The best guide to timing a visit to Lord Howe Island is the weather. Monthly averages run from about 17 degrees on a winter day to about 23 degrees in summer, and that spread decides most of what you will want to do.
This page sets out the seasons month by month, then lists the dates that mark the island's story. For anything current, Visit NSW, the official state tourism site, at https://www.visitnsw.com/, is the place to check.
Lord Howe Island events and the shape of the year
The island is small. It is about 10 km long, between 0.3 and 2.0 km wide, and fewer than 500 people live there, most of them in the north. Only 400 visitors are allowed at a time, which sets the scale of everything on the island.
Our Lord Howe Island activities page covers what to do once you are there, and the seasons below show when the weather suits it.
Summer: December to February
Summer is the warmest stretch. Daytime highs average 21.4 degrees in December, 22.7 in January and 23.1 in February, with overnight lows staying above 20 degrees. Nights barely cool at all.
Rain is light by the island's standards. January has 8.4 rain days and 73.4 mm, the driest month of the year. February is a little wetter at 83.7 mm, and it records the fewest sunny days of any month at 25.9. December and January each average 28.9 sunny days.
The west coast has a sheltered coral reef lagoon, and snorkelling is one of the island's drawcards. Summer's warm nights make it the easy season for it.
Autumn: March to May
Temperatures ease down through autumn. Highs fall from 22.4 degrees in March to 21.2 in April and 19.8 in May. Rainfall rises, with March at 103.2 mm and May at 100.6 mm, and rain days climb from 9.4 to 10.9.
It remains mild, and sunny days stay high at between 27.9 and 28.6 in each of the three months. We reckon autumn suits walkers who like comfortable air rather than summer warmth. Mount Gower, the island's highest point at 875 m, rises over the forested hills in the south.
Winter: June to August
Winter is the coolest and wettest season, though cool is relative here. Highs average 18.4 degrees in June, 17.5 in July and 17.3 in August, and overnight lows stay around 16 degrees.
June has the most rain, at 108.7 mm over 12.7 days. July has the most rain days, 12.9. August is clearer, with 82.5 mm and 29.1 sunny days, the highest of any month. For a quieter, cooler visit, August is the pick of the three.
Spring: September to November
Spring warms slowly. Highs sit at 17.9 degrees in September, 18.6 in October and 19.9 in November. Rainfall settles to 82.0 mm, 76.6 mm and 86.3 mm, and rain days fall to between 8.9 and 9.1.
October is the second driest month after January. Sunny days run at 28.2, 28.7 and 27.9. Nesting seabirds are among the island's natural attractions.
Month-by-month climate
| Month | Max (C) | Min (C) | Rain (mm) | Rain days | Sunny days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22.7 | 21.5 | 73.4 | 8.4 | 28.9 |
| February | 23.1 | 21.9 | 83.7 | 8.1 | 25.9 |
| March | 22.4 | 21.2 | 103.2 | 9.4 | 28.6 |
| April | 21.2 | 19.8 | 86.4 | 9.6 | 28.1 |
| May | 19.8 | 18.2 | 100.6 | 10.9 | 27.9 |
| June | 18.4 | 16.8 | 108.7 | 12.7 | 25.7 |
| July | 17.5 | 15.9 | 95.8 | 12.9 | 27.5 |
| August | 17.3 | 15.6 | 82.5 | 11.4 | 29.1 |
| September | 17.9 | 16.3 | 82.0 | 9.1 | 28.2 |
| October | 18.6 | 17.1 | 76.6 | 9.1 | 28.7 |
| November | 19.9 | 18.4 | 86.3 | 8.9 | 27.9 |
| December | 21.4 | 20.1 | 87.8 | 8.3 | 28.9 |
These are 1991 to 2020 averages for the island area.
Dates in the island's calendar
A few dates are part of the island's story. Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball first reported sighting the island on 17 February 1788. Permanent settlement began in June 1834, when the whaling barque Caroline landed at what is now Blinky Beach. The island was added to the Australian National Heritage List on 21 May 2007.
These give a visit in February or June a bit of context. Our Lord Howe Island attractions page covers places to see, and the Lord Howe Island destination guide gives the wider picture. Full background is also on Wikipedia: Lord Howe Island.
Because of the 400-visitor limit, booking early makes sense whatever the month. Browse Lord Howe Island accommodation before you commit. Flights run from Sydney, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Port Macquarie, and the island sits 600 km east of Port Macquarie across open ocean. Its time zone is UTC+10:30, or UTC+11 when daylight saving applies.
Frequently asked questions
When is the warmest time to visit Lord Howe Island?
February, with an average high of 23.1 degrees and an average low of 21.9. January and March are close behind.
Which month is driest?
January is the driest, at 73.4 mm over 8.4 rain days. October is next at 76.6 mm.
Which month has the most sunny days?
August, with 29.1 sunny days on average. December and January follow at 28.9 each.
