Lord Howe Island in Australia is just paradise a island with the most lush green tropical forests, white sandy beaches and clean crystal clear water. Lord Howe Island which only has a population of about 350 people the actually island is the formation of the remains of an extinct volcano that took place millions of years ago the island is 600km out from the north coast of NSW, rising out of the clear sea waters of the southwest Pacific Ocean.
I have visited Lord Howe Island two times and would not hesitate in going back for a third time it's such a peaceful, tranquil island that I found very hard to leave both times having to come back to the reality of the hustle and bustle of the big city was upsetting.
Getting to Lord Howe Island is quite easy and not terribly expensive to be on a beautiful paradise island we took a flight out of Sydney from the domestic airport taking only 2 hours to reach the island the cost can vary depending on the season of the year we decided to go both times in the month of March as it's more affordable then high seasons the plane fare cost us $280 AUD low season compared to $450 AUD in high season and that's return per/person via Qantas airline.
Once landed on the island we had the VIP service electric car from the hotel we had booked it was a short drive to our apartment which was in the middle of the tropical gardens and only five minute walk to Middle Beach was just prefect could not have asked for better service or location this was just amazingly beautiful all the gardens were so well manicured and the smell of the tropical forest was just so calming the cost of our apartment was $480 AUD for 3 nights including breakfast that was for low season of course.
Once settled into our tropical forest apartment, it was not even mid-day yet as we took the early morning flight we throw our bags in the room and immediately took of for a swim to Middle Beach which was just a 5 minute walk from our room seeing this beach once again just bought back all those great memories of the last time that we were on this stunning island.
It might be a small island but there is lots you can do on this island apart from just laying around soaking up the vitamin sea, bike riding is a novelty on this island you can do a deal on renting a bicycle for 3 days or whatever and just cycle anywhere around the island as you can stop and go anywhere, anytime you want and also your able to take all the trails that lead you into the rain forest where you will come across lots of wildlife mainly birds and all the trees are fascinating you will also see sheep, cows and horses on the green fields and get better views as you get higher up the island.
The island seems to have a great variety of Hibiscus flower and many other beautiful species of beautiful colored flowers the Banyan trees are very interesting with there long Halloween branches spreading out all over the forest in weird scary shapes.
The bicycle ride around the island into the rain forest is a must it was so enjoyable and relaxing and you get to see so much, it does get a bit tiring and exhausting especially when your riding up hill but none of them are really steep and there is no rush there are a few coffee shops along the way where you can take a break enjoy a coffee or a cool energy drink and move on enjoying so more breathtaking views from up here.
No matter where you go on this island you are met by spectacular views of seascape or landscape and the island people are all so friendly always wanting to have a chat with you and pointing you in the right directions.
The other thing we enjoyed immensely was going out on the glass bottom boats they call them the turtle boats from the inside of these boats you can see unimaginable sea creatures like turtles, the amazing tropical fishes the spectacular blue fish is the best, dive in do a bit of snorkeling play with the tropical fish and the turtles that was a amazing experience and the water is unbelievably clear.
What makes Lord Howe Island so special is not only it's beauty and the amazing clear beaches but it's never overcrowded they only allow 400 visitors at a time on this island there are no cars on the island maybe a couple like the police car making it a clear air population free island with lots of fresh air to breath and I could feel and smell the difference between our city air and the island air so much difference and also the island was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982 so everything is protected.
The island does have everything you need to be relaxed great dinning is also the talk of the island with it's superb fresh seafood dinners and roast dinners like no where else topped of with a bottle of red wine and finished of with a Thai massage what more can you ask for on this paradise island without the expense off a 7 star hotel or resort. Lord Howe Island, I will return.
