Mount Gower — Local services in Lord Howe Island

OK, so we signed up with the island's most experienced guide to climb Mt. Gower. He didn't disappoint and has methodically and safely delivered the adventure. Jack even dropped me back to the resort when I couldn't bike back (legs died!). In a group of 20, my husband and I finished last, 15mins behind the pack. The journey was pretty much straight up and same way down, each way roughly 4 hours, with a couple of short traverses on the wall of the mountain (people with vertigo might find them challenging). We counted a total of 35 ropes along the way to pull up/abseil down steep parts of the climb. If you read this before the climb, we like to share our hindsight: you need relatively fit bodies and endurance. Your knees if weak or have had injuries before can benefit from taping or knee guards. Gloves to avoid chafing when handling ropes, walking stick even if you have room in your backpack. Lots of energy nibbles that are handy and bite sizes. A decent snack at the summit to load up energy for the way down (I thought down is more challenging than up. Up is more leg strength). We hiked Kim's Lookout and Malabar Hill the day before and thought for a much more manageable hike the view was unparallelled. Looking around and down from summit of Mt. Gower is of course special but the relative effort to get there is huge. Our lucky star and guardian angel, Malakai (second mountain guide) was with me the whole way down, motivating and assisting the whole way, offered to stop and rest. When recounting our day with the resort staff, one said to us that Malakai (bare-foot-gentleman-climber extraordinare) usually runs the course, and doing it...

Best hike I've done in my life! Absolutely beautiful views every step of the way. The rocky beach, to the huge black volcanic cliffs, to the lush forest and finally the misty mountain at the top which is like another world- and the Providence Petrels! One crash landed to the ground right in front of the girl in front of me! Was awesome ! You can only do this hike with a guide, and we had Jack from Lord How Island Environmental Tours and he was awesome ! Very knowledgeable and friendly man. Mount Gower is a must do if your on this Lost World (Lord...

This was one of the most challenging walks (actually no, climbs) I have ever done. The end result is definitely worth it. Jack was a wonderful guide with a wealth of knowledge.

If you are scared of heights this is not the walk for you. On certain parts you are required to pull yourself up via rope and going down can seem even more intimidating.

Would I recommend this to other people? - definitely, it is a veiw which is worth going through the pain...