The French South Pacific paradise of New Caledonia offers you lovely tropical beaches as well as rainforests great for trekking, unspoiled coral reefs with excellent diving and good possibilities for sailing, golf and windsurfing. You can also find interesting indigenous cultures as well as chic French cuisine, nightlife options and unique wildlife on these islands. With all this in mind, it is no wonder that New Caledonia has become a popular getaway for French and Japanese visitors.
South Pacific Islands located in the Western Pacific Ocean to the east of Australia, New Caledonia is an overseas territory of France. The territory consists of the main island of Grande Terre, one of the largest islands in the South Pacific, Île de Pins and the Loyalty Islands (Iles Loyaute), as well as many small islands and atolls. The native inhabitants of New Caledonia, Melanesian Kanaks form today a bit less than half of the population of New Caledonia. The rest are descendants of French settlers, French people who have recently moved into the area, and Polynesian or Asian immigrants.
Nouméa, the largest city and capital of New Caledonia, is a predominantly French city that hosts majority of the hotels, restaurants and nightlife in New Caledonia. It is also home to great beaches called Baie des Citrons and Anse Vata, colonial architecture, a popular sailboat harbor, as well as several good museums, casinos, a zoological park and an aquarium. There are several golf courses in New Caledonia, and numerous beach resort areas can be found on the large island of Grande Terre. The various smaller islands of New Caledonia are also fascinating yet remote travel destinations. Île de Pins is famous for its unique pine trees tall enough to make masts for ships, and also hosts great beaches and excellent diving, whereas the Loyalty Islands offer pristine coral reefs and indigenous cultures. Sailing and windsurfing in New Caledonia are popular activities during the dry season, and big game fishing in New Caledonia is excellent.
How to get there. Unless you own a yacht, travel to New Caledonia can be done exclusively by air. Grande Terre has an international airport receiving direct flights to New Caledonia from France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and several Asian and Pacific Island countries.
South Pacific Islands located in the Western Pacific Ocean to the east of Australia, New Caledonia is an overseas territory of France. The territory consists of the main island of Grande Terre, one of the largest islands in the South Pacific, Île de Pins and the Loyalty Islands (Iles Loyaute), as well as many small islands and atolls. The native inhabitants of New Caledonia, Melanesian Kanaks form today a bit less than half of the population of New Caledonia. The rest are descendants of French settlers, French people who have recently moved into the area, and Polynesian or Asian immigrants.
Sights and activities in New Caledonia: diving, trekking, fishing, sailing and golf
The main attraction in New Caledonia is its varied and unique natural environment, ranging from world-class beaches to mountains, rainforests and endangered dry forests, as well as a large barrier reef that is second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in size. Parts of this reef system are now protected as a World Heritage Site, offering excellent possibilities for snorkeling and diving in New Caledonia. The forest areas host a great diversity of unique, endemic, and primitive plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, making trekking in New Caledonia a great experience. Visits to the villages of the local Melanesian people can also be arranged.Nouméa, the largest city and capital of New Caledonia, is a predominantly French city that hosts majority of the hotels, restaurants and nightlife in New Caledonia. It is also home to great beaches called Baie des Citrons and Anse Vata, colonial architecture, a popular sailboat harbor, as well as several good museums, casinos, a zoological park and an aquarium. There are several golf courses in New Caledonia, and numerous beach resort areas can be found on the large island of Grande Terre. The various smaller islands of New Caledonia are also fascinating yet remote travel destinations. Île de Pins is famous for its unique pine trees tall enough to make masts for ships, and also hosts great beaches and excellent diving, whereas the Loyalty Islands offer pristine coral reefs and indigenous cultures. Sailing and windsurfing in New Caledonia are popular activities during the dry season, and big game fishing in New Caledonia is excellent.
New Caledonia travel tips and practical information
The climate in New Caledonia is tropically hot and humid, and modified by southeast trade winds. The winter season from May to August has the coolest temperatures, better suitable for outdoor activities, with sunny days and cool nights, whereas the wet season in New Caledonia from November to March has higher temperatures, more frequent rainfall as well as mosquitoes and occasional tropical cyclones.How to get there. Unless you own a yacht, travel to New Caledonia can be done exclusively by air. Grande Terre has an international airport receiving direct flights to New Caledonia from France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and several Asian and Pacific Island countries.
Photo: Espirit de l'Ouve, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
There are also regular domestic flights between the main islands and travel destinations in New Caledonia. The New Caledonian capital Nouméa is a popular sailing harbor, attracting yachters from throughout the Pacific outside the cyclone season. Besides domestic flights, local transport within New Caledonia is also offered by buses, boats and taxis. Car rental in New Caledonia is available on Grande Terre. Taxis in New Caledonia have to be called in advance.
The main language in New Caledonia is French and there are also 28 different indigenous languages. You can find English-speakers in Nouméa and in the main tourist facilities, but learning some French is essential if traveling outside these areas in New Caledonia.
Services & safety. There is a good number of hotels in New Caledonia, especially in and around Nouméa. Restaurants in New Caledonia range from high-end French dining in Nouméa to small local eateries in the more remote areas. New Caledonia is a fairly expensive but safe destination with no major crime problems. As in most other places, using common sense will keep you safe. The main threat to your health in New Caledonia is the poisonous and potentially dangerous marine life such as sea urchins and sea snakes.
Short history of New Caledonia
It is estimated that New Caledonia was first inhabited from Southeast Asia some 50,000 years ago. Several waves of migrants both from Asia and Polynesia have settled in the area. The local indigenous culture is considered Melanesian. The English explorer James Cook first sighted Grande Terre in 1774, naming it New Caledonia as it reminded him of Scotland. Both French and British tried to settle New Caledonia, and eventually the island was made a French colony in 1853. The French settled the drier east coast of Grande Terre, as the rainy west coast and the smaller islands were left mainly to the indigenous people.Separatism. After the wave of decolonization in the South Pacific, the indigenous Kanaks in New Caledonia started demanding independence, which led to violence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The conflict ended with Nouméa Accord in 1998 promising more internal government to New Caledonia. France also has to conduct a referendum about the possible full independence of New Caledonia in the near future.
