The majority of Lord Howe Island, off the coast of NSW, is closed due to the highly contagious fungus myrtle rust

An Australian holiday destination popularized by Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth has suddenly closed to tourists due to a ‘highly contagious’ environmental threat.

Lord Howe Island, located in the Tasman Sea 600 km east of Port Macquarie, NSW, is off limits to ‘non-essential visitors’ due to myrtle rust – an invasive disease-causing fungus.

The island’s board released a statement on Wednesday advising that the Permanent Park Preserve (PPP), which covers about 70 percent of the island, was temporarily closed.

Tourists with or without authorized guides, researchers, residents and houseguests cannot enter the reserve because boat routes, bush tracks and authorized access points are closed.

It comes after myrtle rust was discovered on the island on Feb. 3, but has now spread to other areas despite efforts to eradicate the fungus.

Myrtle rust (pictured) a highly contagious, disease-causing fungus, affects plant foliage by preventing the plant’s ability to make photosynthesis, causing the plant to decline or die

Efforts to date have focused on minimizing spore load and spread through curative and preventive sprays.

Myrtle rust spores are highly transferable and can be spread on clothing, skin, hair, footwear and equipment.

“Due to the escalating risk, the PPP is being closed to prevent spread through human activity. We recognize that this is not the only way traces can be spread, but it is one way we can control.

‘Park closures also enable more intensive planning, assessment and structured research.’

Myrtle rust is a highly contagious plant disease that affects the endemic Myrtaceous species, which are dominant in many of the island’s plant communities.

The fungus could impact the island’s critically endangered ecological community, consisting of the mountain rose tree, scaly bark tree and gnarled mossy cloud forest.

“The rust has the potential to change the way our mountains and forests look,” the board said.

‘It [rust] can alter food webs and ecology and potentially affect World Heritage values, including the visitor experience and economics associated with those values.”

The popular destination is a favorite of Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth (pictured, with wife Elsa Pataky on Lord Howe Island)

Hemsworth holidayed on the island in 2020 with family and friends (pictured)

The Thor: Love & Thunder actor labeled the holiday destination a ‘paradise’ and praised the island’s sustainability

Lord Howe Island Board called myrtle rust a “dangerous threat” and said the reserve will be monitored weekly, but did not specify when the island will reopen.

“The closure will be in effect until there is confidence that necessary hygiene practices can be implemented consistently and effectively and that resources are in place to enforce this and support a managed level of visitation,” it said.

The World Heritage-listed site has been hailed as an ‘untouched paradise’ with its white sand beaches, formidable cloud forests, clear waters and bursting coral reef.

Travel giant Lonely Planet praises Lord Howe Island as a ‘shining example of sustainably managed tourism’ as it only allows 400 visitors at a time.

A-list celebrities, including actor Chris Hemsworth, have praised the sustainability of the island.

The Thor: Love & Thunder star took to Instagram to share photos from a vacation with family and friends on the island in 2020, calling the destination a “paradise.”

“Lord Howe Island is one of the most sustainable destinations in the world with only a few hundred visitors at a time,” Hemsworth wrote.

“This paradise is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the world, but like many small communities, it depends on tourism.”

Lord Howe is a legendary fishing destination, with over 500 species of fish and 90 species of coral living in the waters around the island (pictured)

The island’s remoteness makes it a safe haven for several native animals, including 14 species of seabirds (photo: Sooty Tern on North Beach, Lord Howe Island)

Despite being only 11 kilometers long and two kilometers wide, the island is home to some of the world’s best hiking and biking trails, as well as world-class snorkelling and scuba diving around the nearby Admiralty Islands.

Lord Howe is also a legendary fishing destination thanks to a ban on commercial fishing, with over 500 species of fish and 90 species of coral inhabiting the waters around the island.

Guests are encouraged to participate in environmental initiatives and clean-up projects, and can even hand-feed fish at Ned’s Beach for a close encounter with the local wildlife.

Once an active volcano, the island’s remote location makes it a safe haven for several native animals, including 14 species of seabirds.