Occupying a luminous 344,400-square-kilometre stretch of ocean off the coast of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef – as the largest reef in the world – is without a doubt Australia's most famous. But on a recent trip to the beautiful NSW idyll of Lord Howe Island, we discovered a surreal stretch of magic that’s just as spectacular. From my experience, the corals that form the reef around Lord Howe Island aren’t quite as vibrant as the Great Barrier Reef’s technicolour display, but I found them even more beautiful: a pared-back, very NSW palette of deep mossy greens and electric pops of turquoise. This stunning stretch of reef is, as it happens, the southernmost coral reef in the world – here’s the lowdown.
Where is the southernmost coral reef in the world?
Just off Lord Howe Island’s prehistoric crescent of mountains and white-sand beaches, you’ll find a reef system that sits closer to the Tasman Sea’s crisp winds than any other coral habitat on Earth. Its latitude alone makes it a rarity – a subtropical outlier thriving where, biologically speaking, coral reefs shouldn’t really be able to.
How big is the reef around Lord Howe Island?
The reef at Lord Howe Island spans around 25 square kilometres, creating a sprawling, protected marine playground that feels purpose-built for adventuring. It’s vast enough to explore for days, but intimate enough to feel like your own secret discovery.
What does the reef around Lord Howe Island look like?
As with any coral reef, it’s mesmerisingly beautiful: branching corals, delicate plates and pink-tinged gardens swaying lazily with the current. Because of the island’s unique location – perched between tropical and temperate waters – the ecosystem is more muted than the neon-hued Great Barrier Reef. On calm days, you get glassy water and light shafts beaming down like underwater spotlights. On choppier days or rougher sections of sea, the reef feels moodier – a cinematic, rugged sort of beauty.
What animals live around the Lord Howe Island reef?
This UNESCO-listed marine park is flush with life, including Galapagos sharks, slow-moving turtles, seasonal visitors including humpbacks and dolphins, and a super-varied community of fish.
What is the snorkelling and diving like around Lord Howe Island?
The lagoon on the island’s western side is shallow, sheltered and perfect for leisurely floats over coral bommies – great if you’re more of a low-impact, “snorkel-and-sunbathe” type of explorer. Out at the reef’s outer edges, things get more dramatic: towering drop-offs, volcanic caves and swim-throughs teeming with life (you can even snorkel with the local community of Galapagos sharks).
If you’re tempted to explore, you can read our full guide to Lord Howe Island here, and book a tour with Dive Lord Howe or Marine Adventures.
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