New South Wales Islands.Lord Howe Island is still considered to be part of New South Wales and is one of the two best known, and most visited islands of New South Wales even though it’s about 600 kilometres off the coast, way out in the Pacific Ocean. The other most popular of the New South Wales Islands is, of course, Norfolk Island. A petite jewel sitting in the vast deserts of the southern Pacific Ocean, Lord Howe Island is one of the world's last truly unspoiled Island destinations. Lord Howe Island is a small island perfect for exploring by foot or on a bicycle.
The gorgeous landscape surrounds a wide lagoon and coral reef, and also includes several pretty beaches. You can climb the mountains, go fishing, snorkeling and diving in the beautiful waters as well as go surfing from Blinky Beach. There is also a large amount of wildlife on this New South Wales Island, particularly several different types of seabird. Just 11 km long and 2 km wide, two thirds of its land mass is covered by unspoilt natural forests and its many perfect beaches are safe, pristine and tranquil. At the southern end of the island stand the two the highest points of land, Mt. Gower and Mt. Lidgbird.
In 1982, Lord Howe Island was named a World Heritage site by the United Nations in order to help preserve its natural beauty and diversity, one of only 162 natural sites so protected. About 75 percent of the land area is protected parkland.
Five hundred species of fish and ninety species of coral live in the world’s southernmost coral reef, over 150 species of birds live or nest there and the island itself is home to at least 150 native species of flowering plants, plus more than fifty ferns, dozens of mammals and hundreds of insect species, many still un-catalogued.There is plenty of lodge style accommodation on the island, although it can work out cheaper if you pay for a package including your flight Nature tours are also available.
The whole thing is only 35 square kilometers, mostly surrounded by cliffs. Norfolk Island is further North West from Lord Howe Island. Known for its Norfolk Island Pine, which is the symbol of its flag, Norfolk Island lies within the borders of Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Lying in the southern region of Norfolk Island are two uninhabited islands named Nepean and Philip Islands. It is fairly expensive although its spectacular scenery and many unique species of flora make it well worth a visit. The island is a small 8km by 5km, and a blend of plant life and rocky coastline, with the north of the island being National Park.
The tallest peak is Mt. Bates, surrounded by the Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Gardens. All in all about a third of the island consists of parks and reserves, which are filled with bushwalking and trails for both gentle bike rides and more adventurous mountain biking. The island is home to 178 species of plants and many birds and animals, although it has no amphibians and no snakes! There are great views from Mt. Bates and Mt. Pitt in the National Park and a number of walking tracks. It was known as hell in the Pacific by convicts who were sent there and as the islands population didn’t grow naturally several Pitcairn Islanders were sent there in 1856 to establish a permanent colony. Kingston is the main town on the island, with many pretty, restored buildings and with accommodation ranging from B&B to motels but this accommodation option works out more expensive than paying for a package holiday. You will also see a wide range of restaurants serving snacks to 3 course meals. The island is easy to get around, and car hire is exceptionally cheap. Norfolk Island is considered a peaceful paradise for diving enthusiasts, due to strict government control, its reserves and national parks remain untouched.
The island also provides sports enthusiasts access to several vigorous activities like golf, bowling, tennis, swimming, and target shooting. In addition to these sports, Norfolk Island also offers various water recreations like snorkeling, scuba diving, and windsurfing and there are two very popular diving spots on the island, Kingston and Sydney Bay, both of which offer picturesque beaches and abundant marine life. For those who are not into diving, trekking is an alternative activity in Norfolk Island and visitors can explore the majestic Mt. Bates and Mt. Pitt while those who enjoy touring, can go to the different sites the island has to offer by riding a horse or in a four-wheel drive. Food lovers will definitely find Norfolk Island to their liking. The island offers a wide variety of restaurants that serve mouth-watering seafood meals and people from all walks of life and from all different countries will thoroughly enjoy their stay on Norfolk since it is throbbing with cafes and fast food chains offering exotic fare from such places as India, China and Italy however, for the more adventurous and curious traveller, try Polynesian meals at the restaurants or those that are served by the hospitable locals, delicious! Gaining a passage to the island is strictly regulated by immigration policies and the Australian passport authorities require local and foreign tourists to secure a passport or a Document of Identity in order to visit and the passport should have a 30-day validity. Snapper Island is a 1.65 hectare island in Sydney Harbour. It lies in the main channel of the western section of the harbour, upstream of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, adjacent to the Sydney suburb of Drummoyne. The island was originally a rocky outcrop, but in 1931-2 it was increased in size over seven times by land reclamation, and reshaped into the general plan form of a ship, since then it has used as a training depot by the Sea Cadets, and as a museum. Today it is in the hands of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, who are charged with planning a new future for it. Snapper Island is the smallest island in the harbour and more than the others has been reshaped significantly by human intervention. Montague Island is around 80 hectares in size and 8 kilometres offshore from the township of Narooma, with historic links to the town and to the boating industries operating along the NSW south coast. Its lighthouse has operated since it was first commissioned in the late 1800s and the stories, photos and documents that record its working life, provide a fascinating insight to the life of isolation led by its keepers and their families. Some of these, including a copy of its original visitors book, are on display at the replica lighthouse at Narooma's Visitor Information Centre. From here you can also arrange a trip to the Island, charter boats can take you to view the Island and its surrounding waters, home to seals, dolphins, turtles as well as the Humpback and other whales which are also regularly seen. The lighthouse was automated in 1987 and the Island is now administered by our National Parks and Wildlife Service. Tours can be arranged with its officers who will introduce you to the Island's native flora and fauna and take you on a tour of the lighthouse and residence whilst fascinating you with stories of their history of drama, compassion and romance and the many interesting visitors who enjoyed and recorded their sojourns to this close but isolated and significantly important settlement. The island has a large colony of Little Penguins and many other seabirds use it as a breeding ground and migratory resting place and it provides a unique site for the many naturalists, botanists and other researchers who gather much data here in this diverse, isolated ecosystem. Enjoy.... John. Discount Shopping | Discount Travel | Special Travel Deals | Discount Attractions Our RSS feed will be updated periodically with all the latest travel deals and special offers. Please subscribe by clicking the button to the left (XML/RSS) to receive notice of these updates without any risk or obligation. PLEASE NOTE: If you don't know what an RSS feed is just click this link. Click here to return from New South Wales Islands to The Discount Travel Guide home page. |
Guided and self-guided bush treks, fish feeding at Ned's Beach, bicycling, bird watching tours, cruising around the Island, kayaking, reef walking, snorkelling and scuba diving, or just laying around in a world class world heritage environment, are some of the favourite things to do.
Norfolk Island is a small speck of land in the southern Pacific Ocean, due east of Australia. 
Large species of birds abound in Nepean and Philip islands and its lagoons and coral reefs are home to more than a hundred species of hard and soft corals.
