Australian 'Paradise' Allows Just 400 Tourists at a Time
With green mountains, clear waters and beautiful beaches, Lord Howe Island calls itself "just paradise." And yet, despite all this beauty, the island is surprisingly quiet as far as tourists are concerned.
This is because, for more than 40 years, only 400 tourists have been allowed on the island at a time.
Lord Howe Island lies around 600 kilometers east of mainland Australia, about halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. Technically part of the state of New South Wales, around 75% of the island is protected parkland, and its surrounding waters are home to coral reefs. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.
The island's government makes great efforts to protect its many unique local species, which include plants and insects found nowhere else in the world. In 2019, the island began removing all rodents, after which local species began to thrive — including the Lord Howe woodhen, a flightless bird that was near extinction.
The island is a two-hour flight from Sydney, at a cost of nearly $700 round trip.
Upon arrival, tourists are checked for invasive species that may have traveled with them. Hikers are encouraged to scrub their boots for harmful fungus before starting down the island's trails.
Surprisingly, there's no evidence that humans ever lived on Lord Howe Island before European and American whalers arrived in the 18th century. The first permanent settlers came in the early 19th century, and many of the 380 people who now live on the island are descended from those early settlers.
There are no holiday homes on the island, and even those whose families have lived there for generations don't own their land — they lease it. There's no central water system, so families have to collect their own rainwater to drink, and the island doesn't generate enough electricity to allow home air conditioners.
The island has one school with about 30 students, and one police officer.
It's a small, friendly community — one that keeps tourist numbers down to ensure that it remains "just paradise."
