Vacations in New Caledonia
If you are thinking of sailing to or chartering in the Pacific Islands, you will certainly want to have a good look at the holiday facilities and activities available in New Caledonia, the French colony that is the closest South Pacific Island to Australia and New Zealand. Before you go get the cruising guide to New Caledonia and it's companion tourism information guide to New Caledonia. They are in both French and English. For the French versions see the guide nautique Nouvelle Caledonie and the guide touristique Nouvelle Caledonie
The people of New Caledonia are enthusiastic about all kinds of sporting activities - especially competitive ones. Because the local people are so involved with sports you will find excellent support facilities and some kind of sporting "event" happening just about every weekend of the year.
Competitive Trekking in New Caledonia is called a "raid" like the Dream Raid that goes from one side of the main island through the montains to the other side. There are raids just about every weekend somewhere in New Caledonia with an astonishing number of participants. You can participate in these and a good way to do it is a New Caledonia fly/drive vacation.
Trekking is especially rewarding with some of the most beautiful walking tracks imaginable winding through forrest covered mountains which are, for the most part, completely uninhabited. One thing that really sets New Caledonia apart from the other Pacific islands is its extensive network of rivers. The crystal clear mountain rivers have wonderful swimming holes - called Trouts d'eau (bowl of water) in French. There are waterfalls and tree ferns and orchids, alongside the rivers and countless kilometers of reasonable tracks winding along nearby.
The other big draw-card for New Caledonia is it's enormous coral lagoon - the largest lagoon in the world. Great for diving in new caledonia, snorkelling, sailing in New Caledonia, jet-skiing, helicopter rides, the lagoon and its coral islands and coral reefs are largely protected marine sanctuaries. This means that when you go snorkelling or diving the fish are generally not afraid of you. They swim right up and allow you to take their photo. But it also means you can't spear them.
New Caledonia accommodation falls into two categories - international hotels and resorts accommodation in Noumea and international accommodation in Isle of Pines and accommodation for the local tourism industry everywhere. Hotels and resorts in the loyalty islands (three islands of Mare, Lifou, and Ouvea) survive mainly on local tourists from Noumea but there are plenty of international visitors that head for the major resorts - like the 4 star Paradis Ouvea. In Lifou, there are three hotels plus lots of charming "cases" or Melanesian style bungalows of thatch. Because of the enthusiastic local market there are lots of camp sites available in New Caledonia.
Have fun on your holiday in New Caledonia. And if you want the very best travel information for New Caledonia, get the Rocket Guide to New Caledonia with thousands of terrific photos of new caledonia, including virtual reality sphere images and photographs of every New Caledonia accommodation and activity in New Caledonia.
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