Loggerhead Turtle Swims Free on Lord Howe

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Posted on 2nd February 2012 by capella in Lord Howe Experiences

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Terrific conservation news from Lord Howe: A young Loggerhead Turtle released by Taronga Zoo staff off Lord Howe Island in January will assist researchers understand the mysterious migration habits of this endangered species.

Loggerhead turtles leave their nesting grounds in Queensland as tiny hatchlings and don’t return until they are breeding adults at over 30 years old.

No-one knows where they go in between! The 12.5Kg turtle has been fitted with a satellite tracker that will log its journey.

What better place to swim free than Lord Howe Island?!

For more, see the Taronga Zoo news release at http://taronga.org.au/news/2012-01-20/endangered-loggerhead-set-unlock-turtles-lost-years

Nature, alive and well on Lord Howe!

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Posted on 23rd January 2012 by capella in Lord Howe Experiences

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Some summertime rain on Lord Howe has offered up some incredible images. The first three were taken this morning after an incredible 180mm of rain over the last 24 hours. The southern end of the island was flooded with all roads blocked. The up side was both Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird were covered with waterfalls. Many of our guest are hiking up to the lower falls as I write this. The other photos show how quickly things change here- only the waterfalls remain

There are also two photos which show the coral spawn which fills the shallows
around the island today. The yearly mass spawning happened last night so there
is a decidedly fishy smell in the air today! The pink line you see in the
shallows along the shore is the coral spawn- billions of tiny pink eggs!

 

Sunday Markets on Lord Howe Island

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Posted on 16th November 2011 by capella in Community |Lord Howe Experiences

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The second Sunday of every month is Market Day on Lord Howe Island.

The local area school turns into a bustling market with many varied stalls. Many of the locals get together to sell produce, secondhand clothing, art works and just to catch up on the local gossip! The kids line up for face painting with Charlotte, the local nursery sells fruit and vegetable seedlings and even the Board Administrator mans the coffee machine! Glenys’s cup cakes sell out 10 minutes after the market opens.

We have some talented artists and photographers on the Island. Our own spa therapist Sarah sells her beautiful hand drawn cards inspired by local vistas and wildlife along with Isak who specializes in surf photography.

It’s great to see that now this space is also being used to educate the community and visitors alike. The Island Board have a display on protecting the environment and Ian Hutton, the Museum Curator and island naturalist, has a display of the effects of plastic bags on the island’s seabirds. Ian and the Board are encouraging all operators to use bio-degradable plastic bags and take away containers. They are even supplying these free to operators for 3 months. Many Lodges are now encouraging re-usable water bottles for all their guests.

Of course, here at Capella, we initiated the use of re-usable bottles many months ago as it is important to us to have as minimal impact as possible on the environment of Lord Howe.

Fly free to Lord Howe! Capella Lodge invites a great escape with free nights and free flights!

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Posted on 12th May 2011 by capella in Packages |Press Releases |Uncategorized

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Fly free to Lord Howe! Capella Lodge invites a great escape
with free flights and nights this season

Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island, celebrated as the first luxury lodge in the world’s last paradise is excited to announce its popular free return flights to Lord Howe offer as part of its Cool Capella Deals 2011.

The Fly Free Stay 7 Pay 6 package is valid in conjunction with a seven night stay in relaxed luxury in any suite at Capella 30 July – 30 September 2011 inclusive. There’s never been a better time or reason to explore Lord Howe this cool spring season.

Lord Howe is a sub-tropical ‘treasure island’ lost in time, a short flight from Australia’s east coast.
The gentle season from end July – September offers visitors a chance to reinvigorate as the spring season approaches and witness great activity as rare sea birds arrive to nest on this island paradise, home from their adventures overseas.

With Capella as a luxe base camp, guests re-energise on treks with breathtaking views to the horizon along magnificent ridges and clifftops with hidden caves, or explore fascinating walking tracks through tranquil palm forests and beneath the mysterious canopy of ancient spreading figs.

The world’s southernmost coral reef beckons, with the chance of an unforgettable encounter with a Green Sea Turtle, to explore an abundant submarine life by snorkel or glass-bottom boat.
Guests might make an easy friend of the large kingfish who swim thrillingly amongst knees and calves in order to grab a proffered snack.

Return to Capella to enjoy fine wine and world-class cuisine in great company. 

The Fly Free Stay 7 Pay 6 Cool Capella Deal offers a sky-high saving of up to $4,300 including one bonus night’s accommodation and two return Qantaslink flights from Sydney or Brisbane.
A week’s stay at Capella from just $3,900 per person with flights booked for guests makes a Lord Howe getaway so easy!  Conditions apply as below*.

Take off to Capella Lodge this season; fly free and take it easy!

*Fly Free Conditions

  •        Offer available for new bookings only, subject to availability.
  •        Booking must be prepaid at time of reservation. This is then fully non refundable.
  •        Payment must be made by credit card and incurs a 2.5% surcharge.
  •        Return airfares are included on a single or twin share basis; free airfare offer does not apply to additional persons.
  •        Flights to Lord Howe Island are operated by QantasLink from Sydney or Brisbane (direct flights only on a Sunday).
  • Pro rata fare surcharge applies from other ports.
  •        Fly free offer is based on seat class availability; an additional surcharge may apply for travel on certain flights.

       We recommend travel insurance.

Reservations: T (61) 2 9918 4355 | E reserve@baillielodges.com.au

Media Enquiries: E media@baillielodges.com.au |W baillielodges.com.au/media.asp

Images: A selection of Capella Lodge images is free for download

Editors Notes: Baillie Lodges is a collection of intimate luxury lodges in unique wilderness destinations. Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island launched the portfolio and continues to capture guests in its magic. Southern Ocean Lodge is Australia’s first true luxury lodge offering a premium nature-based escape. Both Baillie Lodges properties are honoured as founding members of Luxury Lodges of Australia.

Capella by Air

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Posted on 8th March 2011 by capella in General

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Aerial View of Capella on Lord Howe complete with chopper and cows grazing

The green with a view: Lord Howe Island International Golf Open

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Posted on 26th November 2010 by capella in Lord Howe Experiences

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From Lodge Manager, Libby Grant

This week is the Lord Howe Island  International Golf Open. 75 golfers have come from as far as Canada and Germany to play this five day tournament.  

The competition is played under the same rules and format as the Australian Masters which is currently playing in Melbourne with two exceptions; the prizes on offer and no, Tiger Woods isn’t playing!

The current leader is 83 years young and he also won the competition two years ago. Many islanders have joined in  and they all look forward to the friendly rivalry and especially to the bar being open in the afternoon!

The local policeman (yes we only have one) is playing, so luckily crime is not prevalent on LHI. It took the supply ship from the mainland  a few days to unload its cargo as there was no one to unload it!

That’s Lord Howe Island and yes, it is paradise.

A green with a view

Turtle time on Lord Howe

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Posted on 18th August 2010 by capella in Lord Howe Experiences |Media

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Turtle time on Lord Howe
Mike Dolan of The Australian Women’s Weekly greets a friendly turtle whilst snorkelling on Lord Howe Island. Mike says, ‘As I took the plunge with mask and snorkel, the turtle looked me in the eye as if to say, “Come on, mate, I haven’t got all day to show you around the bay”.’

Turtle cruises Lord Howe's waters

Lord Howe memories uncovered at the ‘Recycle Centre’

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Posted on 30th July 2010 by capella in Uncategorized

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From Libby Grant, Capella Lodge Manager

Visiting the LHI Tip or ‘Recycle Centre’ is a favorite outing for Mark, General Manager at Capella. Not only is it the tip designed to minimize waste being sent off the island, it is also a favorite hangout for any ‘collectors’, Mark being one (you could call him a hoarder!). One person’s junk is definitely the next person’s treasure. Mark’s favourite comment is ‘you never know when you may need it”, ‘it’ being the latest piece of junk that he has collected from the ‘Revolve’ section of the tip.
His favourites are a 40mm shell case from New Guinea that happened to be owned by our neighbour’s father who served in New Guinea during the WW2, and dozens of old reel-to-reel movies depicting fashion parades on the island in the 30’s. Yes, on LHI you can even find out who originally owned the junk!
Mark’s latest find has been a good one. A few weeks ago he found some old slides which Daniel (one of our illustrious staff at Capella) had made in to digital prints. We have given a copy of the disk to local Jack Shick who has in turn shown some of the senior residents who are now excitedly working out who’s who.
Some of the photos date back to the 1930s and others are from the 1960s. In the attached photos you will see photos of the Catalina Flying Boats (one actually beached), photos of the many fancy dress parties the islanders held and of course some obligatory photos of old swim suits.
I hope you enjoy the photos as much as we did.

Ps We will probably donate the photos to the Lord Howe Island Museum for their displays.

Lord Howe Island – a living history

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Posted on 20th April 2010 by capella in History

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From Lodge Manager, Libby Grant: A short history of Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island and nearby Balls Pyramid had a fiery beginning. They are part of a chain of 9 underwater volcanoes that stretches north for a 100km. The dominating, erosion resistant ramparts of 875m Mt Gower and 777m Mt Lidgbird were formed 6.4million years ago as lava filled in the crater of the LHI volcano.

 In 1788 the HMAS Supply under the command of Lieut Henry Lidgbird Ball was en route to the penal colony of Norfolk Island when he sighted LHI. Ball named the island after the first lord of the British Admiralty, Richard Howe. No one settled on LHI until 45 years after it’s discovery. Early settlers supplied provisions to the whaling fleets that plied the Pacific Ocean until the early 19th century when the Kentia Palm industry provided a

 lucrative alternative for the islanders. In the early 20th century tourism starting on LHI at Pinetrees and Ocean View Lodges. Before the outbreak of WW2 there were about 60 guesthouse beds on the Island. Now there are 400 and tourism is a thriving industry that supports the entire island community.

Lord Howe Island’s unspoiled environment is protected by its Unesco World Heritage status. It is also a National & Marine Park. All are maintained by the administrative board’s environmentally sensitive management policy of nurturing the flora and fauna to preserve the original character of the island.

Aren’t we lucky that we can experience this very special place?

The Lord Howe Island reef and mountains

The Mount Gower Summit Trek

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Posted on 12th April 2010 by capella in Lord Howe Experiences

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7 April 2010
The Mount Gower Trek justly deserves its ranking as one of Australia’s top day walks. Taking approximately 5 hours to reach the summit at 875metres and another 4 hours to return, this trek should not be taken lightly.
Marvel at the breathtaking views of Ball’s Pyramid, Mt Lidgbird, the lagoon and the northern settlement. Explore the cloud forest on the summit where lichens, ferns, orchids and mosses flourish.
This climb isn’t for everyone, it is extremely challenging. Licensed guides Jack Shick and Dean Hiscox conduct this Class 5 climb three days a week (weather depending).
So, if you are planning on visiting Lord Howe and Capella Lodge remember to start training! Not only are the views from the summit spectacular, you will also get up close and personal with the island wood hens who will be trying to pinch your lunch.
From March to September you will probably also find yourself being dive-bombed by the Providence Petrels which soar around the summit. As soon as they hear any loud noise they come crashing through the dense canopy.
A sojourn in the cedar hot tub is a must after this strenuous day – of course, only if you’re staying at Capella!