lord howe island

services

Shopping: There are two general stores at Lord Howe Island. Joys Shop sells most grocery items, fresh fruit, vegetables and souvenirs. Thompsons Store sells grocery items, gifts, souvenirs and fishing gear. Both general stores sell fresh bread. The Top Shop sells meat, fruit and vegetables. The Liquor Store, located at the Lord Howe Island Board, also sells kentia palm seedlings.

Larrups, in "the CBD", is a fantastic shop that sells surf wear and resort wear for all ages. Opposite Larrups is the Lord Howe Island Co-Op, which sells bulk dry goods and home-made treats.

The CBD is also home to the Lord Howe Island Post Office, the Community Hall, and Humpty Micks Cafe. Humpty Micks is open 7 days and serves great coffee, light meals and bakery items.

You can also find good coffee at the Airport Kiosk.

Art and craft: Kenny Lees and Ian Hutton are both great local photographers and sell beautiful prints. Ginny Retmock runs 'Ginny's Shed' where you can buy island artwork and distinctive hand-painted textiles. Seaspray Arts and Crafts studio, run by Noelle Hoffman, sells a lovely range of landscape paintings.

Health and beauty: Island Elegance and Not Just a Salon offer hair and beauty services. There are also two day spas on the Island.

Transport: There's no public transport at Lord Howe. Pinetrees provides Island airport transfers. We almost always go out in the mornings to collect the bread and the post and deliver the BBQ hampers. We're happy to give you a lift to your destination and you can make your own way back to Pinetrees - just ask us at breakfast. If you can ride a bike, then it's best to hire a bike from Wilson's Hire Service for the duration of your stay. You can hire a car from Wilson's Hire Service, Thompsons Store or Leanda-Lei. It's best to book early as there are only 5 hire cars on the Island. The speed limit at Lord Howe is 25km/hour. People wave at each other on the road. By the end of your stay, you'll be waving too.

Medical: The local GP, Dr Frank Reed, is based at The Gower Wilson Memorial Hospital on Lagoon Road. Clinic hours are 9:00am - 12:00pm weekdays and you can call the hospital on 6563 2000 for an appointment. The hospital also has a pharmacy. There is an after hours service for emergencies. Since the hospital has limited staff, an air ambulance is sometimes called to transfer emergency patients to hospital in Sydney.

Money: Westpac and the Commonwealth Bank have branches on the Island. Both are open for limited hours. There are no ATMs, but credit cards and EFTPOS are accepted at most Island businesses.

Interpretation: The Lord Howe Island Museum is well worth a visit - and is one of the best options in wet weather! It has interesting cultural and environmental displays, a small shop selling Lord Howe Island souvenirs and a good cafe.

Tourism: There are snorkelling and coral viewing trips, diving trips, fishing trips, scenic boat charters, guided walks and climbs, cultural tours and environmental tours. The Pinetrees noticeboard has details and a free local phone that you can use to contact tour operators.

Churches: There are Anglican, Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist churches on the Island. Visitors are welcome at Saturday and Sunday services.