| Tourism > Australia > New South Wales > Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Island Tourism About the Lord Howe Island RegionLord Howe Island is a small, roughly crescent-shaped island in the Pacific Ocean 600 km east of themid-New South Wales coast. It is about 10 km long and 2 km wide. The crescent of the island protects a coral reef and lagoon.
The island was discovered in 1788 by HMS Supply en route from Botany Bay to Norfolk Island to start a penal settlement there. On the return journey a party was sent ashore on what proved to be an uninhabited island. It seems that it had not been known to any of the Polynesian peoples of the South Pacific. Permanent settlement was established in 1834. The island itself was named after Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe who was First Lord of the Admiralty.
The Lord Howe Island group was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1982 in recognition of its unique beauty and biodiversity. The Lord Howe Island Marine Park and Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth waters) protect the waters surrounding the island group.
Until 1974 there was no airstrip and the only way to reach it by air was via a flying boat from Sydney. The island is now less than a two hour from Sydney or Brisbane. Although it is the nearest island get-away to Sydney, it is not a resort island. All accommodation is owned and operated by islanders and there is a limit of 400 visitors to the island at any time, which means accommodation must be confirmed before arrival.
The surrounding ocean is very clear and clean, making its beaches ideal fro swimming, snorkelling, diving, surfing and fishing. Most visitors explore the area on foot or by bicycle.
Lord Howe island is a distinct terrestrial ecoregion, known as the Lord Howe Island subtropical forests. Among the rare native plants include Howea (a palm commonly known as kentia palms whose export provides the only major industry on the island apart from tourism) and Glowing Mushrooms, which appear after heavy rain and retain their glow for days after being picked.
List of Towns in the Lord Howe Island RegionClick on any town name in the following list to display historical, geographical and tourism related information for the town selected. LORD HOWE ISLAND Last Minute Accommodation in the Lord Howe Island RegionSearch for last minute accommodation in Lord Howe Island.
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