It sits there in the middle of the Tasman Sea, looking less like a mountain and more like a jagged, gothic shard of glass piercing the sky. That is Ball's Pyramid. It is roughly 1,844 feet of sheer volcanic basalt, and for anyone with a climbing harness and a bit of a death wish, it’s the ultimate trophy.
The Ball's Pyramid rock climb isn't your weekend trip to the local crag. Not even close. You are 12 miles southeast of Lord Howe Island. You’re in the middle of nowhere. The ocean swell is usually trying to smash your boat into the rocks before you even touch the stone. It’s brutal.
Most people don't realize that this is actually the tallest sea stack in the world. It’s basically the remnant of a shield volcano that formed about 6.4 million years ago. Imagine a giant mountain that just got eroded until only the "plug" was left. That’s what you’re looking at. It’s thin. It’s sharp. It’s intimidating as hell.
Why you probably can't climb it right now
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. You can’t just show up with some quickdraws and start moving.
Since the late 1980s, the Lord Howe Island Board has restricted access to the pyramid. It's a protected area. You need a permit. Getting that permit? Honestly, it’s like trying to get a meeting with a world leader. They usually only grant them for scientific purposes or very specific, high-level expeditions.
Back in the day, it was different. In 1965, a team of Aussies—Bryden Allen, John Davis, Jack Pettigrew, and David Witham—made the first successful ascent. They went up the South Face. It was a massive deal. Before them, people thought it was literally impossible because the rock is so crumbly and the birds are so... well, aggressive.
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The Phasmids and the "Lazarus" Moment
There is a weird reason why the island is so protected today. It’s a bug.
Specifically, the Lord Howe Island stick insect, or the "land lobster." Everyone thought they were extinct because rats on the main island ate them all. Then, in 2001, a group of scientists found a tiny colony of 24 insects living under a single Melaleuca shrub on a ledge 300 feet up the pyramid. It’s one of the most famous "Lazarus species" stories in biology. Because of those bugs, the pyramid became a biological sanctuary. If you’re climbing, you’re potentially stepping on a species that exists nowhere else in the universe.
The technical reality of the Ball's Pyramid rock climb
If you do manage to get the legal go-ahead, the Ball's Pyramid rock climb is a psychological nightmare.
The rock is basalt, but it’s not always the good kind. It’s often "rotten." You’ll grab a hold that looks solid, and it just turns into gravel in your hand. The exposure is 10/10. Because the stack is so narrow, you can see the ocean on both sides of you as you move higher. The wind howls through the spires. It feels like the rock is vibrating.
Most routes are graded around 14 to 20 in the Australian system (which is roughly 5.6 to 5.10a in US YDS), but the grade doesn't tell the whole story.
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- You have to deal with bird guano. It’s everywhere. It makes the rock slippery and smells terrible.
- The nesting Masked Boobies will literally peck your face off if you get too close.
- There is no fresh water.
- There is no easy rescue.
Dick Smith, the Australian entrepreneur, famously funded an expedition in 1980 where they reached the top and planted a flag. He’s one of the biggest advocates for the pyramid’s lore. But even he’s talked about how terrifying the logistics are. You’re basically landing on a tiny ledge from a bobbing boat in heavy seas. If the weather turns, your boat has to leave. You’re stuck on a rock in the Pacific.
Why people still obsess over it
It's the aesthetics. Look at a photo of it. It doesn't look real. It looks like something out of a fantasy novel.
For a climber, the draw isn't just the height. It's the isolation. We live in a world where everything is mapped, geotagged, and curated. Ball's Pyramid feels like the end of the world. It’s one of the few places where you feel genuinely small.
Logistics for the modern adventurer
If you’re sitting there thinking, "Okay, I still want to go," you need to pivot your expectations.
Since the 1982 ban and the subsequent strictness of the 1986 wilderness act, "recreational" climbing is basically a no-go. However, you can still experience the pyramid. You can take a boat tour from Lord Howe Island. Seeing it from the water is still a spiritual experience. The scale is impossible to process until you’re sitting in its shadow.
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Some people try to apply for "extreme" photography permits or scientific research aid roles. Unless you have a PhD in entomology or you’re a world-class climber assisting a documentary crew, your chances are slim.
What to bring if you (somehow) get the green light
- Double ropes. The edges are sharp. You don't want a single point of failure on a traverse.
- Plenty of slings. You’ll be doing a lot of natural protection around rock horns.
- Bird protection. Seriously. Wear a helmet with a visor.
- Water. Double what you think you need. The sun reflects off the ocean and bakes the dark volcanic rock.
The truth about the "Forbidden" climb
There are rumors, of course. Climbers are a rebellious bunch. There are whispers of "ninja" ascents—people sneaking out at night, landing in the dark, and topping out before the sun is high enough for the rangers to see them with binoculars from Lord Howe.
Is it worth it? Probably not. The fines are massive. You risk damaging a fragile ecosystem that is literally the last stand for a species. Plus, if you get hurt, you’re putting rescuers in a position where they might have to risk their lives in a restricted zone.
The Ball's Pyramid rock climb remains a legend because it is largely untouched. It’s a cathedral of stone.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Sea Stack Climber
Since Ball's Pyramid is currently off-limits for most, here is how you can actually scratch that itch:
- Visit Lord Howe Island: It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and limited to 400 tourists at a time. It is stunning.
- Book a boat tour: Jack Shick at Lord Howe Island Sea Tours is the go-to guy. He’s a descendant of the island’s early settlers and knows the pyramid better than anyone.
- Climb Mount Gower: If you want a legal, grueling challenge on Lord Howe, this is it. It’s an 8-hour trek/scramble that requires a guide. It gives you incredible views of the pyramid from a distance.
- Check the Lord Howe Island Board website: They update their management plans every few years. If the "Permit for Climbing" section ever opens up for recreational use again, that's where you'll see it first.
- Train for loose rock: If you want to do stuff like this, practice on chossy, coastal limestone or basalt in places where it's legal. Get used to the "three points of contact" rule on gear that feels sketchy.
Ball's Pyramid is a reminder that there are still places on this planet that don't belong to us. It belongs to the birds and the stick insects. We’re just lucky enough to look at it.