Lord Howe Island: Resisting Mass Tourism for 40 Years

The picturesque nature could bring Lord Howe Island a lot of money through tourism. But the locals have no interest in that. The island has had a visitor cap for 40 years and is otherwise a model of sustainability.

Crowded beaches in Mallorca, lines at Mount Everest, or piles of garbage in Bali: Mass tourism is pushing many places around the world to their limits. More and more often, the residents have had enough and are protesting.

Currently, there are particularly angry protests against tourism in Barcelona and Mallorca. However, reversing the trend of decades of continuous growth is slow because the local economy is now heavily dependent on money from foreign tourists.

No More Than 400 Travelers Allowed on the Island

The beaches on Lord Howe see very few visitors-even though the island is much smaller than other beach paradises. photo by www.reisereporter.de

Lord Howe Island from above: The crescent-shaped island lies remote between Australia and New Zealand in the Tasman Sea. photo by www.reisereporter.de

In the debate over the conflict between economic growth and sustainability, a small island off the east coast of Australia is coming into global focus: Lord Howe Island.

The images of its picturesque beaches and jungle-covered mountains fascinate many tourists. But the island residents simply don't let them in. Only 400 visitors are allowed on the paradisiacal island at the same time. Yet Lord Howe Island has at least as much to offer as the overcrowded beach paradises in the Caribbean, Thailand, or Indonesia.

Remote Natural Paradise in the Tasman Sea

A turquoise lagoon with multiple coral reefs stretches out before the island's long sandy beach. photo by www.reisereporter.de

Lord Howe Island is located about 600 kilometers off the Australian east coast. Over millions of years, volcanoes have created an approximately eleven-kilometer-long crescent-shaped landmass where a unique flora and fauna now thrive. Right in front of the long dream beaches on the lagoon-like west coast hide colorful coral reefs, home to 500 different species of fish, turtles, and sharks.

Surreal natural wonder: Ball's Pyramid is a rocky pinnacle that rises sharply from the Tasman Sea. Around it lies a diving area. photo by www.reisereporter.de

Inside the island, hiking trails lead over lush green meadows to the spectacular cliffs and the peaks of the approximately 800-meter-high mountains Mount Lidgbird and Mount Gower in the south. About 20 kilometers southeast of the island, the 560-meter-high 'Ball's Pyramid' rises spectacularly and mysteriously from the wild Tasman Sea.

So the small island is not lacking in attractions to excite visitors from around the world. Yet the approximately 400 residents do not want to sacrifice their homeland to mass tourism. No more visitors than locals are allowed to be on the island.

The limit of a maximum of 400 tourists has been in place for 40 years-quite different from places like Mallorca, where tourism has been growing incessantly since the 1960s and now there are 15 tourists for every resident.

Book Accommodation First, Then the Flight

In the south of the island, Mount Lidgbird and Mount Gower rise. Due to the visitor limit, travelers often have the picturesque coastal landscape to themselves. photo by www.reisereporter.de

Anyone wanting to travel to Lord Howe Island must plan their travel time well in advance and first book accommodation-this ensures that they secure one of the 400 sleeping spots and can enter. After that, booking a flight should be done early. It takes about two hours to fly from Sydney.

Beware of rare animals! In the subtropical forests of Lord Howe Island, some petrels build their nests. photo by www.reisereporter.de

Unlike the Balearic Islands, island conservation is a priority on Lord Howe Island. Similar to New Zealand, souvenirs brought by tourists are checked for pests upon arrival-often with the help of sniffer dogs.

At the trailheads, hikers must also brush off their shoe soles to prevent the spread of imported fungi. Most trails can only be visited with local guides to educate visitors about the island's sustainable philosophy.

Sustainability as a Way of Life

From the forest directly to the coast: A vacation on Lord Howe Island promises tranquil enjoyment of nature. There's no cell phone reception there. photo by www.reisereporter.de

Moreover, the nature-loving people on Lord Howe Island are committed to sustainability. A significant portion of the electricity comes from a community solar park, all coffee cups are reusable, and waste is sorted and largely used as compost. Almost all paths are traveled on foot or by bicycle, and a general speed limit of 15 miles per hour applies to the few cars. The internet only works via Wi-Fi on the island-so there's no annoying Instagram hype at the attractions.

Plenty of Habitat for Rare Animals

Although the many rules do not pay off for the locals monetarily, they do guarantee that their homeland remains as unique as it is. This is evident in, for example, the many plants that only exist on Lord Howe Island. The largely untouched forests-85 percent of the island's surface is covered by trees, and 70 percent of those are strictly protected-also offer undisturbed habitats for native animals. Some birds and fish show no fear of humans.

The harmony between humans and nature on Lord Howe Island was recognized by UNESCO in 1982, placing the island on the World Heritage List. Ultimately, the visitor limit also contributes to the sense of security on the island. The residents don't even lock their doors.

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