New Caledonia is a combination of French sophistication and
Melanesian warmth giving it a truly cosmopolitan feel. The
19th century architecture reflects the island's French history,
which goes back to September 24th 1853 when the islands were
claimed by Admiral Febvrier Despointes for France. On Grande
Terre, the main island, you'll find the capital Noumea, known
locally as little Paris. The island is fringed by the world's
second largest barrier reef. The other islands that make up
the group are the Loyalty Islands and Ile des Pins.
Noumea, attracts people from all over the Pacific to shop for a
wide variety of French goods from chocolate to china. When
planning shopping, visitors should remember that the day starts
early in New Caledonia - work begins at 7.30am with shops and
offices closing between 11am and 1pm so everybody gets to play in
the afternoon. Dining in New Caledonia is an experience in
itself with the cuisine ranging from the very best French
provincial and nouveau to the exotic. Chose from Chinese
(Mandarin or Cantonese), Indian, Tahitian, Japanese and
Vietnamese.
Attractions to visit include the Michael Carbasson Forestry
Park, the Blue River Territorial Park, the Botanical Gardens,
Aquarium, Market, Museum and Geological Gardens. Plus all the
usual water sports are available, as well as a wide range of land
based activities including golf, tennis, cycling, fishing, horse
riding and kayaking (not strictly land based!). Visited by
more Europeans than most of the other South Pacific islands, New
Caledonia is a must on your South Pacific itinerary.
Our Thoughts:
The first impression one has of New Caledonia is how clean and
tidy it is, and how dramatic and beautiful the mountain scenery
is. It is very reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands, but
with more trees and a lot greener. The country is far more
developed than the other South Pacific island nations and is very
much a province of France. If you are looking for that 'sand
between the toes, get a way from it all place', we would say
New Caledonia is not the place for you. However if you are on
a grand tour of the South Pacific then it is a must!
Currently, there are no locally based cruise companies offering
cruse itineraries around the New Caledonian Islands. There
are a few major cruise companies operating the large luxury
liners, who offer itineraries across and around the Pacific
that will visit some of these islands, but they are not frequent or
on a regular basis.