New Caledonia Vacations

About New Caledonia

New Caledonia is a series of lesser known French isles in the South Pacific Ocean. Approximately two hours by flight from Cairns, Australia or Nadi, Fiji, the country is home to a quarter-million people. Most of the population centers around the capital of Noumea, located on the southern part of the main island.

The country is divided up into three areas – the creatively named ‘North’, its sister, ‘South’ and the surrounding Loyalty Islands. The popular Isle of Pines, home to towering trees and delectable snails, is located via a 20-minute flight south from Noumea.

Travel to New Caledonia

There are no direct flights from North America to New Caledonia. However, passengers can travel from Los Angeles (LAX) to Nadi, Fiji (NAN) on Air Pacific and catch a two-hour flight to Noumea on Air Calin.

Weather in New Caledonia

New Caledonia is often called the ‘eternal spring’, with warm-but-pleasant temperatures nearly year-round. Cooler, drier days run from April to August, with wetter weather dominating the off-season of January to March. September through December are excellent months, weather wise.

As with many islands, weather can change quickly in New Caledonia and an afternoon shower may clear up before you even realized it was raining!

Average temperatures range from 68°-73° F (20°-23° C) in the cooler months to 77°-81° F (25°-27° C) in the summer.

Geography in New Caledonia

New Caledonia’s main island, Grande Terre, is a lush, green, mountainous country in the east and a drier, flatter country in the west, with the notable exception of the Noumea area. Grande Terre, which includes Noumea, is 240 miles/400 kilometers long and 30 miles/50 kilometers wide. It takes about 8 hours to drive from tip-to-tip.

The northern province is considerably more rural than the Noumea area, but offers some of the world’s oldest species and amazing biodiversity. The Loyalty Islands are best known for their sparse number of tourists and picture-perfect beaches.

Culture in New Caledonia

New Caledonia is a French-speaking overseas country of the French Republic. The population consists of French immigrants, New Caledonian-born westerners, the traditional Melanesian people, Kanaks, and a smattering of other immigrant cultures from around the South Pacific and Asia. Read more about the culture in New Caledonia.

Prices and Money in New Caledonia

New Caledonia uses the French Pacific Franc, also known as Change Franc Pacifique (CFP). The CFP is tied to the Euro, making New Caledonia an expensive place to visit for North Americans, Australians and Kiwis. Although a weeklong stay in the country will cost more than a honeymoon in the Cook Islands, the country is still more affordable than Tahiti and even Fiji’s comparable luxury stays.

For a quick conversion into American dollars, drop the last two zeros of the CFPprice and add 20%. Don’t forget to add the additional 20% – it can change the price significantly!

Prices are set in shops and markets and haggling is not expected, although some stall-owners might give you a good deal if you plan to buy 10 miniature carvings for holiday gifts back home.