Somerset Apartments Lord Howe Island♡

Somerset staff exemplary and location the best.

8.0

Somerset is a great location in terms of access to everything being roughly half way between Ned's beach and the Lagoon with all the water based tour companies, bike hire and places to eat and drink nearby The room we had was up the back, very clean and had everything we needed Gardens, BBQ's and laundry all in good nick We had a flight cancellation and the staff knew all about it and when our rescheduled flight was also cancelled and we were put on another earlier flight Gae came and found us at the museum so we'd know and not miss getting to the airport. I also left my jacket in the transit lounge and she made another trip out to the airport to give it to me. Very impressed at this level of service, thankyou LHI is a very beautiful place and well worth the costs involved if you love nature above and below the water and the simplicity of just walking and cycling everywhere. If you need a lift there is also one available too.

Late Winter Visit

10.0

We just spent 9 nights in Hibiscus 10 apartment at Somerset. Our apartment had a perfect winter sun aspect for afternoons on the deck / balcony area enjoying a coffee and reviewing the day’s adventures. The island is sleepy this time of year but Gai and her team are in the know about what is open and will always help to point you in the right direction for a dinner booking or island activity. We travelled with a 10yr old and were there for lots of water and snorkelling adventures and the island didn’t disappoint - crystal clear water and an abundance of sea life to admire on both sides of the island. Water temps were great for the time of year. Because of the convenient location of the apartments a warm shower after a long snorkel session is never far away! We made the most of the onsite bbqs which are kept in excellent condition and maintained daily. Highly recommend visiting the island at this time of year - more often than not you can have the beaches and walking tracks all to yourself and the electric blankets on the beds make for a very cosy night’s sleep after a day of adventures! Tip for traveling with kiddos - the transit lounge has a small library of dvds that you can borrow for use in your room if you happen to have a rainy hour or 2 to fill!

Truly an oasis

10.0

This place is an oasis situated in paradise. All the staff are so warm caring and friendly so willing to help in every way they can. The accommodation was spacious and immaculate. They even provide dvds, games, books etc located in the transit lounge which is always open. There are modern bbqs located for guest use on the property. They are willing each evening to drive you to any eatery (99% of the eateries will drive you home afterwards). The place is located within easy walking distance of the islands two main beaches. There are plentiful places to leave your pushbike which is the main means of transport on the island. Only slight downfall is the accommodation doesn’t have ceiling fans or aircon but our cottage had a very large bedroom window which allowed for air circulation. Cannot recommend this place any higher, if you’re so inclined put this place on your bucket list. You will forever be thankful you did.

Very close to two beaches

10.0

First of all, Lord Howe Island is one of the most beautiful destinations we have ever encountered, and the Somerset Apartments were a wonderful place to stay while enjoying the island. We visited the museum, and went scuba diving, bird watching, and hiking. The apartments are basic, and ours had a small kitchenette with a microwave and refrigerator, which allowed us to cook small meals. There is homemade ice-cream at the post office, and a food truck at Ned's beach when we were there. The apartments are very conveniently located, midway and a short walk to both Ned's and Lagoon beaches. There is only one restaurant nearby, but there are two small grocery stores that had either burgers or some small pre-made meals for the microwave. For slightly more distant restaurants, a shuttle for pickup can be arranged. Sometimes the hot water was hit or miss, but otherwise we did not encounter any problems. The doors do not lock from the outside, which is a strange concept for us since we are long term urban dwellers, but we were assured our belongings would be safe when we were away. We had to cancel our first night because the weather delayed our plane, but we were aware of the 8 week cancellation policy, and the management provided us a letter for reimbursement from our travel insurance. We hope one day we can go back!

Don’t cancel or they steal your money

2.0

Be very careful - if you have to cancel like I did due to a medical emergency with a month to go, they steal all your money paid up front; no refunds, not even a credit for future use. As it’s really hard to even get a booking on the island, you know they would have rented it to someone else straight away, so they get paid twice for the same stay. Aaarrrgh! Never again. Shame on you. Mike Perth

Very laid-back, easy living

8.0

The lodge is composed of several scattered bungalow-like blocks nestled among the trees. Everything you might need is there: bed, bathroom (hot and cold running water), kitchenette with gas stove, sink, fridge and microwave oven, small TV with a small range of mainland channels, heating and air conditioning, furniture, pots and pans, crockery and cutlery. The rooms aren't locked, as thieves wouldn't get far. The staff are helpful and friendly. There are 3 guest laundries ($3) on site. Only a half-minute bike ride to the village centre (such as it is). Very peaceful, very pleasant.