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.
“I’ve got my grandfather’s Super 8 footage of landing on the lagoon, with the water slapping up against the windows." Timmy Maxwell’s parents visited Lord Howe as children, when flying boats serviced the island from Sydney’s Rose Bay. Today, I skim over the same glassy lagoon to touch down beside it on the short airstrip built in 1974 – but the view must look unchanged: a crescent-shaped island of volcanic peaks fringed with golden sand and a shock of turquoise.
The story behind Island House
Timmy himself began holidaying here in 2000, after his parents jumped at the chance to buy their own parcel of paradise 600 kilometres off Australia’s east coast. Fast-forward 25 years and we meet at Island House , the meticulous result of a five-year build he completed with his father, Michael Maxwell. Opening in 2020, they transformed what was once a cluster of holiday apartments into a luxury eight-guest hideaway.
The lodge comprises two distinct properties – North House and South House – designed by the father-and-son duo in collaboration with Newcastle-based Derive Architecture & Design. Their sleek and understated exteriors are crafted from hardwood and copper, and set on elevated platforms to preserve the natural landscape.
Hidden within a grove of endemic Kentia palms and centuries-old banyan trees, the two houses are connected by an al fresco area that serves as a central gathering point and, each sleeping four, can be booked separately or together.
The copper-and-hardwood-clad South House exteriors. (Image: Anson Smart)
Timmy Maxwell built the property with his father. (Image: Anson Smart)
North House has been designed with high ceilings and plenty of light. (Image: Anson Smart)
Enjoy a cocktail al fresco surrounded by Kentia palms. (Image: Anson Smart)
The menu at Island House revolves around available fresh produce. (Image: Anson Smart)
The design honours the landscape
True to its setting on Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982 where visitor numbers are capped at 400 at any one time, Island House treads lightly, capturing rainfall, drawing on solar power and treating sewage onsite to protect the island’s fragile ecosystem. It’s a place of careful consideration, where everything – from customised daily adventures to meals prepared by a private chef – feels intuitive.
Island House is a launchpad for exploring Lord Howe’s wild coastline. (Image: Jonny Fuhri)
The experience unfolds from a grounding in design, with a visual language shaped by the layering of Michael and Timmy’s shared history. “We really wanted to do something that reflected our passions and spoke to our personal experiences and inspirations," says Timmy. Michael’s career in finance and property ran parallel to cultural pursuits such as restoring wooden boats and architectural homes and serving as chairman of Sculpture by the Sea.
While Timmy’s path blends adventure (a sense of which, from fishing to trail running, was first fostered here on the island) with hospitality; by the age of 24 in 2013 he had opened his own Sydney wine bar, Kubrick’s, before turning his sights back to Lord Howe. With touchpoints to draw on such as sound, art, sculpture, furniture, food, architecture and adventure, “this language of celebrating what’s really timeless started to come through," Timmy tells me.
South House, a medley of mid-century Danish design, books and First Nations art. (Image: Anson Smart)
That ethos finds form in mid-century Danish furniture, sourced in Copenhagen – with original pieces from leading proponents of the movement including Poul Kjærholm, Hans Wegner and Finn Juhl – alongside Italian marble, American oak floorboards and stainless steel. There are botanical sculptures by Alison Coates. A whole wall of books. Ceramics from Kyoto, copper bathtubs and a significant collection of Indigenous Australian art, including pieces by celebrated Ngan’gikurrungurr woman Regina Pilawuk Wilson and the late Pintupi man Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri, a founder of the Western Desert art movement.
An outdoor copper tub at Island House. (Image: Anson Smart)
The Maxwells’ love of music is expressed through each house’s sound system; Timmy admits to having “nerded out" over the statement Wilson Audio speakers that anchor the North House lounge. Fanta-orange sculptural forms that look not unlike robots. “They’re both high-spec and forgiving," he says. Fuzzy round the edges – like the evenings my partner and I spend curled up here, drinking wine and listening to music in a way we haven’t for ages.
Outdoor lounging at Island House. (Image: Anson Smart)
Every design choice reflects an investment in craftsmanship and an instinct for what feels right to humans – not least the proportions, with North House seemingly hitting a golden ratio with its four-metre ceilings. Strategically placed skylights keep us connected to the outdoors; when the sun shines, shafts of light illuminate curated corners while palm shadows dance across the walls. It’s a place to cocoon in after a day spent in the elements.
The role of food and hospitality at Island House
In-house chef Kimie Uemeto prepares fresh food, often with Japanese flavours. (Image: Anson Smart)
The human aspect is at play in every moment our hosts anticipate for us. When our snorkelling trip in the lagoon ends abruptly in a torrential downpour, general manager Anna Klein is already waiting at the shore with towels and the car to whisk us back to warmth. With our beach barbecue plans pivoted, chef Kimie Uemeto has prepared a hearty pumpkin soup to enjoy in-house – exactly what we need.
Private picnics are par for the course while staying at Island House. (Image: Anson Smart)
The next morning, we head out on a walk, waving g’day to the omnipresent Lord Howe woodhen, the island’s endemic flightless bird, and follow a trail through bushland to 360-degree views from Transit Hill. The weather has turned fine and on our return to the house, plans for our ‘we curate, you cook’ lunch have been switched for a beach picnic. Anna has laid out a rug under the shade of two palms, and all that remains is to cycle down to Ned’s Beach and raid a hamper packed with whipped feta to slather on soft rolls, with juicy tomatoes and fresh salad greens. “Pack your snorkels," Anna had advised – and soon enough we wade into the bath-like sea, snorkelling the coral just offshore in gin-clear water.
Chef Kimie Uemeto with a fresh catch. (Image: Anson Smart)
Dinners, too, are intuitive affairs, with Kimie working with whatever produce is available on the island, from freshly caught fish to daily finds at the Nursery down the road. “It’s very different from what I used to cook in Japan, because I used to cook very traditional cuisine," she says. Moving here from Sydney five years ago with her young family, she has learned to be flexible. “Here on the island, you don’t know what’s available tomorrow," she says. “I like cooking with my feeling. And this place allows me to do that."
Exploring other Lord Howe Island highlights
Timmy Maxwell and head brewer Alastair Gillespie at Lord Howe Island Brewery. (Image: Anson Smart)
We visit the Nursery the next day, a greenhouse project the Maxwells oversee that grows fresh produce as well as cultivating Kentia palms for export (a tradition that goes back to Victorian times; the world’s most popular endemic plant is native to Lord Howe). It’s on the same site as the Lord Howe Island Brewery , which father and son also founded, and which serves as a community hub. It’s open Thursday and Saturday for woodfired pizzas and drinks in the convivial beer garden and offers weekly tours for those keen to go behind the scenes of one of the world’s most remote breweries.
Our own visit in April coincides with the inaugural Dark Sky Festival and we join a Science Talk hosted at the brewery one evening. Among topics ranging from the transit of Venus to black holes and moon illusion, we learn about light pollution and the importance of dark sky conservation. How the planet would benefit if we all turned our lights down.
By design, not much has changed on Lord Howe Island since the days the flying boats splashed down on the lagoon. There’s still no mobile reception on the island, and being totally out of range as we are out and about exploring feels like a rare liberty. An apparent luxury in a too-connected world. Some guests looking forward to a digital detox, says Timmy, are disappointed to learn that Island House has Starlink and ask for it to be turned off.
The island’s famed peaks, Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower. (Image: Destination NSW/Tom Archer)
Lord Howe Island is an otherworldly place. The afternoon we freewheeled down to the base of Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower confirmed this: a fierce burst of post-rain sunshine sent rainbows shooting across the famous peaks, while providence petrels – which nest nowhere else on Earth – swirled overhead. Lord Howe evolved out of step with the rest of the planet and in its gloriously lo-fi way it retrains you to be human. True enough, when we head back to Island House after our dark sky talk, we stoke the fire, dim the lights and watch nothing but the flickering flames.
A traveller’s checklist
Getting there
SmartLynx Australia operates daily flights from Sydney, with a flight time of under two hours. Eastern Air Services offers weekly flights and charters from Port Macquarie, the Gold Coast and Newcastle.
Staying there
Nightly rates at Island House start from $4260 for a single house and $8660 for a full-site buyout and include: custom island adventures such as guided hikes, snorkelling and diving; dedicated equipment room for guided and self-directed exploration; in-house dining by chef Kimie Uemeto, who pairs freshly sourced local ingredients with Japanese culinary techniques; fully stocked pantry and bar; private picnics with mountain views or beach settings; complimentary hotel car transfers and airport pick-up and drop-off.
On the horizon
Lord Howe Island’s next Dark Sky Festival is planned for 16–23 May 2026. Andstay tuned for news of Michael and Timmy Maxwell’s next accommodation project, set to launch in southern Tasmania.
Peeking through the palms. (Image: Anson Smart)
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Imogen Eveson is Australian Traveller’s Print Editor. She was named Editor of the Year at the 2024 Mumbrella Publish Awards and in 2023, was awarded the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) Australia’s Media Award. Before joining Australian Traveller Media as sub-editor in 2017, Imogen wrote for publications including Broadsheet, Russh and SilverKris. She launched her career in London, where she graduated with a BA Hons degree in fashion communication from world-renowned arts and design college Central Saint Martins. She is the author/designer of The Wapping Project on Paper, published by Black Dog Publishing in 2014. Growing up in Glastonbury, home to the largest music and performing arts festival in the world, instilled in Imogen a passion for cultural cross-pollination that finds perfect expression today in shaping Australia’s leading travel titles. Imogen regularly appears as a guest on radio travel segments, including ABC National Nightlife, and is invited to attend global travel expos such as IMM, ILTM, Further East and We Are Africa.
Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.
When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.
Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.
From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.
The Tweed
In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.
Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .
Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)
The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.
Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.
End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.
Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.
Blue Mountains
The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.
For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.
Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.
Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)
Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.
Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.
Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.
End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)
Southern Highlands
Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.
Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.
When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.
Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)
Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.
Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.
Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.
Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.
Penrith
Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.
For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.
Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)
Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.
