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