Go to Lord Howe Island before the rest of the world finds out it's on the World's Best list.

Look, it’s a real kick in the guts that little Lord Howe Island – home to less than 400 people, only slightly bigger than a postage stamp, is on this year’s Lonely Planet’s Best Places To Visit List.

Because it’s already hard to get to – you have to fly on a small plane, and the planes are often delayed and cancelled because it’s not amateur hour landing on the little spot – and it’s already expensive to go there – with limited resources, it costs a fair bit to run a resort there – but now it’s going to be even harder.

And that’s a shame, because Lord Howe Island is the most gorgeously glorious, completely unique place you’re ever going to get to.

 

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A post shared by Holly Wainwright (@wainwrightholly) on Oct 14, 2017 at 1:36pm PDT

It’s a dead-set island paradise that can never be too busy (only 400 tourists can ever be on the island at any one time), can never be over-developed (it’s World Heritage-listed, which means incredibly strict rules about building anything) and can never be over-run by digital nomads (there’s no WIFI, or even mobile phone reception).

Nope, all you’re going to get on Lord Howe Island is scenery so stunning you’ll be tapping it to see if it’s a film-set; deserted, pristine beaches where you can wade in and swim alongside colourful fish and turtles in the clearest warm water you’ve ever seen. You’ll get mountains to climb (if you’re into that sort of thing), bushwalks to wander, push-bikes to ride along palm-fringed, car-free roads.

You’ll get a taste of strange and fascinating local history (the stunning Pinetrees Lodge has been in the same family for five generations, and was once a pine plantation run by a gun-toting matriarch), you’ll get incredible food and wine and seafood that couldn’t be fresher and you’ll get sunsets that make you teary. At least, they make me teary.

What’s it like to live on Lord Howe, a beautiful place with no Internet? Listen to this TGM episode to find out. Post continues below.

You’ll also get the opportunity to snorkel and dive a pristine reef that’s as-yet untouched by the bleaching that plagues its Queensland relative.

Most of all you’ll get peace and beauty and boasting rights forever.

So make the effort and bloody go, before this Lonely Planet business ruins it for all of us.

* In case you’re wondering, Lord Howe Island is officially in New South Wales, and is about 600 kilometres east of Port Macquarie. You can fly there from Sydney and Brisbane.

If you were ever in doubt about travelling there, here are 21 pictures that say it all.

 

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No one wants to be stranded on an island, but we seriously wouldn’t mind if it was @visitlordhoweisland! ????️ @jamesvodicka found this “secret island spot” on his last visit to this @visitnsw island that only allows 400 visitors at any one time, so it’s definitely possible to find a secret spot all to yourself. A two-hour flight from @sydney, you’ll feel worlds away surrounded by its incredible lagoon, beaches, walking tracks and wildlife. Our tip: Stay at the luxurious @pinetreeslodge, @capellalodge or @arajillaretreat to experience how to holiday on ‘island time’. ???? #seeaustralia #NewSouthWales #LordHoweIsland #travel #wildlifephotography

A post shared by Australia (@australia) on Jul 26, 2019 at 4:00am PDT

 

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One of the most incredible experiences ever. @visitlordhoweisland

A post shared by kitotemkin (@kitotemkin) on Oct 23, 2019 at 7:43am PDT

 

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Tommy with a cheeky short game

A post shared by Joelydoodman???? (@joelydoodman) on Oct 19, 2019 at 10:16pm PDT

 

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Two hours from Sydney. . . . . . . . . #australia #newsouthwales #lordhoweisland #travel #marinesanctuaries #lifeaquatic

A post shared by Ben Mckelvey (@bennymck) on Oct 22, 2019 at 11:12pm PDT

 

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Lord Howe Island jetty. Water around the Island is so clear. . . . #lordhoweisland #lordhoweislandtourism #australia_shotz #ozscapers #focusaustralia #dronepals #droneofficial #droneglobe #droneoftheday #lonelyplanet #natgeotravel #raw_australia #ig_aussiepix #aussie_photos #mint_shotz #newsouthwales #australia #aussie_images #visitnsw #mynikonlife #nikonaustralia #tourismnsw #agameoftones #signatureshots_hub #followmebythesea #special_shots #1killershot #goandcapturethelight #raw_beaches #ig_worldbeaches

A post shared by Peter Rodda (@pjr_images) on Oct 22, 2019 at 1:12pm PDT

 

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Magical Lord Howe Island ???? It’s no wonder why @visitlordhoweisland was just named the 5th best region to visit in the world on @lonelyplanet’s Best In Travel Guide for 2020! With views like this, I don’t know how the island isn’t more well known to everyone! Tag a friend you’d love to visit Lord Howe Island, Australia with ???? #LordHoweIsland #JustParadise @visitnsw #NewSouthWales [hosted] #RSJSinAustralia . Model: @jasminealley

A post shared by Haley • Austin Travel Blogger (@readysetjetset) on Oct 22, 2019 at 8:51am PDT

 

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The Lord Howe Island Providence Petrel Selfie from the top of Mt Gower… challenge set Hemsworth! ????

A post shared by @ james_tobin on Jun 5, 2019 at 2:50pm PDT

 

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Little bit of birthday fun for my guesties this week ????

A post shared by Jessica Thomas (@wildchildsworld_) on Oct 17, 2019 at 10:43pm PDT

 

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The primordial forest.

A post shared by Rebecca Hastings (@hastings.rebecca) on Oct 13, 2019 at 11:55pm PDT

 

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What we have on earth is all we’ll ever have. We need to remember that. ????

A post shared by Andrea Elbaile (@aelbaile) on Oct 8, 2019 at 1:37pm PDT

 

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Window seat views leaving @visitlordhoweisland this morning on @qantas ???? talk about paradise…. @visitnsw #lordhoweisland #newsouthwales #justparadise #australia #windowseat

A post shared by Haley • Austin Travel Blogger (@haley_explores) on Oct 23, 2019 at 2:50am PDT

 

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..”my left stroke just went viral”.. #fbf to the family holiday on Lord Howe Island and a rare glimpse of me on the golf course.. @visitlordhoweisland

A post shared by Mark Scrivens (@thisismarkscrivens) on Oct 17, 2019 at 10:51pm PDT

 

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Today we took a cruise to the amazing Ball’s Pyramid, a jaw-dropping structure that happens to be the largest sea stack in the world. It’s also home to the world’s rarest insect, the phasmid. Which means no more climbing! #lordhowe #visitnsw #destinationnsw

A post shared by Natasha Dragun (@ndragun) on Oct 16, 2019 at 12:39am PDT

 

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Reposting my first ever Instagram post and one of the first underwater photos I took! It sure has been fantastic… Thanks so much for all your support ????????????

A post shared by LAWRENCE SCHEELE (@snorkeldownunder) on Oct 15, 2019 at 3:32am PDT

 

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A great day down at the rock with some beautiful fish caught by robinsonbrothers_ and their Family. Drop down to the marine adventures shed to book your spot! #kingfish #ballspyramid #shimanofishing #downriggershop

A post shared by Sea Lord Howe (@sealordhowe) on Oct 4, 2019 at 1:38pm PDT

 

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A special little moment captured by my Dad ????????

A post shared by Sophie (@sophruddell) on Oct 4, 2019 at 1:34am PDT

 

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Boys just Wanne have waves, sun and a surfboard ????☀️????‍♂️ #australia #visitnsw #lordhoweisland #blinkybeach #spring #dayoffinparadise #islandlife #beautifulpeople

A post shared by ALEXANDRA FEGERS (@alex_fegers) on Sep 30, 2019 at 12:00am PDT

 

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Get me a dentist.. #cows #lordhoweislandtourism #blwanderluxe #islandlife #farm #dairy #dentist #checkoutthatsmile #smile #upcloseandpersonal #cowslife #greengrass #thesmell

A post shared by penny boyd finnegin12 (@penny_boyd_thelzyphotog) on Sep 29, 2019 at 7:59pm PDT

 

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Perfect afternoon ???????????? #lordhoweisland #living_australia #islandlife #wineoclock #love #admiraltyapartments

A post shared by Gina Krick (@ginak_lhi) on Sep 27, 2019 at 1:44am PDT

 

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I think we’re settling in

A post shared by Taigs (@taighanschroder) on Sep 26, 2019 at 1:29am PDT

 

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u n t o u c h e d , | empty beaches and waves ????. Lord Howe Island is rarely marketed as a surfing destination, but this UNESCO World Heritage island with its reef-fringed lagoon and the world’s southern most coral reef, is also home to rolling waves. We caught some little waves here at Blinky’s (where locals just leave their boards in the dunes to use whenever they come down; it’s ridiculously safe here), but you can also find waves at Ned’s, and some great reef breaks out in the lagoon. It’s so outrageously beautiful here. #flashback #blinkysbeach #itsbeautifulhere

A post shared by it’s beautiful here. (@_itsbeautifulhere) on Aug 7, 2019 at 5:21pm PDT

Have you visited Lord Howe Island? If so, tell us about your favourite things to do there in the comments below.