Paradise in the Pacific
Trip Start
Oct 28, 2007
1
Trip End
Nov 08, 2007
Where I stayed
Lord Howe Island,
Australia
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Then I received a copy of Lonely Planet's "Code Green" book, which had a page devoted to this little island, and I was immediately captivated by it. The scenery looked incredible, the variety of birdlife sounded amazing, and the lack of commercialised, touristy trimmings really appealed to me. And I was delighted to discover that this little gem was only a 2 hour flight away!
I was desperate for a holiday, and this place was just what the doctor ordered, so I decided to see it for myself.
paradise
It didn't disappoint.
I flew to Lord Howe on 28/10/07. I was initially booked to stay one week, but as soon as I got off the plane, I knew I'd landed in paradise, and after just a couple of days, I arranged to extend my stay another 5 days!
Words really cannot do justice to Lord Howe Island. It has World Heritage status for good reason. The sheer cliffs of Mounts Lidgbird and Gower towering over the southern end of the island, the lush kentia palm forests, and the incredible turquoise of the lagoon and surrounding waters, make for an absolutely stunning backdrop.
There were lots of hikes, with fantastic views around every corner, and opportunities to get close to huge colonies of nesting seabirds, who didn't seem at all fazed about the presence of curious humans.
Under the water too, Lord Howe is incredible. I could walk just a few steps off the beach in some places, and be snorkelling amongst vibrantly-coloured corals teeming with fish and creatures I'd never even seen before - it rivalled anything I saw on the Great Barrier reef in FNQ, and was so much more accessible
lagoon view
! Swimming so close to a huge green sea turtle I could almost touch it, is something I will never forget.But the best thing about Lord Howe, was the people and lifestyle. The place is so laid-back. There are very few cars (most people ride bikes), no traffic lights, no supermarkets or ATMs. And everything is so clean - there was not a single piece of litter anywhere, and everyone recycles. No one locks their doors, everyone is friendly and people really care about, and want to protect the environment there. If only the rest of the world could be like that!
I have never felt so relaxed as I did on this trip. I know I sound like a travel brochure, but it really is a special place. Lord Howe Island is one of the few places I have visited, that I feel a pull to return to. And I definitely will return one day - but in the meantime, I have plenty of other places I want to see!
