Guest Information

Airport transfers

We’ll meet you at the airport on arrival and drop you to the airport on departure. We’ll also leave a note with all of your departure details on the doorstep of your room by 5.00pm the day before you depart.

Around the lodge

We have switched to an outdoor lodge during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have closed our indoor communal spaces such as the lobby, lounge and pool room. Please don’t enter any door that is clearly marked ‘staff only’. Note that if you need to use the telephone in the lobby, select a book from the lounge, or collect tennis rackets and balls from the pool room, then please come inside alone or with one other guest. Instead of our indoor communal spaces, we’ve increased the number of ‘garden rooms’ around the Pinetrees grounds to relax with family, friends and other guests.

Babysitters

Babysitters are not available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sorry!

Bar

Pinetrees is licensed and our bar has a great selection of beer, wine, simple cocktails, soft drinks and juices for sale. Bar service is available from 5.00pm–9.00pm every day. During this time, you should purchase any drinks you’d like to have with your dinner (and with lunch the following day) and also join other guests for an evening drink around the lodge. Please note that COVID-19 regulations apply. Under our COVID-19 Plan, you must not drink BYO alcohol on the lodge verandah or at dinner. You’re welcome to enjoy BYO drinks on your private verandah, at the boatshed, and around the Pinetrees grounds. The Lord Howe Liquor Store is open from 1.00pm–4.30pm (Monday to Saturday) and is about a five-minute walk from Pinetrees. You have a fridge in your room to keep your drinks cold.

Bikes

Bikes are the best mode of transport on Lord Howe – it’s part of the experience! Bikes are available at Wilson’s Hire from 9.00am – 5.00pm (Sunday to Friday). Road rules are the same as other towns in NSW and helmets are compulsory. Please ensure you return your bike to Wilson’s Hire by 10am on the day of your departure.

Bike parking

Please park your bikes in the Pinetrees driveway, and do not ride on the boardwalks.

Boatshed

The new Pinetrees boatshed is one of the best places on the island. Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic, only 18 guests can share the deck on a ‘first come’ basis, however, there are plenty of cosy spots along the foreshore where you can enjoy a quiet afternoon in the shade, or a sunset drink. If you followed our ‘what to pack’ suggestions and brought a picnic blanket, then you’ll be comfortable anywhere! Note that only BYO drinks can be consumed at the boatshed and along the foreshore – please don’t take alcoholic drinks purchased from the Pinetrees bar to the boatshed or foreshore. If you take wine glasses from your room to the boatshed, then please remember to bring them back.

Car hire

A limited number of hire cars are available from Wilson’s Hire, Thompson’s Store and Leanda Lei. Please park hire cars across the road from the Pinetrees driveway.

Check-out

Please depart your room by 10.00am, and leave your luggage on your verandah for collection prior to your flight. The Front Desk will be open from 9.30am – 10.30am (Monday to Friday) and 7.30am – 10.30am (Saturday and Sunday). Please check-out during these hours.

COVID-19

Our COVID-19 Plan follows the specific requirements for hotels on Lord Howe Island under the NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 5) 2020. The requirements for hotels on Lord Howe are more complex and detailed than for other hotels in NSW, given our relative isolation, limited medical care, and high proportion of vulnerable guests and residents. Some of our additional obligations, which are enforceable by NSW Police, are that we must have a process to collect health declarations from guests, we must have quarantine rooms available should guests need to self-isolate for 14 days, and we must keep household groups separate at all times. These additional obligations make Pinetrees one of the most strictly regulated hotels in NSW, and by default, one of the most COVID-19 safe hotels in NSW. Please read our COVID-19 Plan before arrival.

Credit cards

We accept Mastercard and Visa. Credit card fees apply. There is an ATM next door at the Bowling Club.

Day Spa

The Pinetrees Day Spa is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sorry! We had to convert the spa rooms to quarantine rooms under the NSW Public Health Order. If you’d like to arrange a physio treatment, massage, manicure or pedicure then please visit The Crooked Post Day Spa in the CBD. Note that Tim, Nam and Chile are busy and you’ll need to book in advance — just drop in to make an appointment (The Crooked Post is opposite Anchorage).

Electricity

Lord Howe is powered by diesel generators and we have limited power supplies. We can’t provide air conditioners or heaters (not that you’ll need them). Please help us conserve power and ensure your lights are turned off when you’re not using them.

Emergency assembly area

If there is a fire at Pinetrees, please leave your room, exit Pinetrees via the driveway and gather on the cricket ground, immediately to the north of Pinetrees.

Emergency contacts

A free phone is located in the Pinetrees lobby. While the lobby is closed to guests during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can go inside to use the phone at any time – strictly one or two guests at a time. In an emergency, please call the hospital on 6563 2000, the doctor’s residence on 6563 2056, the fire captain on 6563 2392 or the police station on 6563 2199. You can also dial 000. Our lodge manager can be reached on extension 28. Remember that you need to dial 0 for an outside line.

Enquiries and Front Desk

All enquires about your stay at Pinetrees should be made at the Front Desk from 9.30am – 10.30am (Monday to Friday) and 7.30am – 10.30am (Saturday and Sunday). During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re required to reduce the number of close contact hours between staff and guests, and have rostered a morning opening of the Front Desk to ensure a minimal impact on your daytime adventures around Lord Howe. We’ll also be visiting your private verandah during breakfast, and we’re happy to help with any queries during those visits. If you have an urgent enquiry, then please ring the service bell on the Front Desk outside of our service hours.

Books

We have a great selection of books in the lounge. While the lounge is closed to guests during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can go inside to select books at any time – strictly one or two guests at a time. Please return them before you depart.

Housekeeping

Our staff will service your room each day between 9.00am–4.00pm. Please use the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign if you’d like some privacy. If we can’t access your room, we’ll leave some fresh towels outside. We’ve also provided disinfectant sprays and other cleaning products so you can manage your own room outside of our daily housekeeping visit.

Internet

Internet on Lord Howe is very limited. There’s wireless internet service at the Lord Howe Island Museum and Anchorage Café – less than a five-minute bike ride from Pinetrees. There’s no internet service at Pinetrees (by popular demand). As horrific as it seems on arrival, you’ll love it by the third day of your stay.

Laundry

Our guest laundry has complimentary washing machines, clothes dryer, ironing board and detergent. There’s a guests’ clothes line next to the water tanks near the laundry.

Meals – breakfast

Breakfast is served on your private verandah between 7.30am–9.00am. We’ll collect your order, including your preferred time, at 9.30am the day before. Please leave your order on the timber clipboard on your dining table after breakfast. If you don’t have your menu ready for collection at 9.30am, then don’t worry – we’ll order for you (usually one of each option) and adjust for any dietary requirements. Excellent Mecca coffee is available from our barista on the lodge verandah between 7.45am–9.00am. Please don’t move your table, or take your breakfast to another verandah.

Meals – lunch

Lunch is delivered to your private verandah by 10.30am. We’ll collect your order for a sandwich of the day, salad of the day, picnic or BBQ at 9.30am the day before. Please leave your order on the timber clipboard on your dining table after breakfast. If you don’t have your menu ready for collection at 9.30am, then don’t worry – we’ll order for you (usually one of each option) and adjust for any dietary requirements. If you order a BBQ, we’ll deliver it to your chosen location by 11.30am and collect it around 3.00pm. You don’t need to wait for your lunch delivery if you’re planning to return for lunch at Pinetrees — it will be packed in a cooler bag to ensure it stays fresh for when you return. You can enjoy lunch on your verandah, or you can use any one of our outdoor areas, and share the space with family, friends and other guests. Please return your lunch cooler bag to the Front Desk every afternoon when you return to Pinetrees.

Meals – dinner

Dinner is served on the lodge verandah at 7.00pm. There’ll be four beautiful courses, including a plate of fine Australian cheese. The lodge verandah is licensed and we have an excellent wine list. Please don’t bring BYO drinks to dinner. Under our COVID-19 Plan, we can only allow joint tables for up to 8 guests, and those guests – normally extended families – must have dinner together every night of their stay. You’ll be considered the same ‘household’ under our COVID-19 Plan.

Meals – kids’ dinner

Kids’ dinner is at 5.45pm. It’s suitable for babies and kids up to the age of 12. The food is healthy and delicious and there’s always dessert. You’ll need to collect your kids’ dinner from the Front Desk at 5.45pm and enjoy it on your private verandah. Unfortunately, we can’t provide kids’ meals during dinner service at 7.00pm — there isn’t enough space in the kitchen! We’re happy to serve adults dinner on your private verandah from 7.00pm if you’d like to monitor your kids. Bigger kids are welcome to try adults’ dinner if they’re happy to eat adults’ food. Please ask us at check-in if you’d like supplies in your room to prepare an early breakfast for kids who wake up early. We can provide bread, a toaster, cereal, milk, fruit and yogurt etc. Kids love our picnic lunches and BBQs — just advise us in your order form if you’d like Vegemite sandwiches added to your hamper. We can provide mash or other soft food for babies.

Smoking

Telephones

While the lobby is closed to guests during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can go inside to use the phone at any time – strictly one or two guests at a time. Local calls are free and calls to the mainland require a calling card (available at the Front Desk). The phone number for the lodge is 02 6563 2177 so friends and family can contact you while you’re away.

Tennis

Please use the tennis court between 9.00am–6.00pm. While the pool room is closed to guests during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can go inside to collect the rackets and balls at any time — strictly one or two guests at a time. Please return the rackets and balls to the pool room at the end of your game.

Time

Lord Howe local time is the same as Sydney during the daylight-saving period, and 30 minutes ahead of Eastern Standard Time during the winter months. Please adjust your watch to make sure you don’t miss meals!

Tours and activities

Each morning at breakfast, we’ll provide some suggested tours and activities for the day based on the latest weather forecast. Our suggested tours and activities will help you experience the very best that Lord Howe has to offer. Most are dependent on weather, season, tide and a minimum (and maximum) number of guests, so please book early to avoid disappointment. You’re best to book your tour directly with the tour operator – most are located at the ‘boatsheds’ adjacent to the lagoon near the CBD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly suggest that you don’t participate in commercial tours unless you’re satisfied with their COVID-19 arrangements. As a guide, you should always wear a face mask in a confined space, such as a bus, and ensure that physical distancing of 1.5m is maintained at all times. When you visit a local cafe, sit outside if you can.

Towels

We provide separate beach and bath towels. Please reuse your towels (hang them in the bathroom or on your verandah) and help us conserve water and power.

Valuables

Lord Howe is a crime free community – yes, really. You’ll notice honesty systems at the Golf Club, Neds Beach and along the road for local produce. There is no lock on your door and no key. We’ve never had a case of theft at Pinetrees, but if you wish, please see us at the Front Desk and we can store your valuables in our safe.

Water

We have limited supplies of treated bore water for showers and filtered rain water for drinking. Please have short showers to help us conserve water. Our staff will show you the location of your filtered rain water tap when you check-in.

Yoga

Join our yoga instructor for morning yoga beside the Lord Howe Island lagoon. We specialise in creative vinyasa, and combine the flowing practice of vinyasa, with deep, targeted stretching for relaxation and strength building postures. We enjoy reading bodies, and offer modifications to ensure all levels feel nurtured, challenged and safe.

Our classes are available from Monday to Friday, and are for Pinetrees guests only. The class size is limited to 10 people, so it’s best to book at the Front Desk on arrival. Guests who book our one-week yoga package have priority, but we normally have space for casual visitors.