http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball%27s_PyramidBalls Pyramid at 562m and 20 km south east of Lord Howe Island is an erosional remnant of a 6.9 million year old shield volcanic caldera.
It was first climbed in 1965 by a team of climbers from the Sydney Rock Climbing Club, consisting of Bryden Allen, John Davis, Jack Pettigrew and David Witham after a failed attempt by Dick Smith the Australian businessman/adventurer in 1964.Smith later climbed it successfully in 1979 claiming it for the state of NSW.Climbing was banned in 1982 and all access in 1986.Since 1990 permission to climb is by direct consent of the state minister.
It is at the junction of 5 ocean currents with over 500 species of fish and 100 species of coral.The coral here is the most southern reef in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Howe_Island_stick_insect
