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Stormrider Guide to surfing Lord Howe Island

New South Wales, AUSTRALIA


North Head, Jack Shick

Summary

+ Variety of breaks - Fickle conditions
+ Always offshore somewhere - Long paddle to the reef
+ Laid-back atmosphere, crowd free - Expensive food & supplies
+ Nature, bird & marine life - No cheap accommodation

Often described as AustraliaÕs most beautiful island, Lord Howe Is surrounded by the worldÕs southernmost coral reef and is home to many rare and endemic plants and animals. With its protected marine park, no mobile phone reception, no jet skis, no big buildings, very few cars and only 400 visitor beds, the island is never crowded. Much of the islandÕs coastline is exposed to waves that have unlimited fetch, hitting a great variety of breaks, creating fairly consistent surf all year. A barrier reef stretches for 6km along the west side of the island, enclosing a beautiful lagoon. It is sliced by several passages, most of them being home to quality surf breaks.

When to Go

LHI is unpredictable with good waves appearing anytime, summer being a safer bet. Clean swells arrive from the S, complimented by a few N cyclone swells. Summer winds can also generate occasional NE or SE swells, allowing the eastern spots to be ridden. In winter the swells are not as reliable and clean, but can occasionally provide excellent surf on the east coast. Summer tends to get more E to NE winds, while SW winds are more frequent in winter. Big tides up to 2m dangerously expose the west side reefs at low tide.

Surf Spots

Paddling out from DawsonÕs Point or Old Settlement Beach is the best way to reach the North Passage and La Meurthe, a long, fast and hollow lefthander named after a nearby shipwreck. The other side of North Passage has a rideable right too, but the consistent lefts and rights at UliÕs breaking near Rabbit Island have a wider swell window. Ideally take a boat, otherwise make the long paddle-out from Far Rocks, but be aware there is no channel, and set dodging is tricky. Sunsets is the only big wave spot, accessible through ErscottÕs Passage. The often disorganised setup can deliver a gnarly, shifting right hook with long walls. Experts or locals only! HarryÕs is the heaviest wave on LHI and outputs an extremely hollow, very fast and powerful righthander. Breaks over shallow coral so getting caught inside is a bad experience. Little Reef is a softer break closer to shore with good lefts for all levels. Grinders is a 30min paddle from Salmon Beach. Two main take-off spots launch into long lefthanders, with fast hollow sections and potential barrels. Depending on the tide stage, the channel can get very rippy so it is better to have a boat around. Little Island, a short but solid righthander breaking close to Salmon Beach offers wind protection from the surrounding cliffs when all other spots are blown out. The east coast receives less reliable swells, but close to the airport is Blinky Beach, the main beachbreak option on the island. The shifting sandbanks and few rocky patches are best on a E swell, W wind combo, and there is an interesting righthander at the south end. The southern end of Middle Beach features a great right over a coral shelf from mid to high tide with a rare SE swell. Under 3ft, it breaks over the inside platform; over 3ft, the righthander gains in quality with fast heavy bowls peeling over the outside shelf. NedÕs Beach has various breaks the best one being the left point setup at the northern end known as Mexico, plus Surfers Hole, a fickle rocky peak best with a solid swell from the E. ItÕs pretty inconsistent, due to the Admiralty Islands that block some swell.Ê

Statistics
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
dominant swell NE -E NE -E S -W S -W S -W NE -E
swell size (ft) 2-3 2-3 3-4 4-5 3-4 2-3
consistency (%) 20 30 40 50 40 25
dominant wind NE -E E -E E -SW SW - SW - NE -NE
average force F2-F3 F5 F3 F4-F5 F4 F3
consistency (%) 20 30 40 50 40 25
water temp (C) 25 22 19 17 20 23
wetsuit boardshorts springsuit 3/2 3/2 springsuit springsuit

Travel Information

Weather
Lord Howe Island enjoys its own microclimate, best described as subtropical maritime, with very little annual variation in temperatures. Sea breezes prevent the summers from being too hot, while surrounding warm seas ensure pleasant winters. Mean annual rainfall in the lowlands is almost 1700mm, with a pronounced maximum in winter.Ê

Lodging and Food
17 properties to choose from (most are family operated, with capacity ranging from 4 to 85 beds). Camping is not permitted. For dining, be prepared to book and pay $25-45 for a meal. Coral Cafe and Bowling Club are cheaper alternatives to the Anchorage and Arajilla restaurants.

Nature and Culture
LHI is a protected marine park with quality snorkelling over pristine coral reefs. Excellent diving options (50 sites, 2 schools). Trekking up Mt Gower (8h) is a great experience. A trip to BallÕs Pyramid costs $100/p.Ê

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