Best Beaches in New Caledonia

New Caledonia is renowned for its choice of powder-white beaches on Grand Terre, the Isle of Pines and nearby Loyalty Islands.

Take your pick from this round-up of the best beaches in New Caledonia – just perfect for a romantic honeymoon.


Grande Terre beaches…


Anse Vata, Nouméa

Discover Nouméa’s most popular beach – a long crescent of powder-white sand, lined with beachfront cafés, restaurants, nightclubs and hotels.

Pick a secluded spot to sunbathe on the beach or try some of the numerous watersport activities available such as windsurfing, kite surfing, paragliding, jet skiing and kayaking.

Anse Vata beach is home to a range of accommodations including the luxurious 5-star Le Meridien Nouméa overlooking Anse Vata Cove and the 5-star Nouvata Hotel, which sits in the heart of this lively resort area.


Baie des Citrons, Nouméa

This family-friendly white-sand beach offers calm waters perfect for swimming, with a wide choice of cafes, restaurants and nightclubs nearby.

Come on a day trip or stay longer at one of the many beachside hotels and resorts.


Kuendu Beach, Nouméa

Dig your toes into the powder-white sand of this lovely beach that gently shelves into the calm waters of a horseshoe-shaped bay, perfect for sunbathing and swimming.

Snorkel the marine reserve, which lies around the southern headland – an easy walk along a beachside trail or a short swim from the beach.

Pack a picnic and come for a day or relax in style in an overwater bure at the Kuendu Beach Resort.


Ilot Maitre Island

Pick you own secluded spot to sunbathe on the powder white beach that fringes this tiny coral atoll.

Located just 25-minutes by boat from Nouméa, Ilot Maitre sits atop a huge underwater reef and offers excellent conditions for diving, snorkelling, kayaking and swimming.

Come on a day trip or indulge your creature comforts at the 4-star L’Escapade Island Resort.


Poé Beach

Sunbathe and relax with a picnic on this popular white sand beach that stretches for 20km along the northwest coast near Bourail.


Isle of Pines beaches…


Kuto Beach

Unwind on one of New Caledonia’s best beaches – a gorgeous crescent of fine powder-white sand that shelves into a calm protected bay.

Sunbathe on the white sand, relax in the shade of towering Araucaria pines or swim and snorkel the fringing headlands.

A short stroll across the narrow sandy isthmus takes you to neighbouring Kanuméra Bay.

Come for a day or stay longer at the beachside 3-star Kou Bugny Hotel.


Kanuméra Beach

Discover a picture-perfect crescent of soft white sand framed by long pine clad promontories and lapped by the calm waters of horse-shaded Kanuméra Bay.

Come for a day to sunbathe, swim and snorkel above coral gardens teeming with colourful fish or stay longer at the beachfront 3-star Hotel Oure Isle of Pines.

Both Kuto and Kanuméra beaches are considered among the best beaches in the South Pacific.


Oro Bay

Accessible by boat or on foot along a forest path from Vao on the northeast coast, Oro Bay features two gorgeous palm- and pine-fringed white-sand beaches that shelve gently into the calm waters of the lagoon as well as a large nature-sculpted limestone pool located in a pine grove behind the beach.

Pick a spot to sunbathe, swim in the clear warm waters of the lagoon and snack on tasty lobsters at one of the small beachfront restaurants.

Come for a day or stay longer at the luxurious 5-star Le Méridien Isle des Pins, where you can indulge with a range of creature comforts.


Upi Bay

Explore this calm, picture-perfect bay by kayak or sailing pirogue and discover tiny coral atolls fringed with white sand and basking in the sun amid crystal clear waters perfect for swimming, snorkelling and fishing.

Upi Bay is located on the east coast of the Isle of Pines.


Nokanhui Island

This tiny coral atoll, located to the south of Isle of Pines, is famous for it’s idyllic white sand bar and idyllic swimming conditions – perfect for a day’s excursion.


Loyalty Islands beaches…


Ouvéa Island

Make your own footprints on the gorgeous white sand of Fayaoué Beach, which stretches uninterrupted for 25km along the west coast of this narrow crescent-shaped atoll – one of the most beautiful atolls in the South Pacific.

The palm-fringed beach shelves into an immense turquoise lagoon, offering idyllic swimming conditions with tiny coral atolls set between a vista of blue sea and sky.

Savour a seafood snack at a beachside café, visit the charming French colonial-style church nearby and spot endemic green parakeets flitting through the trees overhead.


Lifou Island

Lifou Island’s forested interior gives way to a coastline indented with rugged sea cliffs, limestone caves, and pristine white-sand beaches.

Discover secluded bays edged with coral gardens and reefs teeming with tropical fish.

Relax on white sands of Peng Beach (photo), located on the west coast, or head to the east coast beaches of We, and the picture-perfect Luengoni Bay where a tall rocky outcrop soars dramatically from the turquoise lagoon just metres away from a gorgeous white-sand beach.

Unwind at the Oasis de Kiamu or at Drehu Village, two beach resorts that front idyllic pockets of white sand.


Maré Island

Explore the rugged coastline of this densely forested island indented with towering cliffs, waterholes, caves and small sandy coves.

Dig your toes into the soft white-sand at Nengone beach and unwind at the 3-star Nengone Village Resort, which faces a turquoise lagoon perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

Take a day trip to try several other beaches such as Shabadron (photo), Tawainedre, Peneloi, Medu and Metche beaches.


Latest update: Best Beaches in New Caledonia: 27 April, 2022



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