Get ready to relax and recharge, reflect and connect with like-minded people as we leave the pace of modern life behind and immerse ourselves in the spectacular surroundings of Lord Howe Island.

A short 2 hour flight from Sydney and we are in an Island Paradise – On arrival we are met by our local host at the airport and transferred to our accommodation at the centrally located Leanda Lei apartments, our home for the next 6 nights where we can settle in and relax. Tonight, we will come together in fellowship as we enjoy our first Group Dinner at the Milky Way Restaurant.

In 1788 Lord Howe Island was first discovered by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, commander of the First Fleet ship, Supply, while en route between Sydney Cove and the penal settlement of Norfolk Island. Ball named the uninhabited island after British Admiral Richard Howe, and the sea stack situated to the island’s south, Ball’s Pyramid, after himself. The first settlers, originally just three couples from New Zealand, arrived in 1834 so the island could be used as a provisioning station for both whalers and the ships travelling between Sydney and Norfolk Island.

Today, after breakfast we will be picked up for our “Chase ‘n’ Thyme” half day Island tour where we will learn about the early history of Lord Howe Island as well as fascinating insights into the flora, fauna and the unique Island way of life. Learning about Lord Howe Island from early settlement days until now is totally intriguing. We are even invited to the home of a local for morning tea. Our tour includes an explanation of every venue on the island including the waste and re-cycling centre (which is more interesting than you may imagine)! Some time to relax and freshen up before we enjoy dinner together at the Lord Howe Island Bowling Club.

We have a free morning for local church worship and some time for lunch at your own choice and cost, before we are collected for our Around Island Cruise where we get up close to the stunning vertical cliffs of Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird. We also have the chance to spot Balls Pyramid in the distance before cruising past the Admiralty Isles, see the arch, the Gulch and Herring Pools.

Lord Howe Island is Australia’s premier bird-watching destination, with more than 130 permanent and migratory bird species, among them the Lord Howe Island Woodhen – a flightless endemic species saved from extinction by a local conservation effort, the red-tailed tropic bird, sooty terns and common noddy that nest on the cliffs and outer islands, and there are 14 species of seabirds that breed here in the hundreds of thousands. Dinner tonight is at the Driftwood Bar & Restaurant to top off a stunning day.

We have a “Big Day Out” planned today as our Marine Adventures team will take us on an in-depth tour of the North Bay of the island. Here we can view the large variety of fish, turtles, stingrays and incredible coral. The islands history of marine life will be portrayed with the relaxed commentary through the eyes of a sixth-generation islander before an opportunity to snorkel in the waters with some of the best visibility available.

This afternoon we arrive at the Lord Howe Island Museum, a treasure chest of natural history and fantastic collections, where we will have the opportunity to meet Ian Hutton. Ian is the curator of the museum and a passionate environmentalist, and we will enjoy an interesting talk from Ian about what makes Lord Howe Island so special. Ian says that “living on Lord Howe Island is like living inside a David Attenborough documentary”. Dinner tonight is at the Golf Club. Another wonderful day of exploring this World Heritage paradise!

Influenced by the warm East Australian current during summer and cooler southern currents in winter, Lord Howe Island boasts a myriad of temperate and tropical marine species. Over 490 coastal reef fish species and nearly 90 coral species call this reef system their home. Due to its isolation, the Island has a range of fish fauna, algae and marine invertebrates found nowhere else on the planet.

This morning we take a glass bottom boat trip on the lagoon. The brilliant blue lagoon is formed by a natural barrier of 6km of the world’s southernmost coral reef. We’ll see beautiful coral outcrops, surging strands of algae, colourful sponges and a wonderful array of fish life as we cruise over Cornets Hole and Erscotts Hole. We have lunch back at the Coral Café and this afternoon we take a walk to a grassy clearing known as the Clear Place. There are great views of the south end of the island, including Intermediate Hill and the mysterious Mt Lidgbird. If the weather is clear you may also be able to see Ball’s Pyramid in the distance.

After another day filled with the natural wonders of Lord Howe Island, tonight’s dinner will be at the Milky Way.

We have a relaxed start to the day and can enjoy some free time this morning.

This afternoon we will be visiting the North Eastern section of the Island where we head to Neds Beach. There are several species of fish that live in the waters at Neds Beach. You can expect to see silver drummers, wrasse, mullets, kingfish, garfish and even the spangled emperor. It’s a real frenzy of placid, but hungry, fish, and if the weather permits, we will have an opportunity to wade out and hand feed the fish.

At 5pm we will gather at the Community Hall to enjoy some wonderful Historical Movies. The movies run for an hour and all proceeds go to the local island school to help the students get off the island for an annual excursion.

Tonight we will enjoy a farewell dinner together at the Anchorage Restaurant.

With our bags packed full of beautiful memories we head for home, a day of travel but after our relaxing time away with friends it will be worth the trip.

What a wonderfully relaxing and stunning holiday on Lord Howe Island filled with fun, faith and fellowship, new friends and pure tranquility!