8 of the best Lord Howe Island accommodations for island bliss

Bonita Grima Bonita Grima
hero media
Whether you’re wanting an all-inclusive luxury resort, self-catering apartments, or an island-style hideaway, there’s a variety of accommodation options to choose from on Lord Howe Island.

Measuring just 11 kilometres long and around 2.8 kilometres at its widest point, and with visitor numbers restricted to just 400 people at any one time, you might think Lord Howe Island doesn’t have much to offer in terms of accommodation.

The good news is that there’s a range of places to stay during a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage-listed destination, with most offering airport transfers, restaurant pick-ups, and wi-fi.

Here are some of the best Lord Howe Island accommodations to enjoy in between exploring the island.

1. The Cabin

a woman relaxing in a tub at The Cabin, Lord Howe Island accommodation
Spend a glorious day relaxing in a luxurious bath. (Image: Chelsea Holden)

Built with love by 6th generation Lord Howe Islander, Jess Owens and partner, Cameron, The Cabin is Lord Howe Island’s newest accommodation offering and its first fully off-grid retreat, set on five acres of untouched bushland, tucked away behind the family home and farm.

Getting back to nature doesn’t have to mean roughing it either, with The Cabin providing unlimited wi-fi, a luxury indoor bathtub, premium toiletries, plush bedding and furniture, and a welcome hamper packed with gourmet produce – think freshly laid eggs, baked sourdough, organic wines, and honey straight from the hive.

Perfect for couples, solo travellers, and outdoor enthusiasts, guests will love The Cabin’s outdoor rainwater shower, firepit, complimentary bikes, and private bush track leading to a secluded beach with use of kayaks included.

BOOK NOW

2. Pinetrees Lodge

the Pinetrees Lodge nestled among tall pine trees, Lord Howe Island accommodation
This all-inclusive style lodge is surrounded by pines. (Image: Pinetrees Lodge)

A long-time favourite on Lord Howe Island, Pinetrees Lodge never gets old. As one of the longest-running family businesses in Australia, the lodge rests on land that’s been occupied by the family since their arrival on the island in 1848.

With a small collection of stylish rooms, suites and cottages, accommodation at Pinetrees Lodge has been regularly updated to provide guests with an elegant and comfortable stay.

Though you won’t find wi-fi and TV here (they’re intentionally excluded), there are endless nature-based and social activities to keep you occupied in this all-inclusive style lodge, with offerings that include shared facilities, yoga, guided tours, and culinary packages.

BOOK NOW

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

3. Ocean View Apartments

the interior of Ocean View Apartments, Lord Howe Island accommodation
The self-catered units are complete with a kitchen and access to a games room. (Image: Ocean View Apartments)

An oldie but a goodie, Ocean View Apartments is one of Lord Howe Island’s original accommodation offerings. With 120 years’ worth of history, the apartments are conveniently located near the centre of town and the island’s main swimming spot, Lagoon Beach.

With their self-catered style, the units come complete with bedding, towels and cooking utensils, plus access to a games room, and the only full-size swimming pool on the island, that’s recently been renovated. Also included in a stay, is the use of outdoor equipment like paddleboards and snorkel gear from Ocean View’s boat house located at the lagoon foreshore.

Another feather in the property’s cap is the recent addition of its on-site restaurant, Driftwood. Specialising in Asian fusion, Driftwood Bar and Restaurant is a local favourite, as is Ocean View Apartments’ new coffee bar which operates daily from 7am-9am.

BOOK NOW

4. Bowker Beach House

the Bowker Beach House within a forest, Lord Howe Island accommodation
Stay in a contemporary one-bedroom beach house in the forest. (Image: Bowker Beach House)

If you want somewhere all for yourself, Bowker Beach House is for you. Hidden away amongst native forest, yet centrally located, this contemporary one-bedroom beach house with its Instagram aesthetic comes with wrap-around timber decking, plus all mod cons and comforts like heated towel rails, coffee machine, Bose Bluetooth speakers, and fast wi-fi.

Perfect for lovers of indoors and outdoors, Bowker Beach House has an extensive library, boardgames, and selection of movies on a streaming service, plus it’s equipped with complimentary paddleboards, yoga mats and bicycles.

BOOK NOW

5. Lagoon Landing

a beach-style bungalow at Lagoon Landing, Lord Howe Island accommodation
Each bungalow is designed in earthy tones with bleached timbers. (Image: lordhoweisland.info)

Though Lagoon Landing isn’t new, the two one-bedroom beach-style bungalows located near the central lagoon have undergone a refresh recently when current owners, Kylie and Rahnie Owens took over the business a few years ago.

Having spent their childhood living here, the Owens sisters have a nostalgic connection to the property, while their modern touches to the self-catered style cottages include cosy beach-chic style furniture, decorations and linens.

BOOK NOW

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

6. Capella Lodge

Lord Howe Island accommodation
Take in views of Mounts Gower and Lidgebird from your luxe suite. (Image: Capella Lodge)

One of five Bailie Lodges within Australia and nine throughout the world, Capella Lodge is Lord Howe Island’s most premium resort, with its enviable position near the base of the island’s iconic twin peaks.

Consisting of 9 barefoot luxury suites connected to the main pavilion via boarded walkways and lush garden areas, guests can enjoy spectacular views of the coral reef plus Mounts Gower and Lidgebird from their accommodation, with some suites equipped with private hot tubs and plunge pools. There is also an onsite spa.

Inclusions here comprise of gourmet breakfast, in-suite bar, sunset drinks and canapes, an open bar from 6pm, and dinner matched with premium wines in the resort’s restaurant.

BOOK NOW

7. Island House

the interior of Island House, Lord Howe Island accommodation
Each pavilion-style house is nestled among Banyan trees and Kentia palms. (Image: Anson Smart)

One of Lord Howe Island’s most recent accommodation options and certainly its most exclusive, is Island House. Comprised of two separate architecturally designed houses filled with museum-quality art, Danish mid-century furniture, high-fidelity sound systems, and kitchen full of produce grown on-site plus imported artisanal goods. Island House is set upon spacious grounds amid a forest of Kentia palms and old banyan trees.

Specialising in curated packages, Island House offers your own private chef and on-site manager to plan your island itinerary perfectly. Additions include a transit room for use as a flexible space and an adventure room stocked with high-quality outdoor adventure equipment. Best suited for whole-site bookings.

BOOK NOW

8. Arajilla Retreat

With a collection of 12 luxurious suites amid lush surrounds, ranging from its 1-bedroom Kentia Suite to its 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom Blue Peter Beach House, Arajilla Retreat is located on the sheltered northern end of the island, behind Old Settlement Beach.

The resort continues to be one of the island’s most popular high-end stays, with its packages including gourmet breakfast, light lunch, drinks and canapes in the resort’s bar lounge, plus a 3-course dinner in the restaurant. With its menu changing daily, Arajilla’s dedicated chefs prepare meals with organic produce from the resort’s kitchen garden, fresh island seafood, plus a selection of quality produce from the mainland. Complimentary bicycles and snorkel gear are also included for exploring the island further.

BOOK NOW

Discover the best Lord Howe Island walks and hikes

Bonita Grima
Bonita Grima is a freelance travel writer with a background in television and radio production. With a passion for immersive storytelling, Bonita believes travel has the power to challenge, inspire and educate us, and encourage empathy by providing a window into the worlds of others. Based in Margaret River, when not working on a story, you’ll find her at the beach, on a trail, drinking great coffee, discovering what’s new around town, or simply dreaming up the next adventure!
View profile and articles
Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower, Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island

Inside a stay at Island House, Lord Howe’s most luxurious eco-retreat

With a foundation centred in craftsmanship and human experience, Island House distils a family’s connection to place into a timeless design-led stay on Lord Howe Island.

Read more
a scenic view from the balcony of Capella Lodge overlooking Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island

What it’s like to stay at Lord Howe Island’s most exclusive resort

With its remote location, pristine environment, and restricted visitor numbers, UNESCO heritage listed Lord Howe Island is a dream destination for many, with Capella Lodge its most coveted resort.

Read more
hero media

Art, wine & fireplaces: 8 reasons Bowral is the ultimate winter getaway

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
    Continue
    The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.

    Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.

    The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.

    Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.

    1. Check in

    aerial of Ardour Milton Park Bowral in winter
    Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.

    After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.

    2. Hunt for treasure

    couple exploring Dirty Janes bowral
    Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.

    Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.

    3. Slow down in a beautiful gallery

    kids posing with donald bradman statue in bowral's The Bradman Museum
    Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.

    Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.

    4. A taste of France

    table spread at Lucette bowral
    Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.

    For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.

    Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.

    5. Indulge in a tipple

    Centennial Vineyards bowral in winter
    Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.

    This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.

    6. Blend your own gin

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar
    Pop into Millsheds Distillery & Bar. (Credit: Mattia Panunzio)

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.

    7. Go for a walk at dawn

    Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.

    8. Cosy up by the fireplace

    Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel
    Get cosy in the Berida Hotel’s whiskey bar.

    A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.

    At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.

    Start planning your Bowral escape at visitsouthernhighlands.com.au.