7 Reasons Why You Need to Visit New Caledonia 

1. It’s just a short flight away 

You don’t have to fly far to reach tropical paradise – in fact, New Caledonia is our nearest neighbour. Just a two-hour flight from Brisbane and a three-hour flight from Sydney, you’ll barely even have time to watch an in-flight movie before landing! 

All New Caledonia holiday packages offer full-service return flights with AirCalin, the international flag carrier of the region. You’ll be sipping cocktails by the beach in next to no time at all. 

2. You can savour sensational French cuisine 

New Caledonia is a must-visit destination for foodies. Renowned for its cosmopolitan cooking, New Caledonian cuisine is inspired by the different communities that live together on the islands, blending flavours from Melanesia, Asia, Tahiti and, of course, France. 

From traditional bistro dishes to terroir products, the flavours of France can be found everywhere in New Caledonia. For a French feast, be sure to book a table at Noumea’s P’tit Café, one of the city’s most famous eateries. Here, there’s no menu, but a weekly selection of fusion cuisine. You can also shop high-end wines, champagnes and spirits at Maison Ballande and sample New Caledonian-made chocolates in Noumea’s vibrant Latin Quarter. 

3. There are endless sun-drenched beaches to laze on 

When you think of New Caledonia, images of long stretches of powdery white sand melting into cobalt blue waters likely come to mind. Home to some of the most idyllic coastlines in the South Pacific, New Caledonia is the perfect destination for those seeking a beach holiday. Even better, most beaches in New Caledonia are quiet, easily accessible and offer outstanding snorkelling opportunities right off the shore! 

Looking for the best beaches in New Caledonia? Anse Vata Beach in Noumea is perfect for sunbathing and boasts a relaxing atmosphere reminiscent of the French Riviera, while nearby Amedee Island offers spectacular water activities and can be reached in just 30 minutes from the capital. Meanwhile, Kuto Bay on the Isle of Pines is renowned for its pure white sand, glistening turquoise waters and striking palm trees. 

4. New Caledonia offers a great calendar of events 

There’s nothing quite like immersing yourself in local life while on holiday, and New Caledonia makes this easy, thanks to a never-ending calendar of events. From sporting games and music concerts to food festivals, art exhibitions and everything in between, there’s always something going on in New Caledonia. 

If you want to plan your holiday around a particular event, click here to learn more about New Caledonia’s event calendar! 

5. There’s perfect weather year-round 

With weather that’s practically perfect year-round, you can expect bright blue skies and sunshine no matter when you choose to visit New Caledonia. In fact, there are only 20 days throughout the year when the sun doesn’t shine! 

While there truly is no bad time to visit New Caledonia, we suggest planning your visit to coincide with the dry season, which falls between April and May and again between September and November. Temperatures at this time of year average at around 24 degrees Celsius. 

6. It’s home to the world’s largest lagoon 

The crowning jewel of New Caledonia is the World Heritage-listed, aquamarine lagoon – the largest in the world. Surrounded by an immense coral barrier reef (the second-longest in the world), this pristine lagoon covers a total surface area of approximately 24,000 square kilometres. Home to over 350 species of coral and around 1,600 species of fish, the snorkelling here is out of this world! 

If you love water sports, you’ll love the Caledonian Lagoon. With perfectly smooth water, constant breezes, and calm waves, the lagoon is the perfect place to enjoy windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, bodyboarding and more. So, head out on a boat and enjoy all this postcard-perfect natural wonder has to offer! 

7. There’s fantastic nightlife to enjoy 

The fun in New Caledonia doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. New Caledonia, and particularly the city of Noumea, offers plenty to do after dark, from trendy bars and restaurants to nightclubs, casinos and more. 

As mentioned, Noumea is a city packed with vibrant nightlife. Here, the bars and nightclubs have a friendly feel, and the fun often continues into the early hours of the morning. If gambling is more your style, don’t miss the chance to play at one of the city’s renowned casinos. Both The Grand Casino and the Casino Royal offer a chance to try your luck, with a choice of slot machines, game tables and more on offer.