To the south are Mt. Gower (875m) and Mt. Lidgbird (777m), the most spectacular examples of the island’s origin: the remnant of an underwater shield volcano in the Lord Howe Rise.  To the east is a sapphire lagoon fringed by the most southerly coral reef in the Pacific, and populated by 500 species of temperate and tropical fishes.  To the north is Mt. Eliza and Malabar: two fabulous hikes with outstanding views.  To the west is a series of beaches: Neds for snorkelling, Middle for seclusion, and Blinky for perfect surf waves.  The island is draped in thick greenery, and enjoys a mild climate.  It is thoroughly deserving of its listing as a World Heritage Site, and with two thirds of the land a Permanent Park Preserve, and 48,000 hectares of its waters a Marine Park, the island is a model of ecology.

Copyright Linda Lee Rathbun/Natural Wanders