The Broken Banyan is a great self catered accommodation option at Lord Howe Island. When combined with Qantas Frequent Flyer classic awards bookings it can become a very affordable holiday.
We were able to use points and an Agoda Homes booking for just $275 per night. Shortly after we made our booking we were in communication with Barbara, the lovely owner of the Broken Banyan.
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The Broken Banyan Apartments
There are only six apartments at the Broken Banyan. The apartments are built across three small well spaced buildings providing plenty of privacy. On the nights we stayed there was only one other guest.
The apartments consist of a bedroom with ensuite and kitchen lounge area. There is also a small covered balcony with additional seating which overlooks the lovely gardens.
We found the apartment very comfortable for our three night stay. You will need to bring your own shampoo and conditioner.
While there is no air conditioning fans are available on request.
There was also a television broadcasting mainland channels. For some reason we ended up watching Alice Springs television, at least the ads were interesting.
How Long Should I Stay At the Broken Banyan
We booked for four nights but due to weather only stayed for three. As a result some of the activities we had planned such as Balls Pyramid, Fishing, Island Tour etc just were cancelled. I would recommend not prepaying for any activities until you were confident they were on.
If you stayed for seven nights you would have a better chance of doing all the activities Lord Howe Island has to offer, even if you holiday ends up being shortened due to weather.
How Far is the Broken Banyan from Key Attractions
While the Broken Banyan is not next to any of the key attractions it is centrally located and everything is a relatively easy walk
- Joys Shop 400m
- Coral Cafe and Lord Howe Island Museum 600m
- Middle Beach 700m
- Neds beach 850m
- Lagoon Beach 1km
- Old Settlement Beach 2km
- The Anchorage Restaurant 1.2km
- Lord Howe Island Golf Club 3.4km
Do I Need A Bicycle At The Broken Banyan
While we planned to hire a cycle on our visit the rental shop was closed on the Friday we arrived. On our 3 night stay we found we saw enough of the Island without needing a bicycle.
We did average over 20,000 steps a day or around 20km of walking each day. This was a combination of hiking the island trails and walking to the various beaches.
While a bicycle is convenient on Lord Howe Island it is not essential.
Airport Pickup At Lord Howe Island
Barbara and her dog Charlotte met us at the airport. We had to mask up and use hand wash. She then took us on a small tour of the small Island.
On the way to our accommodation we stopped at Joys Shop for provisions. The shop had nearly everything we needed (except milk which was on our plane and had not been delivered). While there is a Lord Howe Island premium on food it was reasonable considering the distance it has to travel.
Barbara was helpful throughout the trip with restaurant bookings and other tips.
At the end of our stay she safely returned us to the airport.
There Is No Mobile Reception At Lord Howe Island
Once you land at Lord Howe Island you quickly find out there is no mobile reception. The NBN has arrived and relies on Satellite so it’s good for email, messaging and simple browsing, dont expect to stream Netflix.
The Broken Banyan has wifi however it does not reach all the rooms, to access wifi you need to stand in the garden next to the laundry.
If you want to make calls out of Lord Howe Island there are plenty of phone booths or you could consider signing up for Skype.
BBQ choices on Lord Howe Island
You are spoilt for choice for BBQ’s at Lord Howe Island. The Broken Banyan has two gas BBQ’s that are clean and ready to go.
The other choice is to visit one of the fully stocked with timber BBQ;s at one of the many beaches. The Lord Howe Island community restocks the BBQ’s with timber each day, There are tables to prepare and enjoy your meal. The views from these BBQ’s are amazing and make a great alternative to dining in a restaurant.
There are frozen sausages and steaks available from Joys Shop. These are shipped across from Port Macquarie and are very good.
Summary
The Broken Banyan is a great choice for couples looking to have a reasonably priced tropical island adventure. You will need to book early, at the time of writing it was booked out six months in advance.
