World’s Best Day Walks

Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island | Capella Lodge

Lord Howe Island is a small, breathtakingly beautiful island, measuring just 11km long and 2.8km at its widest point. With Capella Lodge as luxury basecamp, guests can take to the walking tracks and explore the towering mountain ridges, subtropical forests and white-sanded beaches.

Here the mountains are a source of mystery and intrigue and appear to constantly shift with the changing weather and the light. Mount Gower and her ‘twin peak’ Mount Lidgbird dominate the Lord Howe Island landscape, rising out of the ocean to 875 metres and 777 metres above sea level respectively. For travellers desiring a physical challenge, 

Rated one of the world’s best day walks, the challenging trek follows the contours of Mount Gower before climbing its southern face, sometimes requires ropes to reach the higher slopes. At the summit, walkers reach a cloud forest, where endemic plants thrive among the mists and views span out across the island and ocean. For bird lovers, many of the 200 plus species can be seen on this nature walk, many of which are endemic to the island as well as migratory seabirds who choose this sanctuary to breed and nest.

A hike up Mount Gower is one of the most unforgettable experiences – and achievements – on Lord Howe and is only available on a guided basis with knowledgeable and passionate local guides, Jack Shick of Sea to Summit Expeditions or Dean Hiscox from Environmental Tours. Jack and Dean run the tours on set days, and each walk talks eight hours, so plenty of water and snacks are a must.