Lord Howe Island Week Part 3

 Welcome back to the final of Lord Howe. Part of the deal of staying at Pinetrees was a cooking demonstration from the head chef, Alasdair Nicolson  who has been there 10 years. He also wrote a cookbook with the owner, which was presented to us in our room. He  did a demonstration of two spicy sauces which went with two of the cookbook meals, using a blender.

What we didn't know was that he then cooked up lamb loin chops, and sliced thin zucchini on a mandolin and marinaded some of the sauce in halloumi cheese. We had not long eaten lunch and I only ordered a sandwich anyway, as I so so full, as every meal we had was a cooked one, and normally they don't serve sandwiches.  Anyway this demo smelt wonderful and we did have some although I tried to pick the smallest.

This is a very nice book.

Meanwhile while this was happening I noticed a local breed of  pied Currawong, having a lovely time eating a pear, so I dashed over and scared it away and hid the fruit under the bar shelf. They are fruit eaters and this one has discovered where the fruit is kept. Now they cover it with a tea towel for guests.

We also had a tour of the complex and the way they are going about carbon neutral. Fascinating talk, as everything they do as much as possible, from black and grey water, food scraps, cardboard etc, ever leaves the island, and what does they have to pay per kilo for. They also only source food and goods on the mainland from other carbon neutral businesses. A large vege garden has been started, compost bins, and outdoor covered laundry clothes line, for all the sheets and towels, to save electricity. Stopped using tablecloths also and purchased soap in small sizes bars. Using paper straws, bags, wraps etc. plus containers, so no throw away plastic with anything.

 The next thing is to change over to solar hot water. We all now should be aware of plastic for everything. The company hopes others on the island will also come on board with this to keep the waters, and land pristine.

Huge vege garden being started up again after covid.

 Another complimentary outing was in a glass bottom boat. Snorkeling was also part of it which I didn't want to do but John got "the outfit" and was all in for it. 

 

Boarding was done with definitely bare feet and rolled up jeans for me, as straight through the water.

 

We traveled out to the breakwater reef, where it was quite deep, plus a talk on the different coral, fish and the ways of the island with monitoring it to stay healthy.

 

Fish following the boat owner as he feeds them with anemone, they have become pets, as he takes the boat out daily.

The water was freezing and the wind blowing about a lot,  so in the end a few of them didn't go in as quite deep. John hung off the back with his go Pro camera in the water. I really enjoyed boating around the lagoon and watching the fish and coral.

The final day before handing our bikes in, we did a visit to the local museum and learnt the history, which was also, very interesting.

From there we then continued on seeing it was the same road, to the local made brewery and hydroponic gardens, and nursery,  that feeds most of the town.

Beer Kegs

Had to have a taste, and apparently delicious.

  The garden consisted of mainly huge sheds, but a lot of herbs were  growing outside, as was eggplant..

 

 

Bags of coir were used which I hadn't seen before.

Cucumbers

Of course by the end of the week which this was, riding around like a Pro.

The Pinetrees complex also had what was called a boat shed, a place you could visit and serve yourself by an honesty system of wine and beer. I also had a shower but no toilet.

I had my picnic lunch there and read while John went to Ned's Beach for the 2nd.time, relaxing and watching the ocean as well.

On our very last day, while we waited for lunch and boarding,  he decided to take some black and white photos. There was a little turnstile you had to go through either side of the road.

A little long this time but I hoped you enjoyed our trip, and finally my favorite birds there. 

They lay their eggs on a branch, and quite small birds.

Till Next Time

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.

 

A Week At Lord Howe Island. Part One

 We came back last night, from our wonderful week at Lord Howe. What an amazing place it is. If you are into hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming and bike riding, the perfect place for you.

I am not, but still managed to do some of it which is amazing in itself. 

 We left from the Port Macquarie Eastern Air Services Hanger, weighing of the bags was about it, very relaxed formalities that is surprising, as  I am very used to the big airlines requisites.

Check in Desk, they also fly from Newcastle.

We parked out front for the week and handed in our car keys, and assured it was safe and miles from anywhere, being an airport.

The plane was a 9 seater, so an aisle seat and window at the same time. 5 traveled with us. I have only been on a small plane once to Brisbane but this was really small, and watching the pilot do his thing, but I wasn't scared by it at all. Read all the way which only took 1hr 10 mins and we were there by 8am. and greeted by a van for Pinetrees Lodge where we were staying and offered breakfast as it was still being served.

Our room wasn't ready so walked around the complex to get our bearings. The first thing that strikes you with this island is it is covered in Kentia Palms and Norfolk Island Pines.

Bike racks are everywhere as the tourists only means of travel.

Entrance

 The road outfront was the main one on which we ended up riding on daily, the island families, who use cars, numbered up to 400 depending on who was on the mainland,  and only 400 tourists are allowed to be there at one time. There is a maximum of 800 at any given time, this is due to conserving the ecosystem and bird life which has been bought back to life with the eradication of rats, cats, and wild pigs all bought to the island by early sailors, and which destroyed the habitats of native species some of which are now extinct.

The road well travelled.

 We decided to walk "into town" as the Island Trader ship was coming in for its fortnightly visit of all the goods necessary to run the island. Everything from food to building supplies, furniture, gas for cooking and diesel. So it was quite busy with cars going to pick up their supplies. 

 We then walked along the foreshore walking track, overlooking the water in some areas.

Maintenance cars also use this area. Right is the ocean.

 The CBD is right on the shoreline known as the Lagoon. A quiet waterway as the coral reef on the edge out to sea holds back the waves, sometimes quite large.The Lagoon is very, very clear with some Coral for viewing a fair way out. Many visitors use this for kayaks, and scuba diving.

The Island Trader out to sea on its way in.

On Right Mount Gower  is the higher one actually and Mount Lidgefield, taken from the Lagoon

Customs on the island is strictly adhered too, with sniffer dogs both at the airport and jetty. Everything accounted for, for the islanders to pick up. No-one is allowed on the jetty itself.

 Opposite all this is a small group of buildings that is the Post Office, a Hall, Restaurant, Shop.

By the time we walked back again, our room was ready, No. 24.

 I am going to leave it for now as there is a lot of pictures and do a part two next week. I will show you though that all over Pinetrees are boardwalks to all the rooms. 85 guests can stay here at a time.

 

 Lots of seating nooks as well

There is lots more to tell you.

 

 Till Next Time