Capella Lodge
People & purpose
Capella Lodge’s location on World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island means adhering to a range of stringent operational regulations designed to conserve the island’s spectacular natural beauty and unique ecology. View case study
“We collaborate with the Lord Howe /sland Board to inform and implement environmental management policies and programs that sustain the island’s conservation values, as well as following our own additional sustainability guidelines,”
James Baillie, Baillie Lodges Founder
Guests are encouraged to join Lord Howe’s resident naturalist and author, Ian Hutton to learn about island ecology and the huge flocks of rare and migratory seabirds that visit the island annually.
There are also opportunities to learn about Lord Howe’s marine environment and its conservation through glass bottom boat, snorkelling and scuba diving tours, guided by local experts.
Capella Lodge guests can also become directly involved in leading conservation programs on the island through the Lord Howe Island Conservation Volunteers program. Alongside experts from around the world, guests help monitor the island’s unique plant and animal species (including marine species such as the endemic McCulloch’s anemone fish, found only within the Lord Howe Island Marine Park) and participate directly in efforts to protect the island’s natural environment through weed eradication, surveys and collecting beach debris.
“/t is such a precious and fragile ecosystem and we’re proud to be able to directly support ongoing sustainability programs and to provide our guests with the rewarding and rare opportunity to be involved in world-class conservation efforts aimed at preserving this remote paradise.”
James Baillie, Baillie Lodges Founder
Lord Howe Island has a limit of 400 visitors at one time, designed to minimise impact on the island’s environment and natural resources. Capella Lodge has just nine suites, catering to a maximum of 20 guests.
The lodge’s design takes maximum advantage of the island’s mild sub-tropical climate. Shade from endemic Kentia palms, shuttered doors, ceiling fans and generous verandahs designed to channel cool breezes mean that the lodge doesn’t require air conditioning. Glazing is angled to capture warmth and light in winter, while keeping the lodge cool in warmer months.
Forty solar panels are positioned discreetly across the roof of the lodge as part of Capella’s – and the island’s – commitment to generate 80% of its power from renewable sources. The system reduces the lodge’s draw on the island’s energy supply (which is wholly generated on the island) and feeds back into the island grid during periods of low energy use. Capella Lodge’s ‘The Sunny Tripower’ system generates 14,100kwh of power each year.
In an ongoing re-vegetation program, the area surrounding the lodge is being planted to prevent erosion, using rare and endemic species such as Kentia palms, hopwood, sallywood, melaleuca, juniper, bulli bush, tea tree, berry wood and goat wood.
The sustainability focus carries through to the kitchen. Capella’s menu showcases the bounty of the pristine seas surrounding the island, with fresh, line-caught kingfish and tuna delivered to the lodge door by island anglers. Island-grown organic greens and foraged sea herbs complement the seafood and boutique-farmed meats, along with lodge-made specialties.
CAPELLA LODGE CONSERVATION EXPERIENCES
OUR LITTLE WHITE BOOK
The Luxury Lodges of Australia brochure has become a treasured and widely recognisable ‘go to’ for Australian experiential luxury, enjoyed both online and in printed form at our lodges. The brochure is available to view or download in eight languages below.