Blackburn Island – known locally as Rabbit Island – is the small grassy island in the middle of Lord Howe's lagoon, about 700 m off Lagoon Beach. Pinetrees Lodge's local guide describes it as 2.4 hectares in area and only 32 m high, with a single banyan tree spreading over about 140 square metres and burrows of migrating wedge-tailed shearwaters (muttonbirds) across the ground. The summit gives a panoramic view of the island's peaks and the lagoon.

The island is a popular kayak and paddleboard destination, and the guide mentions snorkelling spots around its shores, though without detail. Being in the centre of the lagoon, the surrounding water is shallow sand and coral patches typical of the lagoon floor, where snorkellers can expect the lagoon's reef fish and a chance of turtles. The coral is less spectacular than at the holes near the barrier reef, but combining a paddle, a walk to the top and a snorkel makes a good half-day.

The key to the trip is the weather. Pinetrees describes paddling across when an easterly leaves the lagoon flat and glassy; westerlies make the crossing hard work. Landing is described as unofficially allowed, and visitors should avoid the shearwater burrows, which collapse easily.

It suits competent kayakers and snorkellers of all abilities once there. Scuba is not needed – the water is shallow and depth figures here are estimates. Check the marine park zoning map for the surrounding lagoon before fishing.

Lord Howe is reached only by air: QantasLink flies from Sydney daily (about 1 h 50 min), with Brisbane and seasonal Port Macquarie services. Accommodation must be booked before flights (visitor numbers are capped at about 400) and the checked-baggage limit is 14 kg, so most divers hire gear on the island. Blackburn Island sits about 700 m off Lagoon Beach in the middle of the lagoon.

Hire a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from the Lagoon Road boatsheds and paddle across, or swim if you are fit and the lagoon is glassy. Landing is informally tolerated and there are no marked tracks. Snorkel tours also pass the island.

The lagoon crossing is best on still days or in easterly winds, which leave the lagoon flat and glassy in the lee of the island. Westerly and south-westerly winds blow straight across the lagoon towards the shore and make paddling out hard and the return easy; do not attempt it in strong winds. Snorkel around the island at mid to high tide.

Visibility is typically 10–20 m in the lagoon.

Land the kayak on the beach, then snorkel around the island's shoreline, looking over the sand and coral patches for fish and turtles. Keep the kayak in sight.

No operator needed – kayak and SUP hire from the Lagoon Road boatsheds; some snorkel and glass-bottom boat tours pass the island.