What is a ‘Island Picnic'?
An ‘Island Picnic’ is a unique outdoor dining experience on Lord Howe Island. We provide low lying picnic tables, luxurious cushions and rugs and beautiful tableware along with a delicious antipasto platter. Love Lord Howe does all the work for you so you have nothing to do but arrive and enjoy. But the best part? We pack it all up and do the dishes too!
How do I book a picnic or platter?
Platters and picnics for up to six people are bookable online via our website. Picnics can be booked up to 8pm the evening before your preferred day and platters can be booked up to 11am for same day delivery. We take full payment for your platter or picnic at the time of booking. If you require a picnic for more than six people, please contact us.
How far in advance do I need to book a picnic or platter?
Love Lord Howe highly recommends booking well in advance to avoid disappointment. Due to the organisation, set up and preparation time involved, Love Lord Howe limits the booking of picnics to two per day. We accept bookings of up to 10 platters per day.
What locations do you offer?
Although amazingly beautiful, Lord Howe Island can be a very windy place. As wind can ruin a picnic, Love Lord Howe does not confirm the location of your picnic until the day before, although we are happy to take location requests.
The day before your scheduled picnic, Love Lord Howe will advise you of the best possible picnic location via email. We will take into consideration the wind direction, ease of access and the picnic table required. Love Lord Howe will explain the best way to get to your picnic location, based on your transport (if you are riding a bike/walking/using a car) and provide a map if required.
Does Love Lord Howe provide transport to or from platter or island picnic locations for guests?
Sorry, we cannot assist with transportation. Due to the Lord Howe Island Board’s strict Vehicle Importation Policy, Love Lord Howe only has access to a sole vehicle for our business. This vehicle is in constant use delivering platters or transporting equipment for our island picnics. If you require assistance with transport, please contact Macca at Wilson’s Hire on 02 6563 2045. Wilson’s Hire has bikes, cars and mobility scooters for rent. Book early to avoid disappointment.
What happens in the event of spillages/breakages or if the wooden platter goes missing?
Large spills requiring dry cleaning will incur a cleaning fee and breakages will need replacing. We will also need to replace any platters which are not returned to continue to service our guests. This information is detailed in our terms and conditions, which must be agreed to prior to booking.
What is the process on the day of our picnic or platter delivery?
Picnics
Picnics generally begin in the afternoon and you select your preferred time during the booking process. If you require a different time, please contact us.
Love Lord Howe will have your picnic set up and ready to go at your location (which will be emailed to you the day prior) at the booking time selected. We will wait with your picnic until you arrive, and then come back to collect and clean up your picnic at sunset or another agreed time.
Platters
Platters will be delivered to your selected location at the time selected during the booking process. Please allow 10 minutes either side of your requested time for delivery.
Once you are finished with your platter, please dispose of any left over food and bottles/cans in the bins provided at your location. Then place the platter, any bowls, cheese knives and drinkware in the large ‘Love Lord Howe’ bag provided with your platter. Tie the handles of the bag together and leave it in a visible spot as close to the road as possible. We will collect your bag later in the day! Lord Howe is a very safe place with many hotels and lodges offering a similar service. We would really appreciate if items were rinsed prior to collection!
Do you cater for people with mobility issues?
Love Lord Howe understands that sitting on the ground at a low picnic table might be difficult for some people. We can use standard picnic tables and chairs on request. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Are your island picnics suitable for kids?
Kids are more than welcome at our picnics. However, please keep in mind that the styling, the crockery, the glassware and the antipasto platter food provided is designed to delight adult attendees. We can amend the platter to more ‘kid friendly’ options if required. For more information, please contact us.
What if I’m running late for the picnic or I’m not there to accept the platter delivery?
Picnics
Love Lord Howe will wait with your picnic for up to 20 minutes past the agreed start time. If you have still not arrived by this time, Love Lord Howe will place any prepared food in an insulated cooler bag to be left unattended and place a large covering over the picnic set up. The entire set up will then be left unattended until you arrive. Love Lord Howe will still return at the agreed finish time to pack up. Please note that we will still return at sunset or the agreed pack up time regardless of your arrival time.
Platters
If you are not at the agreed drop off place and time for your platter, Love Lord Howe will leave your platter and any drink purchases in plain sight at the agreed meeting place awaiting your arrival. Your platter will be left in an insulated cooler bag, but should not be left unattended for too long to avoid spoilage. Love Lord Howe is not responsible for food spoilage should we be required to leave your platter unattended.
Can we hire the picnic set up for longer than the regular picnic duration?
Yes, you can subject to availability. Please contact us with your requirements. Extra hourly hire costs apply.
What happens when we finish having our picnic?
Love Lord Howe will return to collect all items at sunset, or another agreed time. Guests are responsible for all items until collection. If items are missing when the picnic is collected, replacement fees apply.
What happens in the event of inclement weather?
Platters
Love Lord Howe will still attempt to deliver the platter to the agreed location. If this location is outside and not undercover, Love Lord Howe will deliver the platter to your Lodge. As part of our booking process, you advise Love Lord Howe which lodge you are staying at during your time on Lord Howe Island. There are no refunds for inclement weather.
Picnics
No refunds are offered for cancellations due to wet weather.
Due to the outside nature of our business, it is essential that guests have a back up plan should we be unable to set up an outdoor picnic due to wet weather.
We are able to set up picnics at your lodge or in another undercover location as long as we are granted access. As part of our booking process, you are required to advise us where you would like us to set up your picnic during wet weather.
Love Lord Howe will contact you the day before your booking via email to confirm your wet weather location. If we have availability for a picnic on an alternate day during your stay we will advise you in the same email. Please note a change to the date and time is NOT guaranteed.
What food and drinks are provided at your island picnics?
All our picnics include a deluxe antipasto grazing platter which includes fine cheeses, homemade dips, speciality crackers, fresh seasonal fruit and other yummy treats. We also provide a jug of lemon infused Lord Howe Island rainwater.
During the booking process, you can also add a bottle of wine, champagne or a few craft beers at an additional cost.
What if I have dietary requirements?
Love Lord Howe can cater for dietary requirements, provided adequate notice is given. We ask that guests with dietary requirements book as early as possible to enable speciality ingredients to be ordered.
What if less/more people arrive at the picnic then I booked for?
For each person booked and paid for, Love Lord Howe provides individual crockery, cutlery, drinkware and floor cushions. We also ensure there is enough delicious food for the amount of people you have booked for.
If you anticipate there will be more people than you originally booked for, please contact us prior to 8pm the evening before your scheduled picnic. Subject to availability, we may be able to accommodate them. Extra charges apply.
If less people arrive than planned, there are no refunds offered.
Do you offer gift vouchers?
Yes! We offer gift vouchers. They are the perfect gift idea for anyone visiting Lord Howe Island. All vouchers have a three year validity and are non-refundable once purchased. Please ensure the recipient of the voucher books their picnic or platter prior to arriving on Lord Howe Island – last minute bookings may not be available using a gift voucher due to demand.
Do you have FAQ's specifically regarding your Lord Howe Island Stargazing experiences?
Yes! Please click here to view our Stargazing FAQ’s.
What is your cancellation policy?
No refunds are offered for cancellations due to wet weather. During wet weather, platters will be dropped to your lodge or can be dropped to Ned’s Beach Shed on request.
Love Lord Howe will endeavour to reschedule Island Picnics to an alternate day during your stay, however this is NOT guaranteed due to booking availability and time constraints. As part of our
booking process, you are required to advise us where you would like us to set up your island picnic during wet weather if we are unable to re-schedule your picnic. Should you wish to cancel your picnic or platter for another reason, the following cancellation policy applies:
Outside 14 days from your picnic:
If you wish to cancel, we will issue a full refund minus a $10 service fee, plus costs of any speciality items already purchased for your individual booking.
Between 7 to 14 days from your picnic:
If you wish to cancel, 50% of your pre-payment is forfeited. We will refund the amount for any unused alcohol/soft drink purchases.
Within 7 days of your picnic:
100% of your picnic pre-payment is forfeited. We will refund the amount paid for any unused alcohol/soft drink purchases. This is because our catering supplies are ordered in from the mainland via our fortnightly freight ship and may spoil if not used. We also may have turned away other picnic bookings in order to confirm your particular time and date.
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