At Lord Howe’s inaugural Dark Sky Festival, we learn how this island paradise is on track to be certified not only as an International Dark Sky Place, but Australia’s first Dark Sky Island.

Lord Howe Island could become the country’s first official Dark Sky Island, according to a renowned advocate for the preservation of dark skies. Marnie Ogg, along with her astronomer husband Fred Watson, was responsible for getting NSW’s Warrumbungles designated Australia’s first International Dark Sky Park in 2016.

Astrotourism is a fast-growing travel trend. (Image: Gavin Heatherington-Tait)

Ogg, director of astro tourism company Dark Sky Traveller and the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance, spoke on a panel to a gathering of astronomy enthusiasts, nature lovers and holidaymakers at the Lord Howe Island Brewery in April 2025. The science talk formed part of Lord Howe Island’s inaugural Dark Sky Festival. 

“It would just be a beautiful badge not only for tourism but for conservation," she said.  

What is a Dark Sky Island, and why is it important?

A Dark Sky Island has little to no pollution obscuring the starry skies. (Image: Eliot Drezet)

A Dark Sky Island is part of the International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) program that certifies communities, parks and protected areas around the world that preserve and protect their dark skies through responsible lighting and public education.  

Since Flagstaff, Arizona, was declared the first International Dark Sky Place in 2001, the program has expanded to include over 160,000 square kilometres of protected land and night skies around the world.  

The benefits of preserving our dark skies are manifold, as societies are becoming increasingly aware of the damaging effects of light pollution and how it affects not only our ability to observe stars but also ecosystems, wildlife and our own human health.  

If Lord Howe becomes a Dark Sky Island, it will join a global roster of Dark Sky Islands, including Sark in the Channel Islands, which was first designated in 2011.  

“Sark is like Lord Howe, in a way, except that they don’t have cars at all – they just have tractors and bikes," said Ogg. “They have a thriving community of people who go there because they can see beautiful dark skies at night and go back in time to really experience life in a night environment." 

Are there Dark Sky Places in Australia already?

The off-grid Kestrel Nest is Australia’s first international DarkSky-approved lodge. (Image: Grant Hardwick)

Australia is already home to seven official Dark Sky Places, including Warrumbungle Dark Sky Park (designated 2016); The Jump-Up Dark-Sky Sanctuary in outback Queensland (2019); the River Murray Dark Sky Reserve in South Australia (2019); and Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in SA’s Flinders Ranges (2023).  

In 2024, the coastal town of Carrickalinga on the Fleurieu Peninsula in SA became Australia’s first Dark Sky Community, and Sydney’s Palm Beach Headland became our first Urban Night Sky Place. In April 2025, Kestrel Nest EcoHut became the country’s first DarkSky-approved lodging. Located on Highland Farm and Woodland in NSW’s Eastern Riverina region, this off-grid property is committed to protecting and enhancing the natural environment it’s part of.  

What will becoming an International Dark Sky Place mean for Lord Howe Island?

Lord Howe is a haven for stargazers. (Image: Eliot Drezet)

Lord Howe’s fabulously starry skies already make the UNESCO World Heritage-listed island one of Australia’s premier stargazing destinations.  

A designation as a Dark Sky Island would cement its reputation, attracting further mindful tourists to a place that famously limits its visitor numbers to 400 at any one time to preserve the fragile ecosystem and pristine landscape. 

“Astronomy-based tourism brings a traveller who is very conservation-minded," said Ogg. “They help and support the community."  

It would also extend the tourism season, spreading the economic benefits throughout the year and giving travellers to the island more options when planning. “Where you might not be doing swims and dives and trips up Mt Gower [in winter], you could be sitting under a night sky." 

And while there is no official timeline right now for when Lord Howe might become an official Dark Sky Island, Ogg says it already meets much of the criteria, and the road map to designation will be a fairly straightforward one.  

“The biggest benefit with Lord Howe is that there is a lot that doesn’t need to be undone," she said. When we talk about a lot of Dark Sky Places, they might have to retrofit streetlights, pull out lights from buildings or talk to residents about how they use light. That could take years. But it won’t here. Lord Howe is so far along the track."

Central to an application – which costs US$250 (A$380) to lodge with non-profit organisation DarkSky International – is the creation of four events a year, Ogg explained, which could be anything from a letterbox drop to raise awareness of dark skies (covering anything from the impacts on animals and people to cost savings and good lighting principles) to a major event in the calendar like Lord Howe Island’s new Dark Sky Festival.  

When is the next Dark Sky Festival on Lord Howe Island?

Being in the light of stars is an artful enjoyment and encourages stress relief.

The next Dark Sky Festival on Lord Howe Island will run between 16 and 23 May 2026.  

Organiser Danielle Nicolson was inspired to launch the festival after winning gold at the 2024 Australian Tourism Awards for Excellence in Food Tourism with her business, Love Lord Howe. “While there, I met organisers of festivals in other remote regions and was moved by their passion and the impact these events had on their communities," she explains. “The idea for a ‘Dark Sky Festival’ quickly emerged as it strongly aligns with our Island’s conservation values." 

“Next year, we’re planning even more immersive activities and experiences," Nicolson continues. “The goal is not only celebrating and educating people about the importance of night sky conservation but also supporting local businesses by boosting tourism during the quieter season." 

Flight, accommodation and event ticket packages are available through Oxley Travel.