Noumea

Noumea is the sun-soaked paradise that dreams are made of. Flush with blue lagoons, pristine waters and rich history, the capital of New Caledonia is as festive as it is beautiful. Fall in love with the uniquely French Noumea with the help of our travel guide.

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Places to stay

Whether you’re after five-star luxury or a bungalow way up in the bush, ocean views come complimentary with most stays in Noumea. Along the beautiful sandy beach of Baie des Citrons, you’ll find shoreside places to stay with restaurants, bars and nightclubs nearby to keep you entertained at all hours. To fully immerse yourself in island life, venture further afield by staying with a local tribe for the night at a Kanak homestay.

If you’re looking for a lush welcome into married life or a super romantic resort, the overwater bungalows of Escapade Ilot Maitre are only a short boat ride away. For a family escape filled with kids’ club and endless other activities, Le Meridien Noumea has suites that easily squeeze everyone in or try one of the cost-effective hotels near Anse Vata Beach like Hotel Le Lagon Noumea or Hotel Beaurivage.

Sneak in a round of golf at the Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Spa and Golf Resort or simply treat yourself to some guilt-free pampering, there’s plenty to do and see around Noumea.

Things to do

There’s plenty to do in sunny Noumea. Visit the busy Moselle Market and get your fruit fix, hike up Ouen Toro Hill for a 360 view of the city or feast on New Caledonian oysters by the water. Fall in love with the eclectic Noumea if only for a few days.

If you fancy hopping islands for the day, take a water taxi across to Duck Island or the 2-hour ferry over to The Isle of Pines and have yourself a pretty picnic in between snorkels and sun lounging. For those that like their relaxing to be mixed with a bit of learning, take a guided tour of the Blue River National Park to gain an insight into the flora and fauna of New Caledonia. To explore the sea life that surrounds the city, jump on one of the many boating adventures for the chance to see dolphins and loggerhead turtles as you cruise around Noumea’s neighbouring islands.

For dinner feast on New Caledonian oysters by the water at Le Roof, test out your French ordering skills at Creperie Le Rocher or grab the tastiest takeaway the island has to offer at the Vietnamese grocer, Chez Florence.

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Where to go

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Eat and drink

There’s no shortage of festivals in New Caledonia. With every month celebrating a different type of food, prepare your stomach for the food-trip of a lifetime.

From February to April, you’ll find the Kanak people celebrating Yams with festivities held in local villages, plus the peculiar Giant Omelette Festival in April. June sees festivals centred around cheese and seafood while August is all about coffee. One of the sweetest celebrations is saved for last with the island of Lifou hosting a vanilla festival in October.

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Isle of Pines

This small island, a 30 minute flight southeast of Noumea, is named after the distinctive column pines that date from the Triassic and grow up to 50 metres.

The ultimate eco-tourist destination with its preserved beauty, the island has a network of small trails for easy exploration of the myriad small bays and deserted white sand beaches of the emerald lagoons. Climb Mount Nga for a panorama of the whole island.

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Getting around

From the airport: the international airport is 50 km from Noumea. There are regular flights or fast passenger ferry (three times a week) from Noumea to each of the islands of the Loyalty group as well as to Île des Pins and the other key towns on Grande Terre.

In and around the city: buses connect every town on Grande Terre Noumea plus ‘Le Petit Train’ which does a circuit from the city centre to Anse Vata. Both car and water taxis can get you around town or the islets. Cars and scooters are available to hire on each of the islands.

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