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Routes · Oceania

Hong Kong to Lord Howe Island via Sydney

Hong Kong → Sydney → Lord Howe Island

Sydney Opera House
"Sydney_Australia._(21339175489).jpg" by Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Limited-visitor island, reef & peaks Best season (general guide): Oct–Apr

Lord Howe Island is a small volcanic island in the Tasman Sea, east of mainland Australia, with the world's southernmost coral reef, according to UNESCO, which lists the island group. The number of visitors staying at one time is limited, so it never feels crowded. This route spends one night in Sydney and five on the island. From Hong Kong you'll fly to Sydney, then take a short flight.

How to pace it: Spend day one in Sydney: arrive and settle in. Then spend days two to six on Lord Howe Island: day two, fly to Lord Howe, then the lagoon; day three, Ned's Beach snorkel; day four, Mount Gower guided climb; day five, cycle and the walking tracks; day six, boat to Ball's Pyramid.

The island is shaped like a crescent around a lagoon, with two mountains at its southern end. Most people get around by bicycle or on foot.

Ned's Beach has clear water where fish swim close to the shore, and snorkelling in the lagoon reveals coral and turtles.

Mount Gower, the highest peak, can be climbed only with a licensed guide, on a long, steep day hike through cloud forest to the summit plateau. The Lord Howe Island woodhen, a flightless bird once close to extinction, lives on the island.

Boat trips go out to Ball's Pyramid, a sheer volcanic spire rising from the sea south of the island.

October to April is the warmest and best time.

Lord Howe is small and quiet, so slow down and let the weather decide the day's plans. Book the Mount Gower climb as soon as your dates are fixed, as places are limited. Bring snorkel gear, or hire it on the island. Walking tracks are well marked, but carry water.

Good to know: Flights and accommodation are limited, so book well ahead. Bring cash and a reef-safe sunscreen. Phone coverage is limited, which many visitors enjoy.

Evenings are quiet, so bring a good book and watch the sunset over the lagoon from the beach.

Suggested outline

  1. Hong Kong

    Start

  2. Sydney

    By air · 1 night suggested

    A night in Sydney before the short flight out.

  3. Lord Howe Island

    By air · 5 nights suggested

    A crescent island with a coral lagoon, forest trails and Mount Gower.

    Lord Howe Island lagoon Mount Gower
    "Lord Howe Island view to Mount Gower.JPG" by Inas66, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Sydney — Arrive in Sydney· Hong Kong → Sydney (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Lord Howe Island — Fly to Lord Howe; the lagoon· Sydney → Lord Howe Island (by air)
  3. Day 3 · Lord Howe Island — Ned's Beach snorkel
  4. Day 4 · Lord Howe Island — Mount Gower guided climb
  5. Day 5 · Lord Howe Island — Cycle and the walking tracks
  6. Day 6 · Lord Howe Island — Boat to Ball's Pyramid
  7. Day 7 · Lord Howe Island — Travel home from Lord Howe Island· Lord Howe Island → Hong Kong (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Lord Howe Island

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