30b. Alla's Free Day in Lord Howe Island -TCC #296

My next island was Lord Howe Island, one of the Admiralty Group of Islands in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. It is an Australian state of New South Wales. The population is about 400. Due to its rich diversity of plant and animal life, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once a threat to the island’s biodiversity, invasive animals such as cats, goats and pigs have been eradicated. The island is rodent-free due to the Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project, the largest eradication attempt to be undertaken on a permanently populated island. Also an ambitious Weed Eradication Program has reduced priority weeds across the island by 80%. The island has very strong procedures to ensure the island maintains its biodiversity.

Airport

Checking all bags

I was up at 4:30, Uber to airport at 5:15 and arrived in Lord Howe at 9:10. There were 17 people in the plane. There was no cell service and WiFi was spotty whenever it is found and I never found it. There are no taxis or public transportation. Earlier we had tried to find a small tour for the short time I was to be there, but there is no such thing.

I walked up the road from the airport for a little while, but it started to sprinkle, so I went back to the airport. I began taking to a lady about being stuck at the airport. She was waiting for the next flight out and had been to Lord Howe many times. She immediately got on the airport phone to find me transportation to town. She arranged for a lady who had a travel agency come get me. Another local who was working at the airport suggested I rent a bicycle, use it for several hours and ride it back to the airport. She would return it to the bike shop later. She was familiar with TCC because many members come to LHI.

I was dropped off at Wilson’s Hire and rented a bike. Fortunately it had easy gears. I went to Ned’s Beach where you could buy food to feed the fish. I did not do that, but I enjoyed sitting there for awhile for the view. Along the road I saw a trail, so I parked the bike and walked to the beginning of the trail to Malabar Hill. Before starting up the mountain, I had to clean my shoes and dip them in a solution there. It was a pretty tough hike across a meadow and then up to the first peak. What a beautiful view! I could see almost 360 around the island. Ned’s Beach on one side and the old settlement area on the other. It was blissful sitting there with the view. It was quite windy, though. It sure was easier going down than going up the mountain.

It was time for lunch so I went back to the small town where there were several restaurants. I wasn’t really hungry and there wasn’t any place that had light food. I finally settled on The Crooked Post where the lunch choice was a burger and fries. I got the burger with no fries and sat on the open front porch to eat. This part of town had just a few shops, restaurants, post office and welcome center. There are stands everywhere to park your bike. There are some cars and trucks around, too, but mostly bikes. 

UNESCO World Heritage Site  

Australian Swamphen

  

Landscape

Blinky Beach

Park your bike and go for a hike

Ned's Beach

Sooty Tern

Lord Howe Woodhen

Morton Bay Fig or Strangler fig

Protecting the Island

Trail to Malabar Hill

Panorama at top of Malabar Hill with Ned's Beach at left

Buff Banded Rail

White Terns

Main Street

Thompson Memorial Park

I stopped at another beach near Thompson Memorial Park where snorkelers and divers were coming in from the water. I then rode the bike back to Wilson’s and turned it in. A few minutes later Wilson came by and we went to the airport. What nice people live on Lord Howe Island!

There is always a lot to see and do even if you are in a place just a short time.