By Maria
Has anyone been and would like to share information about the best locations for snorkeling Lord Howe Island Australia? I am an experienced snorkeler.
I am going there in March 2025, but am having trouble finding much useful information about snorkeling.
Please also share any recommended boat tour operators.
Thanks in anticipation.
We stayed at the Lorhiti Apartments which has access to Ned’s Beach, the best snorkeling location on Lord Howe Island. There were lots of friendly big double header wrasse, little colored clams, red urchins, fish, and I saw a large Spanish Dancer. Old Gulch is fantastic too with coral filled deep rock pools. I recommend paying the $40 to take the boat over as the walk is long and very steep as a lot of the walks are.
Thank you Liz for that information. Very helpful.
Hi Maria, it has been a few years since I have been to Lord Howe so not sure I can comment on the tour operators. We definitely found the ones who catered for snorkelers only were better for us.
The best snorkeling we found was at Comets and Erscott’s Hole in the lagoon and accessed by tour boat from Lagoon Beach. The fish life is prolific, bountiful coral gardens and the odd small Galapagos Shark popping in for a look. There is a very cool little reef system about 50m off Old Settlement Beach marked by yellow buoys, a relatively easy beach snorkel. Ned’s Beach is great too, but very weather dependent. Most of the days we were on the island Ned’s had a large swell rolling in. The one day it was calm was amazing. The channel up the southeast side of the beach is the best spot. North Beach is a great day trip but not very good for snorkeling. The Old Gulch is an amazing little cove but again the seas were too rough to go in.
Others may be able to comment on trips around to the east side, but the weather and sea conditions prevented us from venturing that far around. If I went back again I would just spend my time taking the tour boats out to the lagoon again and again. Oh and of course do the walking tour up to the top of Mount Gower. We loved the island, it is a very special place both in the water and out – enjoy!
Cheers.
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing Dom.
Hi Maria, the Potholes at the northern end of the lagoon (if you can find it) was by far the best spot followed by Middle Beach. Good snorkeling can be found anywhere on the island. Also take an outer reef tour if one is available.