Beachcomber Lodge

Gary, the owner, made sure we had what we needed, gave us walking advice, and even dropped us at restaurants in the evenings. We spent a wonderful week at Beachcomber Lodge in May and would certainly stay again on our next trip to Lord Howe Island. Our apartment was well appointed, with a modern bathroom and kitchenette, a huge bed, and a cosy lounge looking over lovely gardens. The Lodge sits between Ned's Beach and the lagoon. Town, restaurants, the museum, and several hiking trails are all reachable on foot or by bike. We thoroughly recommend it.

We chose it because it was the only affordable place with vacancies on Lord Howe Island for our dates. At $500 per night, we expected great service, but it was only just adequate and far from friendly. Contacting the owner by phone or email was difficult, and once we did, getting answers was almost impossible. We never saw the owner. At the airport, we didn't know who to look for: the vehicle had no sign, and the driver had no hotel shirt. He was pleasant but not especially friendly, and someone from another establishment had to point him out. The one bedroom apartment had no working smoke alarm. The older building had been renovated, but the rooms were dark and the lighting poor. Beds were comfortable, and ceiling fans ran day and night to cool the place. Ventilation meant leaving doors and windows open, so we could hear everything said in adjoining rooms. The shower had hot water but poor pressure. Security was very limited, and they seemed surprised when we asked for a key to lock our room while out. The kitchen wasn't really suitable for preparing meals, so we ate out, though the fridge and microwave were handy. We weren't told clearly at booking that the room wouldn't be serviced for six days. We could get clean towels, but were expected to sweep and empty bins, and to request fresh towels every few days. We used the laundry for our clothes and the 2 beach towels provided, but it was hard to find at the back of the lodge. Paths were uneven, and the track to the clothesline went through bushes. The uphill walk from everywhere is good for keeping your step count up, but not fabulous. They can drop you at a restaurant of your choice each night, since their restaurant is no longer operating. Overall, the stay was okay, but it felt more like a backpackers than an idyllic holiday establishment. I wouldn't stay there again.

We've been lucky enough to stay here twice, and both times thought it was the best place on the island. Brilliant accommodation, just a short walk from Neds Beach and the Main Street. Highly recommend it. Thanks Gary & Paul! Drewe, Bridget & Charlotte

Paul was fantastic, always available to book dinner and take us there, and the grounds were pretty. The room was okay for the price, and worth it for a stay on such a gorgeous island. It’s not far from everything, though the hotel is up a hill, so be ready for the ride if you’re on a bike. There’s no air conditioning here, though I’m pretty sure nowhere on the island has it. People at other accommodations told us they didn’t either, but I could be wrong. We were in the room next to the housekeeper’s. She was loud at night, with people over and loud phone calls a couple of nights, clearly audible through the walls. Not fun when you’re already trying to sleep without AC. I also didn’t like that there was no do not disturb hanger for when we didn’t want room service. I’d recommend staying here, but ask for a room away from the housekeeper’s headquarters if you’re a light sleeper like me.