LORD HOWE ISLAND

DESCRIPTION

Lord Howe has about 460 square kilometers, and not far from it is the Balla Pyramid, measuring about 560 meters high. It is the tallest natural rock pinnacle in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island belongs to the state of New South Wales, which is the oldest and most populous state in Australia. It is also the largest marine protected area in this state. The island is a de facto narrow volcanic strip that is surrounded by several small islands. It is the remnant of an in the dim and distant past extinct shield volcano that dates back millions of years. In this place also is the farthest world’s southernmost coral reef. Lord Howe has been settled since the mid-19th century and currently has a permanent population of about 350 people. Thanks to the small number of people who live here and the limited number of tourists (no more than 400 visitors are allowed here at one time), the place is still a wild where humans are only guests and can feel of local nature. The place is one of the most like among Australians thanks to its beautiful landscapes and amazing views.

The waters here are home to more than 500 species of fish and more than 90 corals. Many of these animals are endemic creatures, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world but here. Lord Howe Island and its surrounding waters, which were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List (the first in New South Wales) in 1982. Around the islet, the depth is around 40 meters, while a few kilometers from the shore the walls of the island suddenly go down vertically to a depth of more than 4 kilometers. The entire waters of this unique place are managed within the Lord Howe Island Marine Park, which was established in 1999 and covers an area of almost 46,000 hectares. The island is also home to some 200 species of birds such as the brown noddy, black noddy, white-tailed tropicbird red-tailed tropicbird, among others, which feed on local fish.

There are several tour companies on the island that organize excursions with their glass-bottomed boats, so tourists can admire the beauty of the local reefs. There are also organized fishing trips in the local waters, and you can catch, among others, yellowfin tuna, giant seriola or sailfish. A popular activity in these areas is also kayaking (the best spots are North Bay and Old Settlement Beach) and scuba diving, for example, near the Balla Pyramid where you can see a fish called Ballina Angelfish, found only in this place. Some of the more exotic animals in the waters here are green turtles, blacktip reef shark, grey reef shark, whitetip reef shark or stingrays. On Blinky Beach, meanwhile, surfing is quite popular. Hiking is also very popular on the island, including hiking to the highest of the local mountains, the Gower, which measures 875 meters high. From the top of this hill, there are spectacular panoramic views of the entire island.