Grande Terre
Captain James Cook became the first European to discover New Caledonia in 1774, on his second voyage. He landed at Mahamat Beach, and it was on climbing…
Must-see attractions in South Pacific
Noumea
Wander along a network of paths through gardens of native shrubs and trees, cactus and forest with a changing backdrop of sea views in the distance. You…
Espiritu Santo
Covering 220 hectares, Loru Conservation Area contains one of the last patches of lowland forest remaining on Santo’s east coast. There are several…
Noumea
Only 15 minutes by boat from Port Moselle or Anse Vata, the gorgeous little island of Îlot Maître makes for a great day trip. Get out there with L…
Grande Terre
This impressive monument was unveiled in 1913 to great fanfare to mark 60 years of French possession of New Caledonia. It has since been left to virtually…
Efate
Chief Roi Mata's domain and burial site became Vanuatu's first World Heritage site in 2008. Roi Mata was a powerful 17th-century chief who, as legend has…
Port Vila
Futuna islanders talk about and demonstrate their traditional lifestyle at their kastom village. If you're not heading out to other islands, this is an…
Noumea
Looking sharp after recent refurbishments, the Musée de l’Histoire Maritime, down past the Betico ferry terminal, has a mix of permanent collections and…
Noumea
Île aux Canards is a cute postcard-perfect islet sitting five minutes by taxi boat off Anse Vata. It's all here, including an underwater snorkelling path,…
Centre Culturel Yeiwene Yeiwene
Loyalty Islands
Maréan Yeiwene Yeiwene was deputy to independence leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou and assassinated alongside him on Ouvéa in 1989. A statue of Yeiwene stands…
Luganville
Across the Segond Channel, Aore island is easily reached on the free resort ferry. There's not much regular transport on the island so you're limited to…
Loyalty Islands
About 3km off the La Roche–Tadine Rd, on the road to Thogone, is Trou de Bone, a deep rock cavity which drops to a lush tropical garden and a pool. It’s…
Loyalty Islands
Up in the north near St Joseph, the Turtles Hole is down an unmarked dirt road, then along a 50m path through the bush. An immense hole in the limestone…
Grande Terre
Here, there are wooden platforms over the river and shelters and tables overlooking the water where you can picnic. You can camp here (500 CFP per tent)…
Grande Terre
Monts Koghis are clad in rainforest and rich native flora, and they have several walking trails; pick up a free route map. Or take a treetop trail on…
Grande Terre
Port Boisé is an isolated bay surrounded by a forest of Cook pines, 6.5km from the turn-off on the main road. The ecolodge here makes a good base for the…
Espiritu Santo
Champagne Beach is a pretty horseshoe of soft white sand and turquoise water that gets rave (slightly overhyped) reviews and regular cruise-ship visitors…
Loyalty Islands
The deep Trou Bleu d’Anawa is sunk in the coral rock and connected to the sea underground. If you're lucky, you may see fish and turtles in the blue water…
Port Vila
Erakor is one of Vila's excellent resort islands. Day trippers can swim and snorkel at the shallow white-sand beach, kayak around the island or dine in…
Loyalty Islands
A huge limestone rock covered in vegetation near the coast gives the surrounding area of La Roche (the Rock) its name. The rock, known locally as Titi,…
Port Vila
Vila’s colourful waterfront covered market (also known as the Mama's Market) is open round the clock from Monday morning to noon on Saturday with women…
Port Vila
Take the winding road up to the Summit to visit these botanic gardens offering wonderful views over Mele Bay. There's a plant distillery producing…
Noumea
A sealed road winds up 132m Ouen Toro from just past Anse Vata beach. Two WWII guns still stand sentinel at the summit from where there are excellent…
Ringi Te Suh Marine Conservation Area
Malekula
Take a guided tour by outrigger canoe to this marine sanctuary, a 100-hectare reef protected by the villagers of Pellonk (the name itself means ‘leave it…
Île des Pins
Just north of Baie de Kuto, beside the main road, are the crumbling, overgrown ruins of an old convict prison built in the late 19th century. Île des Pins…
Grande Terre
Ten kilometres east of Bourail on RT1 is a mosque, an Arab cemetery and a memorial to Arabs, Kabyles, Algerians, Moroccans and Tunisians who were deported…
Noumea
The cathedral was built in 1888 by convict labour and is one of Noumea’s landmarks. It has beautiful stained-glass windows and an elaborately carved…
Tanna
At Namakara, this is one of the biggest John Frum villages on Tanna. Dances are held on Friday nights, when songs of praise are sung to the tunes of…
Port Vila
The beautiful botanic gardens here help bring some of Vanuatu's island flora and its cultural uses to life. There's a kastom magic show (adult/child 1500…
Grande Terre
Inside Pouébo’s Catholic church there’s a marble mausoleum where the remains of Bishop Douarre, who set up New Caledonia’s first Catholic mission, are…
Loyalty Islands
Take a free visit to the soap factory, next to the ferry quay in Wadrilla. Made from coconut oil, it is producing household soap, soap perfumed with…
Vanuatu
Down south, at Sanasom, is magnificent Hole of the Moon Cave and Malangauliuli, a cave with spectacular petroglyphs. Chief Jonah is kastom owner of the…
Espiritu Santo
In a beautiful coastal setting just off the East Coast Rd, this beach is all white sand and turquoise water, with views of Elephant Island. Drop into…
Île des Pins
Two kilometres east of Vao and also referred to as Baie des Pirogues, this is where the Pirogue Excursion leaves from daily. Locals build their…
Grande Terre
About 1km north of Pouébo, on the coast side of the main road, is a carefully tended, touching memorial to 10 local Kanak men who were guillotined by the…
Efate
Two US WWII fighter planes lie in the shallows near Baofatu. They ran out of fuel coming in to land at Quoin Hill. If he's around, Erik will take you out…
Grande Terre
The stained-glass windows in this cute little church tell the story from the first Catholic mass. In 1853 France officially laid claim to New Caledonia at…
Île des Pins
About 8km north of Kuto, a signposted turn-off leads down a dirt road to the sunken Grotte de la Troisième. The cave is 100m down a path from the end of…
Île des Pins
The attractive 19th-century Catholic church dominates Vao. It was established by the Marist priest Father Goujon, who managed to convert most of the…
Noumea
The Musée de Nouvelle-Calédonie provides an excellent introduction to traditional Kanak and regional Pacific culture. Local exhibits are displayed on the…
