standby to help. When I mention I need a lemon for said G&Ts, one is rustled up. When Mum asks for skim milk, a carton appears in the fridge. They drive us to dinner each night, transport bikes from Arajilla for us to use, all with a breezy "no problem" attitude.

One memorable moment, among many, is sitting outside on the deck, which is framed by an enormous Asian-style wooden entrance, and watching an emerald dove in her nest with two baby chicks. The mother bird had made a large palm at Blue Peter her home, and it was fascinating being able to watch the little feathered family up close.