Lord Howe Island holidays have been long popular for Australians wanting to experience the natural wonders of this small but mighty holiday destination. Whether you are an adventure seeker, bird watcher, foodie, avid fisher or simply want to enjoy some down time in the spa, Lord Howe Island has it.

This past week I have spent on Lord Howe Island has been one of my favourite ever. The clean mountain air, spectacular views and the local hospitality have all been experiences I will never forget.

After looking for some inspiration for which Lord Howe Island accommodation to choose, I couldn’t pick just one, so I split my stay between Capella Lodge and Earl’s Anchorage. This gave me awesome variety to experience on my holiday, as each hotel is either side of the habitable ends of Lord Howe.

What was my favourite part? (Aside from having no mobile phone service?) Let me tell you my top three because I just couldn’t decide on one!

The Food

Wow. Can I tell you the food was phenomenal, I did not expect for this small island with less than 350 residents and maximum 400 visitors at any time, would be able to support such a high level of food offerings!

Some advice I had received prior to my travels was to always book in restaurants before you go, to avoid disappointment and my goodness I am glad that I did!

You don’t want to be worried about where you can find a place to eat when your days are so jam-packed with activities.

Our blog article “Your Guide to Eating & Drinking on Your Lord Howe Island Holiday“ gave me inspiration on where to get started.

My first morning was spent at Coral Café, a favourite amongst Lord Howe Locals.

This is the top spot for a hearty breakfast, a pick-me-up lunch, or a nice dinner with a glass of wine or ale. And to let you in on a secret: some of Spacifica Travel’s Lord Howe Island packages feature BONUS Coral Café dining vouchers.

Whilst staying at Earl’s Anchorage I ate at their restaurant in town. I was blown away with their ever-changing menu, and found myself spoilt with on-site cooked bread from their own bakery, fresh caught fish, and locally grown vegetables all prepared by their amazing chef David.

I found this an amazing option for travellers like me, as they also offered take-away meals for my days exploring the island - well worth it!

I took the advice of the staff to eat like the locals, and organised a BBQ pack from the restaurant. I used their on-site facilities to cook my own meal and take it down to Ned’s beach to watch the sunset. A must see!

If you are lucky enough to stay at Arajilla Retreat or Capella Lodge while on Lord Howe Island, you can have all of your needs catered as breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included with your stay! I definitely took advantage of then when I visited Capella Lodge. The food was DIVINE.

The atmosphere in the entire hotel exudes luxury, and the restaurant was no different. Three course dinners with an ever-changing seasonal menu were expertly prepared by the team at Capella Lodge, and I struggle to remember a time when I have ever felt so content whilst eating in a restaurant!

If you are able to stay at Capella Lodge, and experience the food offering here, you will know exactly what I mean when I say you HAVE to save room for dessert! Trust me.

The Spa

There is just one word for Capella Lodge Spa. Serene.

After a long day of walking around Lord Howe Island birdwatching with friends, cycling to the lookout and snorkelling, I was exhausted, sunburnt and sore. The Spa at Capella offered a secluded and comfortable atmosphere creating the absolute best experience. I indulged in the Capella Signature Massage. This relaxed my whole body using natural Australian made spa treatments, and made me feel like I was another world away in a tropical surround, not just a quick flight from the mainland.

If there is one piece of advice I can give here – please book! This is one thing I have learnt the hard way in my previous travels. If you think it looks amazing – so does everyone else! Make sure you book ahead of time to make the most of your Lord Howe Island holiday.

Fishing and Adventure

This experience surprised me! I did not expect Lord Howe Island to have such amazing experiences off-island like deep sea fishing! There is no commercial fishing permitted around the island, with protected breeding grounds and closely monitored Marine Park. The diversity of species, terrain, and sheer abundance of fish rank Lord Howe Island amongst the world’s top fishing destinations.

I had a full day on board a rented charter boat and sailed around Lord Howe Island stopping frequently to fish for Bluefish, Trevally, Garfish, Kingfish and if you’re lucky, the occasional double header. It wouldn’t be a real Lord Howe experience without catching your Garfish to BBQ on the beach with friends.

Find What You Love on Your Lord Howe Island Holiday

Would I go back to Lord Howe Island after experiencing all of this? You bet I will! The sun, the mountains, the spa and the people will draw me back every single time. I can’t wait!

With so much to see and do on Lord Howe Island, it’s so important that you book ahead so you don’t miss out on ticking items off of your bucket list. Spacifica Travel offers packages to Lord Howe Island suited for every traveller, and our knowledgeable staff have first hand experience of the best on offer on this South Pacific Island. If you’d like to talk more about what you can see and do on Lord Howe Island, get in touch today!

From Jacqui