8 Reasons To Set Sail For New Caledonia This Year
You’ll be charting a course for this South Pacific paradise as soon as you see the sort of stunning scenery and memorable experiences it can offer.
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The French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia combines European and Asian cultures with breathtaking natural scenery to create an idyllic island escape.
Located about 1,210 km east of Australia, this paradise of the Melanesian sub-region is home to attractions far beyond pristine beaches and beautiful seas (though it has those in spades, too). Take a look at what New Caledonia can offer, and why you should be charting a course there in 2019.
The New Caledonia Barrier Reef
Even just sailing to New Caledonia is a delight. The island’s barrier reef is second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef off Australia and creates over 23,000 sq km of peaceful lagoons. These are skirted by coral sand beaches and dotted with idyllic islets. Naturally, there’s also plenty of space for you to anchor a Superyacht here, with expert guides available to take you out on whale watching trips and other excursions beyond the reef.
With a mix of ocean waves and calm lagoons available, New Caledonia is a great place for water sports. You can choose from surfing, kite-surfing, wake-boarding, sailing and more, with schools available if you’re just starting out with any of these. Alternatively, grab a mask and some fins and dip beneath the surface to explore the amazing underwater world created by the barrier reef. If you’d rather be catching the fish than swimming among them, you’re in luck – this is one of the world’s top fly-fishing destinations in the world, with good waters for deep-sea fishing, too.
Explore the Islands
The activities aren’t limited to the seas – there’s just as much excitement to be found on land, too! Tree climbing and zip-lining are the most popular, offering unique views of New Caledonia’s verdant landscape.
If you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, there are some great hiking routes to choose from, ranging from easy to fairly challenging. They can take you through a diverse range of terrains, from forests to mountain ranges. Getting to the peak of Mont Panié – New Caledonia’s tallest mountain at 1,628 metres – takes a bit of work, but the views are worth the effort.
Not so keen on all that walking? No problem – jump on a mountain bike, a quad bike or even a horse and explore the island’s rivers, viewpoints and shores. Whatever mode of transport you choose, enjoy the fresh air and limitless peace, as well as the breathtaking scenery available on every inch of New Caledonia.
Take to the Skies
You’ve explored the land and the sea, so there’s only one place left now – the sky. New Caledonia is quite a popular skydiving destination, as you might expect. Those azure lagoons and colourful reefs look fantastic from above, and falling towards them at terminal velocity is certainly one way of enjoying the view.
Naturally, jumping out of a perfectly airworthy aircraft isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so it’s good to know that there are alternatives. You can take to the sky in a plane, a helicopter or an ultralight aircraft. If you’re going up for the views, definitely take the ultralight aircraft. You get all the safety of a plane but with a touch of excitement from the complete lack of doors. And, of course, you get unobstructed views of the spectacular sights, too.
Experience Bush Life
While New Caledonia was colonised by the French in 1853 and remains a French territory, it still has a strong local culture. If you head out into the New Caledonian bush, you’ll be welcomed with a wonderful experience of that culture.
The Kanak tribes of the east coast live a simple, rustic life. If you visit them, you can learn more about their farming practices and try some of there super-fresh food for yourself. About 50 of the landowners in the area have joined the “Welcome to the Farm” network, allowing each to showcase their particular specialties. These range from fish to guava paste to papaya curry and beyond.
Kanak tribespeople can also act as guides if you want to add some local knowledge to your hiking and exploring. It’s sure to make your journey much more memorable.
Relax in the Lap of Luxury
As a counterpoint to the rural lifestyle of the local tribes, New Caledonia also has no shortage of luxurious modern amenities. Five-star hotels dot the coastline, with some offering even more than the usual direct beach access. The underwater bungalows of the Ilot Maitre’s Escapade Island Resort go one step further and offer direct sea access!
The luxury extends beyond just the accommodation with any number of first-class spas to choose from. The island also has four 18-hole golf courses and the capital city of Nouméa has a good range of high-end stores and local jewellery boutiques for those who need their shopping fix. If you’re looking for fashion, be sure to take a stroll down Rue de l’Alma or Rue de Sébastopol.
History and Culture
The cities of New Caledonia are where you’ll find the French colonial influences blending with the local Kanak history. The result oozes charm from every street corner. If you visit in September, many of the crumbling colonial buildings open their doors to visitors, giving you a glimpse into life over 100 years ago.
You can get your history fix at any time of the year by looking around the island’s many museums. You can learn about what happened here during the Second World War or everything there is to know about the mining village of Tiébaghi.
If you’re looking for something more contemporary, check out the art and culture scene in the capital. You’ll find a thriving community of painters, sculptors, singers, dancers and actors, with a good choice of galleries and theatres to look around. Look out for annual festivals celebrating art, music, film, dance and more.
Fusion Food at its Finest
The blending of eastern and western cultures, along with the island’s long and colourful history, give New Caledonia quite a remarkable cuisine. The star dish is bougna – a traditional Melanesian stew, usually containing chicken or fish mixed with yams, sweet potatoes, bananes poingo and ignames. It’s all cooked together with coconut milk, adding a dash of sweetness to this hearty and extremely popular stew.
If you’re looking for fine dining, New Caledonia won’t disappoint. The French influence is particularly strong in the restaurant scene, with foie gras, chocolate, wine and champagne all regularly featuring on menus. The restaurants at the high-end hotels are particularly excellent, with first-class buffets and a la carte offerings.
Get Hitched
As romantic destinations go, New Caledonia takes some beating – the description above probably clued you in to that. However, the island has one extra bonus feature which makes it the ideal lovers’ escape. You can legally get married here without being a resident.
Naturally, the fact that this is a fantastic beach wedding destination has fed all of the necessary industries you’ll need to get married in style. You can easily arrange decorations, music, catering, photography and even live-streamed video so friends at home can ‘attend’ the ceremony.
The best bit, of course, is that you’re already at the perfect honeymoon destination, too.
Destinations: New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean
Footnote:
Contact Seal Superyachts New Caledonia for detailed information about cruising around New Caledonia, superyacht charter regulations and about how we can support your visit.
Principle agent Audrey Morand is proud to have worked with many of the World’s largest Superyachts and has extensive knowledge of New Caledonia and the surrounding area.
Audrey Morand
Phone: +687 70 9009
Email: newcaledonia@seal-superyachts.com