Lord Howe Island flights: Fares from Sydney & Gold Coast

Lord Howe Island flights are available from Sydney, Port Macquarie, Newcastle and the Gold Coast. But due to limited visitor numbers on the island, fare prices can be very expensive.

Lord Howe Island is one of Australia’s greatest secrets. Part of New South Wales, but cast adrift in the Tasman Sea, the only way to get there is flying.

To book Lord Howe Island flights and accommodation packages, head this way…

Where is Lord Howe Island?

Lord Howe Island is about 700km north-east of Sydney and 700km south-east of Brisbane. It’s on roughly the same latitude as Port Macquarie in New South Wales. Crucially, it’s where tropical waters meet temperate waters, so marine life from both climates mix. This makes for extraordinary diving and snorkelling.

Lord Howe Island visitor limits

There’s an air of laid-back exclusivity about Lord Howe Island, largely because of the visitor limits. Only 400 visitors are allowed on the island at any one time. This is partly a conservation measure, partly a bid to keep the island’s character and partly to stop resources being drained.

The downside is that Lord Howe accommodation options such as the Arajilla Lodge and the Beachcomber Lodge sell out well in advance. Many require three night stays as well.

Lord Howe Island flights from Sydney

There are also limited numbers of flights to Lord Howe Island. Most people get there via the QantasLink services from Sydney. It’s a small 30 seater plane, which is necessary to land on Lord Howe’s short runway. This, alas, makes tickets very expensive. Fares on Sydney to Lord Howe Island flights cost from $537 one way.

These year-round flights depart daily. There’s at least one Sydney to Lord Howe Island flight per day, with extra services at weekends.

The flights from Sydney to Lord Howe Island take just under two hours.

Lord Howe Island flights from Port Macquarie, Newcastle and the Gold Coast

The alternative is with Eastern Air Services, which offers flights to Lord Howe Island from Port Macquarie, Newcastle and the Gold Coast. There are three flights a week from Port Macquarie to Lord Howe Island, costing from $595 one way.

The Gold Coast to Lord Howe Island flights run three times a week, and cost $695 one way. The Newcastle flight schedule is more seasonal, with one flight a week in winter and four flights a week in summer. These Newcastle to Lord Howe Island flights cost $675.

Lord Howe Island flight and accommodation packages

It is almost always better to book Lord Howe Island flights and accommodation as a package. This is partly because the limits on numbers create a chicken and egg situation – do you book accommodation then hope there’s availability on flights or vice versa? You can also make substantial savings this way.

Fix up these packages via your usual travel agent or online via the likes of Expedia.

More New South Wales travel

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How long is the drive from Quirindi to Tamworth?

What’s the Australian Museum parking situation like?

Is there much to see on the Coolangatta to Byron Bay drive?

Take the Webbs Creek Ferry across the Hawkesbury River from Wisemans Ferry.