Lord Howe Island Group, Australia

Lord Howe Island, as viewed from Mount Eliza towards Mount Lidgbird and Mount Gower
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lord_Howe_Island_from_North.jpg
Author: Fanny Schertzer


The Lord Howe Island Group is a group of oceanic islands in the Tasman Sea. It is regarded as part of the territory of Australia. It was discovered in 1788 and named after Richard Howe, the First Lord of the Admiralty. Lord Howe Island Group, which comprises Lord Howe Island and Ball's Pyramid, is the result of volcanic activity from 2000 meters under the sea which pushed up the islands. Ball's Pyramid is a rocky outcrop jutting out of the sea. It is the remnant of a shield volcano that formed 7 million years ago.

The Lord Howe Island Group was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 6th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France on 13-17 December, 1982.

The coast at North Bay, Lord Howe Island
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lord_Howe_Island_North_Bay.jpg
Author: Fanny Schertzer

What to See in Lord Howe Island Group

The spectacular topography of Lord Howe Island lends itself to breathtaking sceneries and landscapes. Isolated from elsewhere, Lord Howe Island is home to numerous endemic species, especially of birds. The tallest peaks on the island are 875-meter (2,871 ft) Mount Gower and 777-meter (2,549 ft) Mount Lidgbird. Both Mount Lidgbird and Ball's Pyramid were named after Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, the captain of the HMS Supply which discovered Lord Howe Island on 17 February 1788.

Location of Lord Howe Island

The Lord Howe Island Group is located approximately 550 km to the east of New South Wales on the Australian mainland.

Admiralty Islands, a cluster of islands off Lord Howe Island
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lord_Howe_Island_view_to_Admiralty_Islands.JPG
Author: Inas66

Lord Howe Island World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: S 31 33 56 E 159 05 18
Inscription Year: 1982
Type of Site: Natural
Inscription Criteria: VII, X

Visiting Lord Howe Island

If you are coming from outside Australia, I would recommend that you use Sydney as your base and from there, make your arrangements to visit Lord Howe Island. Your choice of options will be greatest through Sydney.

How to reach Lord Howe Island

There are direct flights from Sydney, Brisband and Port Macquarie on QantasLink. Be forewarned that this is one of the most expensive domestic flights in Australia.

List of World Heritage Sites in Australia and World Heritage Sites in the World

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