6 Irresistible Reasons To Visit New Caledonia

The appeal of New Caledonia is obvious—with its fusion of French flair and South-Pacific culture, the islands offer diverse experiences for all travellers. But in case you needed some specifics, we gladly show you some of the top reasons to visit this French nation.

Crystal clear lagoons

New Caledonia oozes tranquillity and serenity with long white sandy stretches, clear waters and blue lagoons that brim with a marvel of tropical marine life. Head to the outer islands of Ouvéa, Isle of Pines and Maré for the best beaches and to Oro Bay on the Isle of Pines for a natural lagoon surrounded by pine trees.

French pastries

Macarons, a simultaneously crispy and gooey sweet treat

Haute cuisine

The haute cuisine in New Caledonia combines French colonial and Pacific Island influences and makes the most of the local ingredients on offer, especially seafood and venison. Some of the chefs hail from Nouméa’s Lycee Professionnel Commercial et Hôtelier Auguste Escoffier, a name synonymous with world-class culinary training.

French wine

All meals are best served with at least one very generous glass of French wine. Similar to France, drinking fine wine goes hand-in-hand with socialising and the good life in New Caledonia. Most shops sell fine French still and sparkling wines. Visit Le Pavillon des Vins, Nouméa’s largest French wine shop, and Le Maison Ballande, which offers distinguished brands, including Comtesse du Barry and Bollinger.

Artisan chocolate

Chocolate connoisseurs be warned—the artisan chocolate of Patrick Morand is intoxicating. The chocolatier fuses French technique with South Pacific twists and likes to meld sweet and savoury in treats that tantalise the taste buds in every bite.

Gorgeous hikes

New Caledonia’s natural mountainous landscape offers wonderful opportunities to view the beautiful terrain from high above the island. N’ga Peak is the highest summit in the Isle of Pines. It takes about an hour to climb the 859 feet (262m) to enjoy expansive views of the lagoon below.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.