7 Day Lord Howe Island Explorer - Escorted Tour (Feb 2024)

Your fare excludes:

Day 1 - Sunday, 25 February 2024 – Arrival on Lord Howe Island

This morning you will meet your dedicated guide before flying with Qantas to beautiful Lord Howe Island. On arrival, you will be transferred by private vehicle to your accommodation for the next six nights, the Leanda Lei Apartments.

Tonight, first introduction to the Lord Howe Island with Ian Hutton who will provide you with General Information about Lord Howe Island on a one hour lecture at the Museum. Dinner tonight will be at one of the local restaurants.

• I​ncluded Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Monday, 26 February 2024 – Discover Lord Howe Island and swim with the sharks

This morning after breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel by Janine and Peter for you “All of the Island Tour”; a great introduction on what, where and how to do on Lord Howe: visits to the local school, Government House the hospital and the Catalina monument. Learn about social history, early settlement, predators and pests, flora and fauna, ships, flying boats and the airstrip, island tales and even buried treasure.

After lunch, you will have the opportunity to swim with the Galapagos Sharks (Optional tour: AUD$220.00 per person)

Dive one of the world’s most beautiful World Heritage Listed islands. Home to the world's southernmost barrier reef, Lord Howe Island's warm tropical waters and cooler currents have created a diverse and unique range of marine life. This reef shark is both curious and beautiful. Today you can swim with these inspiring creatures under the guidance of trained professionals. After a briefing on shark interaction etiquette, you will be taken to a location known for congregations of Galapagos Whalers Sharks. The crew will then set up safety lines and brief you on procedures for the interaction prior to entering the water. This is a truly unforgettable experience and should be on everyone's bucket list for Lord Howe Island.

Finish this first exciting day with a delicious dinner with your new travel companions.

• I​ncluded Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 - Tuesday, 27 February 2024 – Northern Hills & North Bay Trek & North Bay Nature & Turtle Tour

Start your day with the Northern Hills & North Bay Trek Grade: 3. Distance: 5km. Elevation: <200m. (Optional tour: AUD$70.00 per person)

This trail follows the ridges of the Northern Hills offering spectacular panoramic view points of the Admiralty Island group, Ned’s Beach, the fringing reefs of the Lagoon and northern coastline - great locations for observing the seabirds as they soar over the rugged sea cliffs below. Just after Kim’s Lookout take the track through the lush rainforest down to North Bay picnic area amongst the dense palm forest where the tour will based for lunch and further exploration of the diverse environment North Bay has to offer. Options here include a swim or a walk along North Beach & the Sooty Tern colony, or a short meander along the boardwalk to the rugged boulder beach at the Old Gulch. Return back along the forest track up and over Dawsons Ridge to arrive at Old Settlement Beach.

At the end of the hike, enjoy a well-deserved picnic on the Old Settlement Beach before your North Bay Nature & Turtle Tour.

Cruise to North Bay, a secluded beach inside the lagoon. You will experience stunning views from Mt Eliza, the old Gulch and Herring Pools. Discover seabird rookeries, geology and beachcombing on our guided beach walk. View Coral, Fish and Turtles through our Glass bottom boat as well as an optional snorkel on the wreck of the 'Favourite' with its diverse coral gardens and tropical fish. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant

• I​ncluded Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 - Wednesday, 28 February 2024 – Experience the Natural Beauty of Lord Howe your own way

For today we have selected a few amazing optional experiences for you:

• Mt Gower Trek Grade: 5. Distance: 10 km. Elevation: 875m. Duration: 9 hours (Optional tour: AUD$220.00 per person)

The Mount Gower Trek justly deserves its ranking as one of Australia's top day walks. Standing tall at 875 metres, Mt Gower is Lord Howe’s highest mountain. This hike is a challenging eight hour return trek, complete with rope-assisted climbs and dizzying drops. Taking approximately five hours to reach the summit at 875 metres and another four hours to return, this a serious hike, which requires a high level of fitness. During the trek you will enjoy the views of Balls Pyramid, Mt Lidgbird, the lagoon and the Island’s northern settlement area. You will also discover the mist forest on the summit of Mt Gower containing trees, ferns, mosses and orchids seen nowhere else on the planet.

• Ball's Pyramid around Island Expedition. Duration: 4 hours (Optional tour: AUD$225.00 per person)

A 43 nautical mile journey out to without doubt an unforgettable scenic tour of Ball’s Pyramid, tallest sea stack in the world 551m. This tour also combines a circumnavigation of Lord Howe Island so you get to see the best of the landmarks: Ball’s Pyramid, Admiralty Islands, Mutton Bird Island, and much more; as well as spotting abundant Birdlife and Marine Life.

• Goat House Cave Trek Grade: 4. Distance: 4.5km. Elevation: 450m. Duration: 7 hours (Optional tour: AUD$115.00 per person)

This tour has a range of attractions which make the challenge of the climb a very rewarding experience. The trail ascends through the tall sheltered forest of the lowlands ascending to Smoking Tree Ridge which is followed leisurely before the climb begins, with the degree of the slope ever increasing, the flora begins to change as you ascend to elevations which are often shrouded in the moist, coolness of the clouds, and become the ferny and mossy realm of endemic species such as Mountain Rose, Pumpkin Tree, Fitzgeraldii and Big Mountain Palm. The final section of the climb has been fitted with some ropes for assistance until the base of the cliffs and the overhang known as the Goat House Cave is reached. We break for lunch where views across the entire island, the rugged east coast including Rocky Run, Boat Harbour, George’s Bay and Red Point can be admired. A separate viewpoint looking southward reveals the huge cliffs of Mt Lidgbird & Mt Gower’s summit and flanks as they flow down to the sea, where on the horizon Balls Pyramid, the world’s tallest volcanic sea stack lurks like a sentinel out in the abyss. Return via the same trail and make way to King’s Beach for refreshments and a cool down swim below the impressive backdrop of the Southern Mountains.

A well-deserved Dinner with your companions.

• I​ncluded Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 - Thursday, 29 February 2024 – Glass Bottom Boat Charter

This morning, walk to Lagoon Beach where you private Glass Bottom Boat will depart. View the pristine beauty of one of the worlds untouched reef systems. Learn about this unique marine environment and discover a new world on our glass bottom boats. This tour focuses on exploring the coral seascape and introduces visitors to some of the more unusual lagoon inhabitants such as the endemic double-header wrasse, stingrays and turtles.

The afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy. Dinner included.

• I​ncluded Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 - Friday, 1 March 2024 – Hiking Day

Today will be a full day of hiking for those who want.

We start the morning with an optional 3.5 hour trek: Transit Hill Trek ($60.00 per person). This grade 3 hike begins at the Lagoon foreshore with complimentary tea &coffee before you head off for the Transit Hill track. The trail gently ascends through a verdant forest and diverse range of endemic species including Kentia Palms, Scalybark, Greybark, Pandanus and Giant Banyans to reach the Transit Hill Observation Platform, the central viewpoint on the island, and easiest of the hills, where panoramic views extend from North Head, Admiralty Islands to the Southern Mountains including the amazing fringing reef system of the entire Lagoon and Blackburn Island. From here the track descends through the forest down toward Blinky’s Beach where refreshments will be served and you can further explore the beach environment and dive in for a cool off swim in the warm turquoise waters. The whole group will gather for lunch and then attend a 2 kilometre hike: Valley of the Shadows. During this walk, you will see Blinkenthorpe Bay, the Southern Mountains, the rugged east coast and the island’s calcarenite coast from the Clear Place to the Admiralty Islands, before arriving at Middle Beach where refreshments will be served. This location is great for further exploration of the sculpted calcarinite coastline formations, intertidal zone and the inshore coral reefs which abound with marine life. Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant

• I​ncluded Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 - Saturday, 2 March 2024 – Farewell Lord Howe Island

It’s already time to pack and say Goodbye to this amazing island. But before, the whole morning is yours to enjoy for last escapade, a walk on the beach, a dip in the Turquoise water, stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking; or more souvenir shopping. After lunch, your host will drive you to the airport to meet you flight back to Sydney

• I​ncluded Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Tour Date: 25 February to 2 March 2024

From $4,799 per person, twin share

C​all 1300 414 198 to get a quote and make a booking today

*Only Double/Twin Share option available. If you are a solo traveller, you will have to find a companion to share your room. 

Leanda Lei Apartments:

Set amongst 5 acres of manicured lawns, hibiscus gardens and kentia palm forest our family run apartments are ideally situated off Middle Beach Road - 200 metres walk to museum and cafe, 300 metres to Lagoon Beach, 500 metres to Middle Beach and 20 metres to the local grocery store. Leanda Lei is perfectly situated for those who wish to explore the deserted beaches, pristine lagoon, mountain trails with breathtaking views, or just have a relaxing holiday!