Lord Howe Island Walk

Be met on arrival by an Arajilla Retreat representative and transferred to your accommodation for the next 5 nights. The remainder of the day is for you to relax, wind down into the pace of ‘island time’ and soak up the atmosphere of this idyllic place. Complimentary bikes are available to explore the island. The Retreat is ideally located close to the shops and museum. Tonight meet the rest of our group and your Local Guide at 5.30pm for pre-dinner drinks and canapes. Afterwards, we all enjoy a relaxing three-course dinner in the restaurant featuring local produce and wine.

Walk 3.5kms 2 hours with breaks Mt Eliza: 147m ascent. Rocky hilly track. Old Gulch short level track
After a leisurely breakfast, we head to the stunning Lagoon Beach taking in the beauty that is Lord Howe Island. Here we join our boat to discover the marine life on a glass bottom boat. Out on the water, there is the opportunity to enjoy snorkelling. The coral surrounding the island has formed a natural lagoon making it a haven for colourful fish and turtles. Landing on North Beach we depart our boat and enjoy a hike to Mount Eliza 147m above sea level. Mt Eliza is one of the main nesting sites for the Red-tailed Tropicbird and the Sooty Tern. The view from the top is fantastic. From here we head to Old Gulch a cavity in the cliffs. Relax and take in the waves crashing over the rock platform and the sea birds circling around the cliffs above. Afterwards, we join the boat for the return transfer back to Lagoon Beach, where we take a short stroll back to our Retreat. After relaxing in your room, join the group for refreshments and canapes in the lounge at 5.30pm. Later we enjoy a wonderful three-course dinner served with Australian wine in the restaurant.

Please note: due to changing weather we may adjust the days we do our Glass Bottom boat cruise and Mt Gower hike to ensure we do these on the optimal days.

6kms. 5 hours walking. Medium grade. Ascent 250m. Optional add on to Goat House Cave 2.1kms. 400m
After breakfast, we set out on our day’s walk on the eastern side of the island walking along the Coastal Track to Boat Harbour via Mutton Bird Point Lookout and Rocky Run. We follow the coast through pretty lowland forest of Curly Palms, Blackbutts, Grey barks and Hopwoods. We stop by at Muttonbird Point where we will see a large breeding colony of Masked Boobies (birds) from a special viewing platform. We follow the track to Rocky Run Creek to the sea for stunning views before we continue on to Boat Harbour. Boat Harbour is a pretty beach location with rounded volcanic boulders and worn coral. In the corner of the beach, a stream leads up into shallow pools where fresh drinking water can be found. Continue through the beautiful wet rainforest to the end of our walk. Note an option to climb to Goat House Cave can be included today for fit groups instead, however, the whole group would need to do this walk. The track up to Goat House Cave is very steep and a demanding climb. Grade 4. Afterwards, we return to the retreat for dinner and drinks.

9kms. 4.5 hours walking with breaks. Medium grade. Malabar Hill Ascent: 210m
After breakfast at the hotel, we head out for the day’s walking adventure on the northern part of the island. Today’s walk will offer spectacular views southwards across the coral reef and lagoon to the cliff faces of the two major peaks. We start our walk at beautiful Ned’s beach heading up to Malabar Hill named after a Malabar Indian who fell to his death over the cliffs. Our walk takes us through a shady sub-tropical forest until we emerge on the top of a 200-metre vertical cliff. From here we can view the entire Lord Howe Island lagoon with its spectacular shades of aqua, and views of two of the most dramatic mountains in Australia. To the north, you will see thousands of seabirds nesting in the cliff caves. We continue on to breathtaking Kim’s Lookout you’ll enjoy wonderful views, to the south over Old Settlement Beach, to the West views of Mt Eliza and the northeast to Admiralty Island. You only need to extend moderate effort to get to these northern viewpoints. Finally, we head to Old Settlement Beach to cool down with a refreshing swim, a great way to finish our walk. Tonight at 5.30pm we enjoy complimentary beer, wine and cocktails from 5.30pm to 6.30pm before enjoying another wonderful 3-course dinner.

14kms full day walking with breaks (8-9 hours). 875m ascent. Grade 5 Hard Grade – Difficult includes steep sections with ropes
Those not willing to participate in today’s walk can enjoy a day to relax on the island. Use the complimentary bikes to ride around the island. Go snorkelling or indulge in a spa treatment at the Retreat.

For those up to the challenge, we will hike to the summit of Mt Gower, rated as one of Australia’s best day walks. The hike is one of the highlights of Lord Howe Island and although this is a full 8.5 – 9-hour walk, once at the top the view is simply out of this world and worth every step. You’ll feel a huge sense of achievement making it the top where you’ll experience an amazing misty cloud forest wonderland, with everything covered in pretty mosses and stunning views of the crystal clear waters of the lagoon below. At the breeding time during the year, Providence Petrels can be seen in their tens of thousands flying everywhere and dropping through the tree canopy to your guide’s calls. Note some sections of this walk are steep and require the use of anchored ropes for ascents and descents. You will need to be physically fit to do this walk. It is approximately 10 km with an elevation of 875 metres. Grade 5.

Note there is the option to stop at the saddle walking to around 500 metres and wait for the group to return from the summit. The walk up to this point has only a four to five areas where ropes are required. The saddle has amazing views over Mount Lidgbird. Grade Hard. 6kms

Tonight we will all join up to talk about our day’s adventures over pre-dinner drinks and another superb dinner.

On the last day, we enjoy a late breakfast. As there is no walking today, the group is independent. We suggest the group set off after breakfast, take a short walk or bike ride to the Museum to see some of the histories of this amazing place. Afterwards, head to Ned’s Beach where you can hand feed the fish. The group enjoys a celebratory lunch at Ned’s Beach (a cook yourself BBQ – which will be delivered by the hotel to the beach for you). Depending on your flight time, the hotel can pick you up from Ned’s Beach to go directly to the airport or alternatively you can cycle or walk back to the Retreat to meet your afternoon airport transfer there. Join your flight home at the end of an amazing trip.