Stan, LZ1GC will be active as VK2/LZ1GC from Lord Howe Island, IOTA OC - 004, 23 November - 5 December 2025.
He will operate on 160 - 10m, CW, SSB, FT8, FT4.
Recent DX Spots VK2/LZ1GC
VK2/LZ1GC Log search QSL via LZ1GC direct.
Lord Howe – a volcanic island in the Tasman Sea
Lord Howe is a small volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, officially belonging to Australia. The island is so tiny that it is practically invisible from satellite, and on a globe it is depicted as a barely noticeable dot. The island is 10 km long from north to south and only 2 km wide. Lord Howe is currently officially recognized as a natural monument and is protected by UNESCO.
Lord Howe is one of the oldest islands in the Pacific Ocean, formed from volcanic rock. According to scientists' estimates, it is approximately 20 million years old. In fact, this piece of land was formed from two islets, as evidenced by an area of coral sand located in the middle of the island.
Modern Lord Howe is a popular tourist destination for lovers of unspoiled nature, clean sandy beaches, and a paradise climate. Upon arrival, you will fall in love with the endless green fields and tropical forests at first sight. Here you can fully enjoy the absence of annoying civilization: no power lines, highways, exhaust fumes, or other urban attributes.
Lord Howe Island. Author - patchtok.
History of the discovery and development of the island
The island was first discovered by Europeans on February 17, 1788, when it was accidentally stumbled upon by a British ship carrying prisoners under the command of Lieutenant Lidberg. However, the island remained uninhabited for some time after this event, until the first settlers arrived in 1834.
Incidentally, the first inhabitants brought nothing but harm to the local environment. In the early years, rare species of birds that lived only on this island and nowhere else in the world were exterminated. The main occupation of the first settlers was whaling, which resulted in the complete disappearance of large mammals from the island.
It was only in the 1930s that Lord Howe began to develop its tourism industry in earnest, when organized tourist groups began to visit the island. To this day, tourism is the main source of income for the local population and the backbone of the local economy.
Lord Howe Island. Author - patrickkavanagh.
Features of local life
The ethnic composition of the local population consists of Europeans and Polynesians, most of whom are Christians of various denominations, in particular Adventism and Protestantism. The locals speak English, which is very convenient for visiting tourists. The Australian dollar is used on the island.
Only about 350 people live here permanently, all in a small village with a single street. Due to the limited space on the island, you can only get around by bike—cars are allowed, but their use is strictly regulated by the local authorities. It is noteworthy that there is no mobile phone coverage on the island, allowing you to immerse yourself in the authentic atmosphere of island life.
Lord Howe Island. Author - John Game.
The unique nature of Lord Howe
The island is rightly considered one of the best places in the world for scuba diving – divers from all over the world flock here to enjoy the amazing beauty of underwater life. The coastal waters are home to so many fish that sometimes you can't take a step without bumping into their colorful schools. Here you can encounter more than 450 species of fish and admire the beauty of more than 90 species of coral. The water is crystal clear, making the conditions for scuba diving ideal.
Despite all the efforts of the first settlers, they did not manage to completely destroy all the local endemic species. Among the flora of modern Lord Howe, there are 70 species of rare plants that are found only on the island.
The island's flora and fauna are extremely favorable for tourists, as there are no poisonous snakes, dangerous insects, or plants, simply because they do not exist here. There is also no danger of encountering sharks in the coastal waters.
How to get to the island
Despite its modest size, Lord Howe has its own airport, which even has international status and mainly receives flights from Australia, France, and New Zealand. The island also has its own seaport, which is designed to accommodate small passenger ships and yachts.
When planning a trip to Lord Howe, keep in mind that the island can only accommodate a maximum of 400 tourists at a time, which makes vacation planning much more complicated, as all the organizational details must be taken care of in advance. For example, it is very difficult to book a plane ticket, as flights only carry small groups of passengers.
