| Information about New Caledonia and some | | | | south of France than the Pacific. It is |
| reasons you might want to take a | | | | quite cool and windy from June to |
| vacation in this part of the South West | | | | September, so much so you will need |
| Pacific | | | | sweaters in the evening, and you will |
| First of all where is New Caledonia? | | | | find the sea quite cool. December to |
| New Caledonia is an overseas dependent | | | | March is warm and wet, and is also the |
| of France, and it lies in the Western | | | | hurricane season, so beware. |
| Pacific in the Coral Sea with Australia | | | | It is really the stupendous beauty of |
| to the west and Vanuatu to the east. | | | | the Isle of Pines that is the draw, and |
| If you want to go to New Caledonia, then | | | | to visit New Caledonia and not go to the |
| the normal way is to fly to the capital | | | | Kuto/Kanumera area, because this is |
| city of Noumea, and you can fly direct | | | | picture postcard country with |
| from Paris by Air France. New Caledonia | | | | unbelievable white sand beaches and |
| is a popular place for Japanese tourists | | | | shimmering turquoise and blue sea. |
| so there are direct flights from Tokyo, | | | | As a visitor there are things you just |
| as well as Air New Zealand, and Quantas. | | | | have to do. |
| There aren't a whole lot of flights, and | | | | 1. Snorkelling, Diving, and Windsurfing. |
| very little competition so prices will | | | | The places to go include Ilot Canard |
| be high. | | | | just outside the Anse Vata if you are a |
| You must have a ticket to leave | | | | beginner. See the Aguille de Prony which |
| otherwise they won't let you in, and | | | | is a quite incredible underwater |
| you'll need to check with the airline | | | | structure just south of Noumea in the |
| you are using about visa requirements. | | | | Prony Bay. |
| Noumea the capital is full of fine | | | | 2. You could do absolutely nothing |
| French restaurants, designer boutiques, | | | | except lie around getting a suntan. If |
| and for all the world is like Paris in | | | | you want to do that near Noumea then the |
| the sun, and it is to be found on the | | | | Baie des Citrons and the Anse Vata are |
| west coast of the large cigar shaped | | | | beaches to visit. |
| main island called Grand Terre. If you | | | | 3. Stay at a resort on Ilot Maitre , |
| visit new Caledonia you really need to | | | | which is a tiny white sand island |
| go exploring, because although Grande | | | | reachable by taxi boat from Anse Vata or |
| Terre is an exciting place to be the | | | | a boat from the Baie de Mouselle. |
| finest beaches are all on the islands. | | | | 4. Stay at one of the resorts on Grande |
| At least cross over to the exotic east | | | | Terre or the Isle of Pines. |
| coast, and go by boat to the Isle of | | | | 5. Hiking and Camping on Grande Terre |
| Pines, the Loyalty Group of Islands, and | | | | are popular, and you shouldn't miss the |
| the small uninhabited dependency of | | | | Parc Riviere Bleu south of Noumea in the |
| Walpole Island. | | | | Yate region. Do join a hiking group. |
| The d'Entrecasteaux Reefs which consists | | | | You need to be aware that French is |
| of two separate stunning lagoons centred | | | | spoken everywhere, and very few people |
| around the very small islands of Huon | | | | will attempt to converse with you in |
| and Surprise. Much more distant are the | | | | English. You also need to be aware that |
| Chesterfield Islands, but there is | | | | New Caledonia is extremely expensive as |
| plenty to see and enjoy much closer to | | | | much of the food you will eat has to be |
| Grande Terre. | | | | imported. This means that restaurants |
| New Caledonia is very much in the south | | | | are expensive, so you should shop in the |
| compared to other South pacific Islands, | | | | markets and try the local delicacies. |
| and so its climate is more like the | | | | |