Another walk we enjoyed was up to Malabar Headland which you can access near Neds Beach. So, one day after a morning of snorkelling at the beach where fish swim right up to the edge, we put our hiking shoes on and headed up the hill. The views looking back down the island were gorgeous.
Speaking of the Boat Shed it’s also the place to go in the morning if you fancy trying out the yoga or pilates classes that Pinetress offers. While you’re in the Boat Shed have a read through the family history of Pinetrees, which is now run by Dani Rouke and her husband Luke Hanson. Dani is the sixth generation of the original family to run the lodge. The Rourke family history is fascinating, and it even has a direct connection to the world’s most famous ship, the Titanic!
Another day we rented kayaks and explored the lagoon, which features the world's southernmost coral reef and the only fringing coral reef lagoon in NSW. We saw loads of fish and I discovered the that convergence of the warm waters from northern Australia and cool waters from the south results in a unique mix of temperate and tropical fish species.
Sunsets. Some days on the island the sunsets were sublime. One of our favourite times of the day was having sundowners at the Pinetree’s Boat Shed with its fridge full of cold beer and wine, and its honesty sheet where you write down what you drank and pay for it later. I mean how old-school is that!
Besides hiking we all enjoyed snorkelling and the colours, textures and life forms we saw at Neds Beach, Middle Beach and Old Settlement Beach were dazzling. You can swim with big turtles, kingfish, trevally, double-headers and rays only minutes from the beach. One highlight was a boat trip to spot and swim with turtles. That was pretty special.
It was great seeing the kids enjoy many of the island’s walking trails. Their favourite was the inland walk to Boat Harbour and Rocky Run. This walk showcased many of the gorgeous plants and trees on the island including kentia palms, big mountain palms and the very distinct looking Pandanus forsteri or screw pine with its stilt roots that look like long skinny legs sticky way out of the ground.
Back to the Boat Shed. One evening the chefs at Pinetrees provided gorgeous pre-dinner snacks. Like all the food at the lodge it’s 5-star restaurant quality so if you’re a foodie you’re in for a treat, and if you like fish, even better! Fish was caught daily and cooked in a manner of ways from sushi and sashimi, to pan fried and battered or added to a curry. I reckon I ate fish every other day, when I wasn’t eating the lamb, pork or beef that was also on the menu.
The general manager of Pinetrees Denis Corcoran showed me around the lodge and talked me through all the projects and plans that have been put in place for them to become certified carbon neutral under the Climate Active Program of the Australian Government. They’re very proud to become the country’s first full-service hotel to gain certification through the rigorous Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard.
We have to say the accommodation at Pinetrees Lodge was excellent. We stayed in the Garden Cottage which featured one large bedroom and a lounge area with two more beds. The private outdoor living deck faced north onto subtropical gardens, and we all took advantage of the beautiful freestanding stone bath tucked away outside. I was really impressed by the bookshelf and I’m proud to say I read two books on that trip. I never get to do that at home!
Great Walks spent a week exploring Lord Howe Island and didn’t want to come home.
It’s been seven years since my family and I were on Lord Howe and I have many memories of that trip so when our good friends at Pinetrees Lodge invited us back we jumped at the chance. I was excited to return as my kids Matilda (14) and Billy (12) were now old enough to fully experience what Lord Howe and Pinetrees had to offer.
Pinetrees Lodge is one of the oldest family businesses in Australia. They are famous for exceptional meals, authentic personal service, elegant accommodation and the stunning beachfront location on the Lord Howe Island lagoon.
Don’t worry about crowds, though, because our World Heritage listing caps the number of island-wide guests to 400 at any one time, and they scatter through two cafes, eight volcanic peaks, 10 sq km of lagoon, 18 surf spots, 20 beaches, 24km of coastline, and 45km of hiking track. In reality, you’ll feel like you have the place to yourself.
Bookings for Pinetrees are still available for January and February - click here for more info.
Check out these photos from our holiday.
One walk we enjoyed was up to Malabar Headland which you can access near Neds Beach. So, one day after a morning of snorkelling at the beach where fish swim right up to the edge, we put our hiking shoes on and headed up the hill. The views looking back down the island were gorgeous.
The Boat Shed is the place to go in the morning if you fancy trying out the yoga or pilates classes that Pinetress offers. While you’re in the Boat Shed have a read through the family history of Pinetrees, which is now run by Dani Rourke and her husband Luke Hanson. Dani is the sixth generation of the original family to run the lodge. The Rourke family history is fascinating, and it even has a direct connection to the world’s most famous ship, the Titanic! One day we rented kayaks and explored the lagoon, which features the world's southernmost coral reef and the only fringing coral reef lagoon in NSW. We saw loads of fish and I discovered the that convergence of the warm waters from northern Australia and cool waters from the south results in a unique mix of temperate and tropical fish species.Sunsets. Some days on the island the sunsets were sublime. One of our favourite times of the day was having sundowners at the Pinetree’s Boat Shed with its fridge full of cold beer and wine, and its honesty sheet where you write down what you drank and pay for it later. I mean how old-school is that!Besides hiking we all enjoyed snorkelling and the colours, textures and life forms we saw at Neds Beach, Middle Beach and Old Settlement Beach were dazzling. You can swim with big turtles, kingfish, trevally, double-headers and rays only minutes from the beach. One highlight was a boat trip to spot and swim with turtles. It was great seeing the kids enjoy many of the island’s walking trails. Their favourite was the inland walk to Boat Harbour and Rocky Run. This walk showcased many of the gorgeous plants and trees on the island including kentia palms, big mountain palms and the very distinct looking Pandanus forsteri or screw pine with its stilt roots that look like long skinny legs sticky way out of the ground.Back to the Boat Shed. One evening the chefs at Pinetrees provided gorgeous pre-dinner snacks. Like all the food at the lodge it’s 5-star restaurant quality so if you’re a foodie you’re in for a treat, and if you like fish, even better! Fish was caught daily and cooked in a manner of ways from sushi and sashimi, to pan fried and battered or added to a curry. I reckon I ate fish every other day, when I wasn’t eating the lamb, pork or beef that was also on the menu.The general manager of Pinetrees Denis Corcoran showed me around the lodge and talked me through all the projects and plans that have been put in place for them to become certified carbon neutral under the Climate Active Program of the Australian Government. They’re very proud to become the country’s first full-service hotel to gain certification through the rigorous Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard.We have to say the accommodation at Pinetrees Lodge was excellent. We stayed in the Garden Cottage which featured one large bedroom and a lounge area with two more beds. The private outdoor living deck faced north onto subtropical gardens, and we all took advantage of the beautiful freestanding stone bath tucked away outside. I was really impressed by the bookshelf and I’m proud to say I read two books on that trip. I never get to do that at home!
