New Caledonia
Paradise lagoons, French flair and a surprising breadth of experiences, all just two hours from Australia: this island archipelago is an uncovered gem of the South Pacific.
New Caledonia is a sun-kissed paradise par excellence where France meets Pacific, laidback meets luxury and a thousand shades of shimmering blue lagoon entice all who visit.
Though its beaches are brilliant, and its waves are world-class, the French-infused archipelago – only a two-hour flight from Brisbane – offers delightfully surprising variety when it comes to culture and adventure.
The capital, sophisticated Nouméa, is where a heady melange of rich Kanak history and French tradition makes it easy to feast on coconut crabs, croissants and freshly baked baguettes. Scuba-diving into the underwater kingdom of the Poindimié coral reef will grant your first taste of New Caledonia’s impossibly vibrant marine life and countless natural wonders. It's an excellent destination for families, too: mountain-biking in the newly developed Deva Estate of Bourail, whose dry forest is home to 450 species of flora, offers breathtaking vistas of the Western Lagoon.
Centuries ago, English missionaries brought vanilla to New Caledonia, and now Lifou Island’s fragrant pods are coveted by pastry chefs across the world. Kanak-owned and managed, the plantation offers guests a taste of indigenous island life that your tastebuds will never forget. If you're interested in exploring traditional Kanak culture, don't miss Nouméa’s Tjibaou Cultural Centre. This architectural masterpiece is a celebration and a revelation – equal parts art gallery, dance hall, museum and cultural centre.
New Caledonia’s surrounding islands are exquisite and diverse in equal measure. UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ouvéa leans close to utopia – lush coconut bushland, the pearl-white sands of Mouli Beach and towering Lekiny Cliffs decorate the shores. Visit the Isle of Pines and explore the natural pools of Oro Bay, or head to Maré for indelible natural beauty, enchanting folklore and the gentle caress of the island’s famous trade winds. Wherever you go, there’ll be no shortage of snorkelling, scuba diving and boating; survey forgotten shipwrecks, glimpse humpback whales skip at dusk or plunge deep to witness the towering 40-metre Needle of Prony, a dive unlike any in the world.
Head to Grand Terre's inner bushland and you’ll find lush ancestral forests, crashing waterfalls and spectacular views. Nicknamed ‘Le Caillou’ or 'The Pebble' for its craggy hills and toothy peaks, New Caledonia's largest island is an adventurer's dream. Explore hidden valleys and abandoned copper mines by horseback, hike across rolling hinterland and blood-red hills, or charter a helicopter or microlight and soar high above the Heart of Voh, a perfectly formed mangrove swamp that must be seen to be believed. Camp by drowned forests in the 9,000-hectare Blue River Provincial Park and wake each morning to the warmth of the rising sun and the wicked barks of the mohawked cagou bird, endangered and unique to the island.
Wherever you visit in New Caledonia, you'll find colours to touch the heart and gain memories to stir the soul.
