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Capella Lodge

Destination

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.

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David Attenborough once described Lord Howe /sland as “… so extraordinary it is almost unbelievable … few islands, surely, can be so accessible, so remarkable, yet so unspoilt.”

World Heritage listed in 1982 for its unique beauty and diversity, remarkable geology and its rare collection of birds, plants and marine life, Lord Howe is surrounded by the world’s southernmost coral reef.

The island is roughly crescent-shaped, about 11km long and 2km wide. It is an eroded remnant of a seven million-year-old shield volcano. The crescent of the island protects a coral reef and lagoon. Mount Lidgbird (777m) and Mount Gower (875m) dominate the south end of the island.

Until the construction of Lord Howe Island Airport in 1974, the only way to reach the island was by sea or by flying boat from Rose Bay in Sydney, landing on the lagoon. Today, the island is serviced by daily flights, but there are only 400 visitors on Lord Howe at any time, together with a resident population of around 350. As such, Lord Howe is an uncrowded island of unspoilt beauty.

At any one time, there are only 400 visitors on Lord Howe, an island of unspoilt beauty where life is relaxed and unhurried.

On and around the island, a verdant paradise of rainforests, reefs and beaches is home to hundreds of rare and endemic species of flora and fauna.

An abundance of rare birds, plants and marine life combine to make Lord Howe Island a remarkable destination. The island was never part of a continent and almost half the island’s native plants are endemic, one of the best known is the Kentia palm.

Lord Howe is an important breeding ground for sea and land birds and more than 400 species of fish and 80 species of coral are to be found in the waters surrounding the island. The clear, warm waters are ablaze with colour. Soft and hard corals, sea turtles and a riot of fish inhabit intriguing submarine cities sheltered within the reef. Kingfish, tuna and marlin cruise beyond.

Located 23km south of Lord Howe Island, the distinctive Balls Pyramid is a rocky islet, the remnant of an eroded volcano. It is the tallest volcanic stack in the world, one of many stacks that form islets in the area.

Getting there

BY AIR

SmartLynx Australia has taken over the Sydney–Lord Howe Island route from Qantas as of February 26, 2026. Flights continue to use Dash 8 Q200 aircraft, with operations based from Sydney T3 Terminal. Codeshare with Qantas remains in place, allowing bookings via Qantas channels with full baggage check-through, lounge access, and QF points accrual. Direct bookings via SmartLynx Australia require baggage recheck in Sydney.

Eastern Air Services operates flights to Lord Howe Island from Port Macquarie, Newcastle and the Gold Coast. Charter flights are also an option, although limited to smaller aircraft and not suitable for helicopters.

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.