Capella Lodge — Hotel in Lord Howe Island

This lodge gets high marks for its unbeatable location with unbelievable views. This alone is worth the stay if you have any interest in visiting Lord Howe Island. It wasn't a perfect stay, but this property is one of one, and we happily overlooked some of the minor issues we experienced during our stay.||While we are an active couple, as far as the lodging experience goes, we want the best: most spacious rooms with the most amenities, as well as the best view possible. In the case of this property, that honor goes to the Lidgbird Pavilion. Thankfully, it was available for the four nights that we had earmarked for our visit, and we are glad that we did. But first, the views....||Upon arriving at LHI Airport, we felt it was closer in appearance (and appeal) to Bora Bora or the Northern end of Kauai - it was not boring and flat, it was lush, but still had the turquoise blue waters that island escapists crave. And, stepping foot into the reception/dining area of Capella Lodge revealed how perfectly situated this property was. It faced the twin peaks of Mt. Lidgbird and Mt. Gower, with not a trace of civilization within the view line. That's because it's all other accommodations (and buildings, for that matter), are North of Capella Lodge, meaning nothing got in the way of the postcard-perfect view (it's the equivalent of Diamond Head in Oahu or Mt. Otemanu in Bora Bora.) The dining area as well as the common deck area both face the ocean and the peaks, and it's a gorgeous place to pass the time, including at sunset, when the fiery red sky and the mountains contrast beautifully with the lit-up plunge pool in the foreground.||I am not sure how many of the rooms have similar views, but the Lidgbird Pavilion definitely did. We are not fans of maisonette-style (i.e.) rooms, but in this case, I can see why it was necessary. The lodge itself is in a lush setting, so you really need to be higher up to have the nice views. It's a 125m² Suite with a living room and large deck (with a plunge pool) on the first floor and the bedroom and a smaller deck (with the awesome view) upstairs. It was a comfortable place to pass the time - while it's not super new and modern, the furnishings and decor did exhibit a warm vibe. The only exception was the bath room and vanity, which seem to have more recently been renovated, with the style in stark contrast with the rest of the Pavilion.||Note that the Lidgbird Pavilion does not have air conditioning, and provide no toothbrush or toothpaste (come on.) Also - and this was the case with Southern Ocean Lodge as well (both owned by the Bailey family) - the bed comforter was h-e-a-v-y. For the prices that they charge, I would really like them to have something lighter and fluffier. Would it inconvenience them so much to supply the rooms with down comforters? On the plus side, the accommodation does have toilets in both floors, saving people time and effort in using the loo. The other benefit: One of the two electric buggies (i.e. golf carts) are reserved for exclusive use for guests staying in the Lidgbird Pavilion. While bicycles would also fit the bill, in cases of variable weather it's nice to have a buggy that can be covered up when a sudden downpour emerges (it happened during our time there.)||Food was nice overall. They really made an attempt to offer decent cuisine, despite the challenges of procuring fresh ingredients on a daily basis. The Vietnamese fresh spring rolls they offered on our arrival was excellent, as was the Potato gnocchi with mushroom, bacon, wattle seed and macadamia. The fish, however, was only so-so, and the majority of the time, it was Kingfish - it's relatively dry and flavorless, with very little fat, making it difficult to bring out any sort of umami out of it. Well over half of our fish dishes during our time in Australia was Kingfish. Given that it's surrounded by water, I kind of thought they'd have more edible fish varieties here?||Service quality here was uneven and unpredictable. Pre-arrival, we discovered that there might be a chance for some rain, but had forgotten to pack a light rain jacket. I called the lodge in advance, asking if they sold any in their boutique or had any to borrow. The lady on the phone immediately said "no." And that was that. A day later, I got a call telling me they have rain jackets for sale. Hmmm. Another example was the time when our return flight to Sydney was cancelled due to inclement weather. I was silently lamenting our plight, when one of the managers looked up at me, dismissively, and said "that's why you get insurance, you know?" That was weird - of course it wasn't about the money, I was just thinking whether there would be any other option to get out. An hour later, I got a call in our room from the same lady, telling me there's a flight to Port Macquarie, and then maybe I can get a ticket to fly from Port Macquarie to Sydney. She managed to hold our reservation and we got the last two seats on the plane.||Dinner was less uneven and was overall pleasant. They were helpful, insightful in explaining each dish and the ingredients, although a few of them appeared a bit cold. They weren't, but it was unlike the Australia stereotype that I had experience throughout our trip through the country. That said, they were engaging and helpful overall, although not super anticipatory.||We spent 4 nights in Lord Howe Island, which seemed like the right amount of time to explore the island, do some nice hiking and also take the wonderful scenic flight that also passed by the iconic...

I can’t rave enough about my stay at Capella Lodge—it was an absolute dream from start to finish! From the moment I arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make me feel like nothing was too much trouble. Their level of attentiveness and genuine care was nothing short of extraordinary. They ensured I never had to lift a finger, taking care of everything with such warmth and professionalism. It honestly felt like they were one step ahead of me at every turn, anticipating my needs before I even realized them!

The food—oh my goodness, the food was out of this world! Each meal was a culinary masterpiece, and every day brought something new and exciting. The variety and quality were truly unmatched, and I was left in awe with each course. It’s clear that every dish is carefully crafted with love and attention to detail.

One of the most touching moments during my stay was when they celebrated my birthday. Not only did they surprise me with a delicious cake, but also a thoughtful present! It’s rare to experience such personal touches, and it made me feel incredibly special.

The level of service at Capella Lodge is unparalleled. My room was cleaned not once, but twice a day, ensuring that it was always in pristine condition. And each morning, the staff helped me plan out my daily activities with enthusiasm and care, making sure I had the best experience possible.

If you’re looking for a luxurious, stress-free getaway where every detail is taken care of and you’re treated like royalty, look no further than Capella Lodge. I simply cannot recommend this place enough—if I could give it more stars, I absolutely would. It’s an experience that will leave you feeling pampered, rejuvenated, and grateful. Trust me, you...

While you cannot fault the location of Capella Lodge as the only accommodation south of the airport, with impressive views of Mt Gower from the dining areas and some room decks, it was the service and the food that was stand out. We were met at the airport and had a quick mini-bus tour on the 5 minute trip to Capella Lodge where we were installed on the outdoor lounge with a glass of bubbly. From that point, every staff member came to know our names and engaged us at every opportunity. We did get the sense of being watched as our complimentary mini-bar was restocked with beer, wine, snacks and cheeses seemingly every time we left the room. Cars are scarce on Lord Howe but I did notice that other guests had hired a car which was a complete waste of money. Bikes are provided to all guests and e-bikes for a fee. There is an electric golf buggy which seats 6 that you can hire; although they gave it to us for a day. Otherwise, they will ferry you around the island on request. 2 level studio room was comfortable but I would not say luxurious but even though the weather was terrible for most of our stay (roaring 60km winds and rain) we did not spend much time in the room - except to luxuriate in hot tub while wind and rain did their thing. Food and wine is fine dining every night (and breakfast is pretty good too) and food would rate with best restaurants we have attended. If you are (very) adventurous, book your Mt Gower 8hr adventure well before you arrive. Snorkeling from glass bottom boats seems to have better availability (most seem to close on Saturday) but weather put-paid to those for us. Fantastic place, fantastic lodge. Thanks to Anna, Anna, Anna, Shanna, Hanna, Hanna and Annabelle for...