Located
almost directly between Australia and Fiji, New Caledonia is France's
Best Kept Secret!
Whether
you are looking for a five-star hotel or simply a bed to call your
own, there are numerous lodging options in New Caledonia.
Ile
Des Pins
Eighty kilometres south-east of Noumea lies the enchanting Isle
of Pines (14 km wide, 18 km long) a place where time seems to stand
still in an idyllic setting of white beaches under swaying palms
and soaring Araucaria pines.
"Kunié ",
as it is still called by the inhabitants, is as beautiful under
water as it is on land and a favourite spot for divers.
To make the most of the
Isle of Pines' diversity, ideally you'll need to stay at least two
or three days to combine minibus excursions organised by gîtes
and hotels, with bicycle rides, walks or car rental trips.
Excursions by canoe,
glass-bottom boat, yacht, as well as magnificent underwater dives
are also available.
The Isle of
Pines is situated 20 minutes by air from Noumea. Regular flights
with Air Caledonie provide magnificent aerial views from the aircraft
with excellent photo opportunities of this magical paradise.
Regular transfers
to Isle of Pines are also organised on board the catamaran Betico.
The trip takes 3 hours from Noumea and offers not only a very pleasant
boating experience but also provides the opportunity to discover
the southern region of the mainland of New Caledonia.
Nouméa
: A French way of life in the South Pacific …
In 1854, a French
naval officer, Tardy de Montravel, charmed by the natural port of
Nouméa, laid claim to the site. Since then Nouméa
has been discovered and fashioned by sailors and missionaries, governed
by the military, who initially named it Port de France and turned
into the Headquarters of the U.S. army during the Pacific War.
Nouméa
has progressively evolved while retaining the successive marks of
its past. Nouméa is now a garden city, where urbanization
and nature blend harmoniously, an attractive modern capital in the
South Pacific: France’s showcase in the region.
It is a pleasure
to stroll through Nouméa along the Place des Cocotiers embellished
by fabulous flame trees, around its monumental fountain and the
old time music kiosk.
Continue along
the streets flanked by old colonial houses, the bays highlighted
by hibiscus and bougainvilleas, the marina, an inspiring contemporary
architectural design and on to beaches gently caressed by the trade
winds, for everybody to enjoy, right in the heart of the city!
