IS THIS paradise?

Some 700km out into the Pacific from Port Macquarie lies Lord Howe Island, believed by many to be the most perfect isle on the planet.

With just a couple of hundred permanent inhabitants and a maximum of 400 tourists at any one time, Lord Howe has managed to avoid the commercialism that is rampant in other beautiful parts of the same ocean.

Thank goodness the big property developers have been kept at bay, as the wonder of the place lies in its natural state. The waters are a brilliant blue, the sea life truly astounding and the sounds are little more than the crash of waves, wind in the leaves and birdsong.

Luxury accommodation & cottages in Lord Howe Island, NSW

At dusk, a fish-feeding ritual has continued for decades, with locals identifying individual fish they say have been turning up nightly year after year.

Cycling is the way most visitors get around, and there are several cafes that serve a good cappuccino should your energy levels flag. There’s a glass-bottom boat touring around the coral gardens, which are among the most southerly in the world.