4 Best Hotels in North Coast, New South Wales

One of the most luxurious accommodations on Lord Howe, Arajilla Retreat contains 10 spacious suites and two two-bedroom suites. Decorated with understated elegance, rooms have crisp white walls, timber blinds, polished wood floors, cream sofas, and Asian-style furniture. Each has a separate lounge area and a deck or terrace overlooking a lovely palm-filled garden. Just steps from Old Settlement Beach, one of several lagoon beaches on the island's western shore, Arajilla has all the charm of a boutique hotel, and rates are fully inclusive of meals, including room service, afternoon tea, and predinner drinks and canapés. Guests mix and mingle in the funky main lounge and bar area, which is a cross between a stylish beach house and a gentlemen's club, with its comfortable leather armchairs and sofas. The restaurant serves modern Australian cuisine, including fish caught by the owner Bill Shead. Guests are provided with mountain bikes, snorkeling gear, light fishing rods, and backpacks to ensure they get the most out of their stay. A spa offers facials and massages and some wonderful ayurvedic treatments.

Three luxury bures—the Fijian word for cabin—may be only 650 feet from the city center, but the lush, peaceful setting makes it feel like a private oasis. All bedrooms have king-size beds and are outfitted in calming blues and whites, and bathrooms are stocked with high-end French toiletries. Georgi, the host, has gone to great lengths to create a quiet atmosphere for adults.

In the shadow of Mt. Gower, Capella Lodge is Lord Howe Island's most posh lodging—views from the terrace and each of the nine suites are sensational, taking in the gorgeous lagoon to the north and the volcanic peaks to the south. While it's a little out of the way, Capella Lodge has a beautiful setting, and nothing is too far away on so small an island. The high-ceilinged accommodations include lofts and single-level suites, plus the spacious Lidgbird Pavilion, with its wraparound veranda and plunge pool. All have an elegant beach look reflected in the sandy and sea hues and shuttered doors. A small spa administers mud wraps and hot stone treatments and has an inviting old-world timber hot tub camouflaged by kentia palms. Rates include all meals, along with pre-dinner drinks and canapés, and wine with dinner.

Right on Lagoon Beach and a short walk from the popular bowling club, the Pinetrees Lodge has a terrific location and is the largest accommodation on Lord Howe Island—with motel rooms, suites, and garden cottages. The property is run by descendants of the island's first settlers, and is one of the few hotels on the island that stays open year-round. Rooms are clean and tidy and without too many frills, but the location and family atmosphere are great draws. There are good deals for stays of more than five nights as well as themed packages (honeymoons, spring wellness weeks). Meals are included in the rates, and the staff can prepare picnic lunches. The lodge has a familiar guesthouse vibe, as guests sit at the same tables for dinner at set hours. Guests love the daily sunset drinks at Pinetrees's own beachfront boat shed. Check online for five-night packages—they are often start from around A$2970 per person and include all meals (including afternoon tea).