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Ultimate New Caledonia Travel Guide: All You Need to Know

New Caledonia Island Hopping

What comes to your mind when you think of New Caledonia? A French-speaking island in the Pacific?

Before I boarded the plane from Brisbane to fly with the national airline Aircalin just under 2 hours east to this French island territory, I didn't know much at all.

Enter palm-lined beaches, the world's largest lagoon paired with the second largest barrier reef, some of the most delicious seafood and fresh warm croissants like you'd find them in the streets of cities in France.

Useful New Caledonia Travel Tips

Noumea Ouen Toro Hill
Noumea Sightseeing

There are some things you should know before heading to New Caledonia.

Language

Being part of France, the national language is French as well as their own local languages spoken by the native Kanak tribes. English is used widely in tourism, but I have found that New Caledonians really appreciate it when you try some words or sentences in French, so it doesn't hurt to learn.

Currency

New Caledonia uses Pacific Franc or CFP (Comptoirs Français du Pacifique). Euro is not used here.

new caledonia travel guide

Climate

The climate is very much like in Brisbane, Australia. It's pleasant around the year with winter highs in the 20s and summer highs going over 30 degrees. So when is the best time to visit New Caledonia? Mid-December to late January as well as July and August are peak months for visitors, if you want to find affordable accommodation and less crowds, go in May-June and September-October. They are ideal months to miss the height of the wet season and possible cyclones too.

Visas

New Caledonia doesn't require any visas for short stays of less than 3 months for most nations. Just make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months after your return date.

Tipping

Leaving a tip is unnecessary in New Caledonia as most prices are shown as full and inclusive of any tax.

Getting To And Around New Caledonia

New Caledonia travel guide

While many visitors come to New Caledonia by cruise ship, I highly recommend you consider flying into Noumea directly.

Coming by cruise, you will not be able to appreciate the diverse landscape, the hospitality of the local people and beautiful underwater marine life – and you surely won't get to see the lagoon with its reef and many little islands from the air.

Flying With Aircalin To New Caledonia

Business Class Aircalin
Aircalin Business Class
Aircalin Flight to Noumea

With Aircalin you can easily fly into New Caledonia from some of Australia's major cities, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

I also learned that you can fly from Noumea with Aircalin all the way to France as well as Tokyo, Osaka, Los Angeles, Fiji, Vanuatu and Auckland. You can actually reach over 110 destinations from Noumea thanks to the extensive network of partner airlines.

I had the pleasure of flying Business Class from Brisbane to Noumea which was great from the lounge visit ahead of the flight to the beautiful food and incredibly attentive service during the flight and landing at La Tontouta International Airport after a very short two-hour flight.

Noumea's airport La Tontouta is roughly 50 km from the city and takes 30-40 minutes in an airport shuttle. Note that Noumea also has another airport called Magenta Airport, which is about 38 km from the city of Noumea and serves domestic flights only.

Hiring A Car To Get Around

The best way to get around New Caledonia is by hiring a car. It definitely makes sense if you want to explore the main island of New Caledonia, Grande Terre.

If you didn't know it yet, but New Caledonia actually has five main islands: Ouvea, Lifou, Mare, Isle of Pines and Grande Terre, the biggest island where the capital Noumea is located as well as many of New Caledonia's activities and things to see.

It's easy to hire a car right in Noumea or at the airport, a 2WD might be sufficient but if you head into the southern parts, many roads are narrow and winding, some are dirt roads and I think a 4WD would be a smart choice. Also, know that it is a right-hand drive over here. It's recommended to book ahead of time rather than on the ground as vehicles are often booked out fast, especially during peak periods.

Best Things To Do In Noumea

Noumea Anse Vata Bay
Noumea Saint Joseph's Cathedral

The capital of New Caledonia, Noumea is the largest city in the country boasting beautiful picturesque bays framed by sandy beaches, French restaurants and world-class snorkelling in a living aquarium right at its shores.

It's classy, it's casual, its facades look a bit grungy. The city comes to life through its contrasts and is worth exploring for a whole day.

Must-See

New CaledoniaMarkets
new caledonia travel guide
  • Port Moselle Market
    Noumea's biggest market is open Tuesday to Sunday from 5 am to 11.30 am and has been selling fresh produce to the population since 1991 under five odd-looking hexagonal pavilions. It today is a main tourist attraction and great to browse around for some souvenirs and stock up on fresh fruit.
  • Coconut Tree Square
    The square can be found in the heart of the city and is a green oasis and a meeting place for locals. During the year, you can find small markets, concerts and other events on the square. Since I visited so close to Christmas, I also got to see the massive Christmas tree that is put up on the tree annually.
  • Morand Chocolate Factory
    You are definitely spoilt for choice when visiting this shop. Chocolat Morand is an institution in Noumea and has been making chocolate and fine pastries since 2000. I had the privilege of meeting the husband and wife team for a tasting of their unique creations. The best spot to visit in Noumea for chocolate lovers!
  • Anse Vata Beach & Lemon Bay
    Anse Vata is the city's largest beach and is great for relaxing, having a picnic or strolling along the promenade which houses many bars, restaurants and shops. Lemon Bay, called Baie des Citrons in French, is the smaller sister to Anse Vata and is typically a bit more sheltered from the wind.
  • Tijbaou Cultural Center
    The structure of Tijbaou Cultural Center left me in awe. The eye-catching structures designed by world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, who also designed the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the cultural center is a great introduction to the local Kanak culture. It features an art centre, museum, performance center, library and a beautifully landscaped park.
  • Ouen Toro Hill
    One of my favourite spots in Noumea was Ouen Toro, the hill towering over Noumea's southern end. You can walk or drive up and then enjoy the 360 views across the city and surrounding ocean. Plan your visit around the cruise ships coming in as many groups get wheeled up there in mini buses which makes the spot busy and less tranquil than it truly is.
Noumea Cultural Center
Tijbaou Cultural Center from the air.

Sleep

  • Le Meridien Noumea Resort & Spa
    I loved my stay at the Le Meridien right on the shores of Anse Vata Bay. The air-conditioned room was big and had a great little balcony with ocean views, a bathtub and free Wi-Fi. There is also a big outdoor pool with plenty of sun chairs, a bar serving drinks and snacks right at what feels like a private beach. The breakfast buffet is a huge plus as it has something for everyone, including all the delicious French pastries, baguette and a station for freshly cooked eggs.
  • For other hotel recommendations around Noumea, check out my full accommodation guide here.
new caledonia travel guide
Le Meridien Resort Noumea
Le Meridien Noumea New Caledonia

Eat & Drink

  • Néa Bowls
    If you're on the hunt for healthy and fresh meals in downtown Noumea (next to Coconut Square), Néa Bowls is your pick! This little cafe has delightful decor and serves up some of the best vegetarian dishes in town. Also vegan-friendly! Green detox juice, tasty carrot cake and delicious Buddha bowls are perfect for lunch.
  • MV Lounge
    A fabulous spot for a drink as the bar sits right on the beach at the far end of Lemon Bay. Opt for the deck or get a spot right on the beach and drink your cocktail with your feet in the sand. Beautiful ambiance with music and little lantern lights, loved it!
  • Au Ptit Café
    This open cafe/restaurant set under large trees on a rather busy street is often hard to get a reservation at. Rightly so, as the food is frequently changing according to the seasonal ingredients available at the local market combined with French flavours. I came here for dinner as it was recommended by locals and definitely wasn't disappointed. Make sure to try the cheesecake, if you can still fit that in after your meal.
  • Le Roof
    Set along the promenade of Anse Vata Bay, Le Roof is hard to miss as it sits on stilts out at the end of a pier and offers fine dining along with amazing sunsets. Come here for seafood and be prepared to pay for the price and atmosphere. In the middle of the restaurant there is a spot where you can watch sealife. It's said that a local dolphin often comes for a visit at sunset, but I spotted a small reef shark, pretty cool.
  • Marmite et Tire Bouchon
    My favourite in all of Noumea. The extensive wine list (visible in the adjacent wine cellar!) compliments the innovative meals on the French-inspired menu. The food is very tasty and great value. Beautiful desserts too!
Best Noumea Vegetarian Cafe
Noumea MV Lounge
Noumea Best Places to eat

Best Things To Do In New Caledonia

Island Hopping

Of course, I didn't come to New Caledonia to just explore Noumea, there is actually so much more to this country than I ever thought.

You definitely have to take a few days to go island hopping. It's fairly easy to base yourself in Noumea and explore a new island every day. Here are some of the islands that are close by and can easily be visited in a day:

  • Duck Island: 
    This island can easily be reached by taxi boat as it actually sits in Anse Vata Bay and offers incredible marine life. Duck Island (Ile aux Canards) is perfect for snorkelling and relaxing and sunbathing.
  • Amedee Island:
    Another great day trip a little further out in the bay lies Amedee Island (roughly 40 minutes by boat), where you find white powder sand against the turquoise ocean and the famous Amedee lighthouse, one of the tallest lighthouses in the world, overlooking it all. It's frequented by glass-bottom boat tour companies and great for underwater experiences like snorkelling and diving and it's not uncommon to find yourself swimming next to turtles.
  • Maitre Island:
    Said to be the closest overwater bungalows to Australia, L’Escapade Island Resort on Ilot Maître is easily reached in 20 minutes by boat from Noumea and offers an amazingly private place to stay, one of the best places to stay for couples in New Caledonia. You can also come here on a day trip to swim alongside the abundance of marine animals.
  • Other islands worth visiting close to Noumea include: Sainte-Marie Island, Signal Island, Laregnere Island, Goeland Island.

There are plenty of stunning islands all around New Caledonia, many of them uninhabited and boasting paradise beaches with picturesque scenery.

On my last day in New Caledonia I had the chance to go on a catamaran to visit a very special island called Ilot M'Bo which I have found no information about online but only seen with my own eyes. When we arrived, we had the island all to ourselves, no boats around but crystal clear water against snow-white sand. Walking around the island only took 10 minutes before we threw ourselves into the turquoise ocean. Paradise on earth.

New Caledonia activities

Isle Of Pines

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to visit the Isle of Pines but I know I will have to when I return to New Caledonia. Known as ‘the jewel of the Pacific' the island is best known for its white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons and soaring pine trees.

To get to the Isle of Pines, you will either have to take a 2.5-hour ferry ride from Noumea or you can also fly in 20 minutes to the island. I heard that this place is so beautiful, it's out of this world. And when you're sick of bathing in the natural pools (how could you ever get sick of that!), you can explore caves or hike to the island peak.

I already moved a stay at the Le Méridien Ile des Pins on the shores of Oro Bay towards the top of my bucket list!

The Great South

New Caledonia
New Caledonia

Did you know New Caledonia also has a wild side? Yes, it does. Drive a few hours south from Noumea and you will suddenly hit deep red sand, a rugged landscape and historic sites like Prony village. This deserted village used to serve as a penal colony in its early days and later became home to families of miners but was left abandoned in the late 1960s and is today only visited by tourists.

The south of New Caledonia also houses many waterfalls such as the La Madeleine and Goro Falls. I didn't get to visit Yate Dam but it sounds like another impressive experience.

Prony Village New Caledonia
Cap D'Nua New Caledonia

My highlight of visiting the Great South of New Caledonia was definitely Cap N'Dua Lighthouse at the southern tip of New Caledonia's main island. From the car park, it's an easy 10-minute hike up to get to the lonely lighthouse with the most stunning views over the natural reserve, the open ocean and nearby islands.

That night, we stayed in a remotely beautiful place at the Kanua Tera Ecolodge. The cute and rustic bungalows are set right at the shores of Port Boise Bay, perfect for snorkelling, swimming and jumping off the on-site floating jetty. It's quite a journey from Noumea to get here, but for true tranquility and seclusion, this is your spot! Surrounded by tropical forest, there is also a restaurant and bar and surely, you'll have the beach almost for yourself as there are only 18 huts.

new caledonia travel guide
Grand Sud New Caledonia
kanua tera lodge new caledonia

New Caledonia has taken my heart by storm and I cannot wait to go back to explore more of the other islands. With only two hours flight time from Brisbane, it almost seems ridiculous that I haven't thought about visiting earlier!

To me, this country has a lot to offer, especially for ocean and nature enthusiasts but also gets to satisfy foodies and culture geeks.

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Aircalin, the international airline of New Caledonia.

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