Visiting Lord Howe Island Part 2

 Here we are back to Lord Howe, one of the best Islands in Australia to visit.

The Lagoon

 After our initial start to the Island, and obtaining bikes, we  were then able to visit various places, Ned's Beach being the first one and the furthermost away. We took a picnic from where we stayed at Pinetrees Lodge,  which you could order in the morning or a BBQ which they delivered to wherever you wanted.

Ned's is the beach where you can feed the fish and was very popular for snorkeling, the coral being so close. John spent hours going over it, using a GoPro camera for underwater movies.  I had one swim but it was cold, although I was pleased I made the effort.

Feeding the Fish.

Picnic lunch under the tree, the only shade other than the shed.

Enjoying our very well packed and delicious picnic.

 On another day, after riding to the exit and parking our bikes, there was a walk up to Middle Beach lookout. Mostly in shade, from the Kentia Palms which are still being exported today, and were the initial money making adventure by the islanders, in the early days, and are everywhere. So it was like walking through a shady glen.

We walked past the solar array the islanders are paying $6million loan back, the whole thing cost  roughly $12 million. It is huge, and has significantly lowered the diesel bill which was the power  source they used before. You can just see the diesel hut to the right, and still in minimum use.

Amongst the palms are Banyan Trees, they are very impressive and huge.

The road we entered from.

The trees can get very big when they keep adding on a new part by the roots.

Roots hanging down from way up that anchor themselves to grow more of the tree.

 I really enjoyed this walk, took about 2 hours and lots going up hill, over tree roots, and many rests on the odd log. Lots of birds about including the Wood Hen that was brought back from extinction, and approximately 800 now exist. We saw 2  cute babies and their mother.

There is unusual fungi, in a few colours, amongst the old logs lying about

Under a Kentia Palm.

Finally we got to see the end view although there had been snippets of parts of the island waters, on the way. Basically, with this walk, we crossed from one side of the island to the other.

View of Middle Harbour

 There is a steep walk down lots of stairs to get to this area, apparently is good at low tide for coral.

With more to tell, of our adventures, this will get way too long, so part three next week.  I will mention, as we had a full catered package, that breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner were all on the terrace except two cold nights and we had it indoors. Dinner always had place cards.

There is a staff of 25, and about 9 of those are chefs. The meals were all gourmet, and King Fish was always featured lunch and dinner. This is locally caught and sold. The limit the fisherman catch is only the limit they can sell, and only local, so very self sustainable.  It is also one of the nicest fish I have eaten and had it several times in a variety of flavours.

For Big groups under the largest umbrella, and where tea and coffee was place on trestle tables

Me sitting out of the wind.

We usually sat at the tables for two in roughly the same area above. The Terrace overlooks  a grassed U shape seating area for groups gathering, and behind that the tennis court.

 Lunch dish John had of King Fish with sobo noodles, had an asian flavour to it.

Till Next Time.