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A secret beach where you can spend your summer

Avoid the crowds and book your next holiday in this hidden but haute coastline

By Nyree Mcfarlane, Deputy Editor, Scene magazine
Published: 13:19 July 25, 2012

Image Credit: Supplied picture
Stay here at Capella lodge. This nine-room luxury lodge is positioned on the southernmost tip of the island (think Maldivesmeets-Avatar) and is styled like a luxury Aussie beach house – all pale weatherboard and glass fronts. Rooms are from Dh2,400 per person, per night including airport transfers, gourmet breakfast, sunset drinks and canapés, soft drinks and a gourmet threecourse pairing dinner. lordhowe.com

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Sir David Attenborough described this unique island 660km off the New South Wales coast as “so extraordinary it’s almost unbelievable” – how’s that for an endorsement?

With just 360 permanent residents, and only 400 beds for tourists, a trip to the World Heritage-listed paradise is guaranteed to be peaceful, oh and did we mention that temperatures range from a blissful 19°C to a lovely 25°C?

The beaches are pristine – and the snorkelling and scuba diving is world class thanks to the island being home to the world’s southernmost reef, which boasts 90 different corals.

And, because there are hardly any cars on this quirky 10km long spot, you can easily walk and cycle your way between shores (but Blackberry addicts, be warned, there’s no cellphone reception, although there is internet).

As for inland adventures, there are four species of birds found here that live nowhere else in the world and there’s the 2,87ft-high Mount Gower to be tackled – but most of all, go to Lord Howe to just relax.

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