New Caledonia Honeymoon

New Caledonia is the perfect honymoon destination – a sunny, tiny slice of France surrounded by the warm waters of the South Pacific.

Blessed with stunning natural beauty, delicious French cuisine, luxurious resorts and rich cosmopolitan charm, New Caledonia has all the ingredients you need for a romantic honeymoon in one of the South Pacific's best honeymoon destinations.

Things to do and see
Discover some of the best white-sand beaches in the South Pacific, hike through pristine forest and dive into the world’s largest lagoon.

Whether you choose to honeymoon on the main island of Grande Terre, the idyllic Isle of Pines or on a small coral atoll in the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia offers a choice of must-see sightseeing attractions for inquisitive couples.

In Nouméa, browse chic fashion boutiques, stroll tree-lined streets crowded with colonial architecture, eat alfresco in elegant sidewalk cafés, savour French cuisine in fine-dining restaurants and embrace the town's refined French ambiance.

New Caledonia also offers a wide choice of things to do from sailing, scuba diving and kayaking to hiking scenic forest trails: Grande Terre offers some of the best hiking in the South Pacific.

Grande Terre, New Caledonia
The main island of New Caledonia offers a lush backdrop of mountains, rainforests, rivers, lakes and beaches wrapped around secluded coves fringed with coral gardens teeming with colourful fish – the ideal setting for a relaxing honeymoon. Explore the lively cosmopolitan city of Nouméa and browse chic boutiques for a perfect honeymoon memento.

In the mainly untouched northern provinces meet some of the most traditional communities in New Caledonia – the indigenous Kanaks. Tour a local Kanak village where ancient customs are still practiced, share in a tribal bougna (feast) and listen to the stories and legends of the Kanak world for an amazing honeymoon experience.

Isle of Pines, New Caledonia
Named for the majestic 60m-tall araucaria pines that blanket the island’s interior, the enchanting Isle of Pines is known locally as the ‘Jewel of the Pacific’ – a long-time favourite of honeymoon couples. At roughly 18km-long and 14km-wide, the island is easy to explore on foot, bicycle, 4WD or boat.

Pick a secluded spot to sunbathe on a choice of powder-white beaches edged with soaring pines and facing crystalline lagoons ideal for swimming and snorkelling – just perfect for a quiet honeymoon picnic. The Isle of Pines is a 20-minute flight or 2.5 hour high-speed catamaran trip from Nouméa on the main island of New Caledonia.

Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia
This string of pristine coral atolls, untouched by commercial tourism, is renowned for secluded beaches, rugged coasts and stunning lagoons making it an idyllic honeymoon retreat. The islands of Lifou and Maré are covered in dense forest pitted with caves and grottoes surrounded by coastlines indented with rugged cliffs and unspoiled beaches.

Ouvéa Island ranks as one of the most beautiful atolls in New Caledonia and the Pacific, defined by a 25km-long stretch of unbroken white-sand beach that shelves into a vivid turquoise lagoon fringed by a necklace of distant coral atolls. The New Caledonia islands of Lifou, Maré and Ouvéa are just a half-hours flight from Nouméa.

Accommodation
Choose from authentic Melanesian country gîte (thatched beach bungalow) to 5-star resorts featuring over-water bungalows and a range of creature comforts dedicated to spoil honeymoon couples.

Best time for a New Caledonia honeymoon?
With a sunny, year round subtropical climate, New Caledonia is perfect for a honeymoon at any time, (although, it can rain year round, with the heaviest rainfalls from February to April). September to March averages 26°C; April to August averages 21°C. For more climate info: New Caledonia Weather Guide

April to August is the best for trekking, while April to November is the best time to charter a yacht, with southeasterly trade winds of 15-20 knots giving good sailing conditions; the tidal range in New Caledonia is only half a metre and currents are negligible.

Location – New Caledonia is the third largest island in the South Pacific after Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

Getting there – Fly direct from Sydney or Brisbane to Noumea’s Tontouta International Airport on Air Caledonie or Qantas Airways; and via Auckland on Air New Zealand. How to get to New Caledonia . . .