Travel to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island – Episode 344

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lee Abbamonte, the youngest American ever to travel to every country in the world, about 3 islands off the coast of Australia: Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island.

“Australia is one of the best places to go in the world. It has so much to offer. It has mountains and beaches. It has nice people. It has about 10% of the population of the United States but has the same size. There is a lot to do, there is a lot to see. You could keep yourself occupied for years, but it also has these amazing islands off the coast.

Lord Howe Island is often considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world. It’s definitely one of the best islands in the Pacific. The whole island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are only 400 people allowed on the island at any given time. It is one of the most pristine and beautiful places I have ever seen.”

Norfolk Island is an interesting place. A lot of people from Pitcairn Island came to Norfolk Island, previously it had been a penal colony. When you go there today you see a mix of British and Polynesian people. While Lord Howe Island is tropical, Norfolk Island is covered by pine trees.

The main tourist draw on Christmas Island is the red crab migration. They claim there are 120 million red crabs on Christmas Island. They are absolutely enormous and they are the brightest red you have ever seen.

right click here to download (mp3)
right click here to download (iTunes version with pictures)

Show Notes

Lee Abbamonte Official Website
Territories of Australia
Lord Howe Island Marine Experience
Lord Howe Island Golf Club
Lorhiti Apartments
Arajilla Retreat – TripAdvisor
Norfolk Island Destinations
Christmas Island: The Red Crab Migration
The Boat People Riot
Captain’s Last Resort
World Heritage Site: Norfolk Island
Visitor’s Guide to Christmas Island

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Community

about the Travel to New Zealand’s South Island – Episode 341 podcast Corinne wrote:

“Loved your Southern NZ podcast.

My husband and I spent our three week honeymoon in New Zealand way back in the late 90s. Free wheeling we toured both islands by motorcycle and zig zagged across the south island. We overtook all those people who toured by campervan and thought we’d never use one. Our journey in the south started at Picton off the ferry, Kaikoura, Hamner hot spa springs, Christchurch, Akaroa (a beautiful French colonised town), twisted around Arthur’s Pass, Queenstown (did an adrenalin shot over boat ride), Milford Sound (over night on the more restful boat) & up the west coast to Greymouth.

Listening to Eric’s holiday and your commentary, I long to go back to visit our neighbour to the East. Living in Australia I agree with your comments about the differences between Australia’s dry and New Zealand’s wet terrain. We toured New Zeland in January and still got a lot of rain. We were prepared and had contingency days. Anyway, now with kids, them pesky campervans look appealing. I must be getting old. :-)”

Simon wrote:

GREAT SHOW!!
My wife and I love your podcast and can’t wait to listen to the next one. We especially like looking at the photos, so you can imagine our disappointment when we couldn’t find a way to see them on our android tablet. I remember you talked about it a few episodes ago but can’t remember exactly what. Can you please explain if there is a way to see the pics on android systems (on my small iphone I see them just fine).