Capella Lodge is the most romantic place to stay on Lord Howe Island. It is a nine-suite lodge on a hillside at the island's southern end, looking straight across the water to Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird, two basalt peaks that rise out of the sea. Only 400 visitors are allowed on the island at once, so even in summer the beaches feel almost private.
The lodge has the breezy feel of an upscale Australian beach house. Suites are bright and simple, with decks for watching the light change on the mountains. Rates include breakfast, sunset drinks and canapés, dinner with matched wines and an open bar from 6pm. Shared airport transfers and mountain bikes are covered too.
Capella suits couples who like nature with their luxury: hiking in the morning, snorkeling at lunch, a long dinner with a mountain view. It is less suited to couples who want tropical heat, a big pool scene or nightlife. Lord Howe is subtropical and quiet, with no resorts in the usual sense. Children aged ten and over are welcome, but with nine suites the guest list is mostly couples.
Highlights at a glance
- Just nine suites
- Direct views of Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird
- Dinner with matched wines and an open bar included
- Hot tubs on Lagoon Loft decks
- Island visitor cap of 400 people
Why Couples Love Capella Lodge
The view does most of the work. From almost every deck and the lodge's wet edge pool you look across Lovers Bay and the lagoon to the two peaks, which turn gold at sunset and disappear into cloud on moody afternoons.
The scale does the rest. With nine suites, dinner feels like a house party where nobody is obliged to talk. Staff plan your days around the weather, the tides and your energy levels, then send you out on a bike with directions.
Lord Howe itself is a UNESCO World Heritage island with the world's southernmost coral reef. There are no high-rises and very few cars. Most people get around by bicycle. For couples who want a honeymoon that feels like an expedition and a retreat at the same time, it is hard to beat.
Suites to Book
All suites sleep two as standard. Choose by space and outlook.
- Capella Suites, about 45 square meters, are the entry level, with high ceilings, a private deck and cameo views of the ocean and mountains through the kentia palms.
- Lagoon Lofts, about 65 square meters, have a mezzanine king bedroom, lagoon views and a hot tub on the private deck. This is the honeymoon sweet spot.
- The Makambo Loft, about 160 square meters, is the premium mezzanine suite facing Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird.
- The Lidgbird Pavilion, about 125 square meters, has wraparound verandahs and panoramic ocean and mountain views. The lodge calls it a favorite for special occasions.
The two-level Catalina Suite has two bedrooms and suits friends or a small family.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Dinner is the centerpiece of a Capella day. The kitchen works from local produce, with a daily changing menu that often features line-caught fish and greens and herbs from the kitchen garden. Each course comes with a matched wine, included in the rate.
Before dinner, sunset drinks and canapés are served while the mountains change color. The open bar with premium wines and spirits runs from 6pm. Your in-suite bar holds snacks and drinks, replenished daily, though spirits there cost extra. Lunch is not included, so pack a picnic or eat at one of the island's cafés during the day.
The Capella Spa uses alkeme, an Australian-made spa range. After a day on Mount Gower, a massage is the obvious way to finish.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Lord Howe rewards active couples. The guided day hike up Mount Gower, 875 m high, is one of Australia's great walks and needs a good level of fitness. Book it well ahead with a licensed guide. Mount Lidgbird's lower slopes and the Goat House Cave track are other good climbs.
In the water, snorkel straight from the beach at North Bay, where green sea turtles graze, or hand-feed fish at Ned's Beach. A boat trip to Ball's Pyramid, the world's tallest sea stack about 20 km south, is a highlight for divers and birdwatchers alike.
If one of you prefers slower days, there is a nine-hole golf course with ocean views, kayaking on the lagoon and plenty of quiet beaches for reading. The lodge provides adult mountain bikes, with e-bikes for hire.
Getting There
Flights from Sydney (SYD) to Lord Howe Island Airport (LDH) take about two hours on small turboprops, so seats are limited. Book flights and the lodge together, months ahead for summer and holiday periods. Luggage allowances on these flights are tight, so pack light.
The lodge collects you at the airport on a shared transfer, included in the rate. The island is small enough that you will not need a car.
There is a two-night minimum stay, though four or five nights is a better plan given the travel time and the weather. The lodge sometimes closes for a few weeks in the Southern Hemisphere winter for maintenance, so check dates before planning a June to August trip. A one-night non-refundable deposit applies for stays over Christmas and January.
Is It Worth It?
Capella is expensive. Official rates start around AUD 2,000 a night for two in a Capella Suite in the cool season and rise to around AUD 5,000 for the Lidgbird Pavilion at peak (approximate). Add flights to the island.
What you get is a small, well-run lodge on one of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific, with dinner, drinks and transfers handled. The views from the Lagoon Lofts and the Makambo Loft are worth the step up.
It is the wrong choice for couples who want tropical beach heat, a full-service resort or lots of activities on site. Arajilla Retreat offers forest seclusion at a lower price. Pinetrees Lodge suits couples who want full board on the lagoon with an old-school island feel. For warm-water reef and full all-inclusive, look at Lizard Island instead.
Insider tips
- Book a Lagoon Loft for a hot tub on your deck and a lagoon view from bed.
- Reserve the guided Mount Gower hike when you book the lodge; places are limited.
- Pack a picnic lunch for the beaches, since lunch is not included in the rate.
- Visit Ned's Beach at low tide for the clearest snorkeling and fish feeding.
