In the heart of one of the most beautiful oceans in the world, this piece of French land emerges, known as "le Caillou". As we have guessed, this is New Caledonia. This France of the antipodes discovered by James Cook in the 18th century is one of those wonders that we would never like to see changed. The archipelago covers 18,575 km2. It is composed of Grande Terre, protected by the world's second largest coral reef, the Bélep Islands, Île des Pins, the Loyalty Islands (Lifou, Ouvéa, Maré) and countless islets.
France at the end of the world
16,758 km. That's the distance between Nouméa and Paris. That's more than 24 hours of flight time from one end of the globe to the other. With its air of southern France, Nouméa is a pleasant city to live in. The Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons districts offer many restaurants, bars and shops. Place des Cocotiers is the heart of the city centre, surrounded by many shops and 5 minutes walk from the Port-Moselle market, open every morning. Located on the outskirts of the city, the Tjibaou Cultural Centre is grandiose, thanks to its architecture (work by Renzo Piano) and the dynamism of the activities it offers (exhibitions, shows, conferences). His visit is essential to understand the history of the territory and the issues facing Kanak culture. If it is the landscapes worthy of a postcard, between beaches and lagoons, mountains and mangroves, that make the territory famous, a trip to New Caledonia would not be what it is without meeting the Kanak people, one of the most welcoming in the world, who welcome us with open arms. Heading for heaven on earth!
The most beautiful islands in the world, but not only...
New Caledonia is often synonymous with heavenly beaches and not without reason. The beaches are of incredible beauty. They have remained intact, protected, to our great delight, by laws to preserve the coastline and in particular by the inscription of the Lagoon on UNESCO's World Heritage List. A few minutes' sailing from Noumea by taxi boat, the islets Amédée, Signal or Larégnère no longer have their reputation to make. And what about the Loyalty Islands? These wonders of nature where our dreams come true. Lifou and its magnificent forest, Ouvéa nicknamed "the island closest to paradise" with its miles of white sand, almost untamed, or Maré, the wildest and most contrasted with its raw beauty. And of course the Isle of Pines, the most famous, whose photos of the natural swimming pool and the Bay of Upi have toured the world. Grande Terre, the main island, is no less interesting. Varied landscapes from north to south, it surprises as well as seduces. The South, the most colourful of the regions, is marked by the colour of its land: ochre red. It is also the least populated and most difficult to access. There is the largest park in the territory, Blue River Park, ideal for kayaking and a great starting point for many hikes! The West coast, known as the "leeward" coast, gives way to an atmosphere of the Far West, the land of the Caldoches, the New Caledonian cowboys who carry the heritage of the colonial era within them.
A land of mangroves where we find the famous heart of Voh, made famous by the clichés of Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Fly over it, promises a unique experience! Road to the east, more tropical. The "windward coast" offers lush vegetation from Yaté to Pouébo. It is where most Kanak tribes are found. It is also one of the island's mining areas where nickel is mined, offering lunar landscapes between Thio and Houaïlou. The land is rich and the forest has remained virgin, in its primary state. As if the man had never set foot in it before. The North, on the other hand, has an air of the end of the world, like a territory in its own right, almost forgotten by the rest of the world to which we can only want to venture.
Eldorado for divers, surfing and sports activities
New Caledonia has one of the largest lagoons in the world. The figures speak for themselves: 24,000 km2 of lagoon and 1,600 km of reef. With a water temperature that rarely drops below 21°C, the sea is the preferred playground for divers. They come from all over the world to observe the exceptional seabed where more than 2,000 species (many of which are endemic) live. The lucky ones will see the dugong while others will prefer to swim with the dolphins. In Nouméa, you can try windsurfing, kayaking or kite surfing. The most adventurous can surf off the coral reef where there are excellent spots. And why not discover the many islets of the South by catamaran? Going to meet the whales (between July and September)? If the life of the Caledonians is mainly oriented towards the lagoon, it is a natural destination on all levels. Many activities such as hiking, raids, mountain biking, horseback riding, paragliding and kayaking are also popular throughout the region. Walks will be the best way to discover the different animal species such as the Cagou, the endemic bird symbol of the country.
Cultural diversity is an important concept in New Caledonia. The Kanaks (the people of origin) share their lands with the Caldoches (a mainly French European population settled for several generations), the descendants of immigrants who historically came to work in mines or coffee plantations (Vietnamese, Indonesians, Japanese), populations from regional immigration (Tahitians, Vanuatu, Wallisians, Futunians) and the Metropolitans, these French from Metropolitan France who came to settle for a more or less long term. This mix is mainly found in the kitchen. We will not leave the island without a taste of the Bougna, the traditional Kanak dish. Leave stress and prejudice aside. Here, the term humanity takes on its full meaning. Simplicity, spirituality and nature are the key words of a trip to New Caledonia.
On the way, the inhabitants will wave their hands at you, a sign of welcome. The Loyalty Islands are the best example of the open-mindedness of the Kanak soul. Welcoming, proud of their beautiful nature and history, the Kanaks have a lot to share with us. Positive and smiling, they invite us to share a simple life and we quickly realize how lucky we are to get to know them. Share with them, "the custom", this concept that is difficult to define and yet means everything. It is the cement of Kanak identity that translates into a gesture or offering, a sign of peace and kindness. Kanaks live in total symbiosis with nature. A nature that is dear to them and that UNESCO took care to classify as a World Heritage Site in 2008.
Alone in the world
Due to its remoteness from the metropolis, New Caledonia remains a privileged destination and tourists remain few (about 115,000 per year). Away from mass tourism. In low season, it is common to be alone on the beaches without privatizing them. However, with direct flights from Auckland, Sydney or Tokyo and the emergence of a diversified tourist offer on the spot, Caledonia has the potential to continue to attract visitors. Today, it benefits from a varied offer of quality accommodation, for all desires and budgets. Grande Terre is full of pleasant places to put your bag down for a few days. Green tourism, eco-responsible addresses as well as a good number of quality guest rooms provide easy accommodation throughout the territory. New Caledonia is also a popular destination for honeymooners. So don't wait any longer to fly to this "small country with a big heart", where life is good all year round
Smart info
When? When? With temperatures ranging from 20 to 38°C all year round, a trip to New Caledonia is possible in all seasons. We also recommend the months of September to December to avoid the hurricane season (January to March).
Getting there. From Paris, count between €1,300 and €1,800 for a Paris-Nouméa flight (round trip). The only company serving Nouméa from abroad is Air Calin. For domestic domestic flights between the islands, this is Air Calédonie.
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