New Caledonia is Australia's closest French Pacific neighbour, making it an ideal destination for travellers looking for a holiday with a difference, without the distance.

Blessed with stunning natural wonders including the largest lagoon in the world; a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site, the second largest reef in the world and a unique blend of French and Melanesian cultures, New Caledonia is like nowhere else.

Whether your stay in New Caledonia falls during the hot season or the cool season, you can be sure of a delightful semi-tropical climate, with temperatures and sunshine guaranteed to make your holiday perfect!

Nouméa, the capital city of New Caledonia is on the ocean. Several bays extend along the city, providing magnificent beaches and points of view. Besides its natural features, Nouméa also has very attractive cultural offerings for tourists who choose to visit there.

Be transported to one of your closest neighbours through a series of 360 degree videos, where you can sip champagne in the Paris of the South; snorkel off the fine white sand beaches of the Isle of Pines and watch the cowboys from the real Caledonian bush, fly over the Heart of Voh, and much more…

5 Reasons Why New Caledonia

1. Some 60% (15,000 km²) of New Caledonia’s lagoon is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the marine environment is one of the most beautiful in the world, sheltering hundreds of underwater wildlife species and a breathtaking diversity of corals and plant species.
    
2. New Caledonia is a melting-pot of ethnic communities, with a richly diverse cultural heritage: the Kanak people, the earliest inhabitants who settled here over 3,000 years ago, the European inhabitants (known as Caldoches or, in the case of recent arrivals, Z'oreilles), Asian communities (from Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam...) and peoples from other islands (Tahiti, Wallis and Futuna, Reunion Island). A unique and vibrant ethnic mix!
     
3. The sublime white sand beaches of Lifou, Ouvéa and the Isle of Pines easily rival the world’s most famous beaches.
     
4. The sun shines all year round in New Caledonia, which enjoys a wonderfully balmy climate with an average annual temperature of 25°C.
     
5. New Caledonian vanilla is celebrated worldwide for its exquisite taste. Its subtle savour enhances many local specialities and you can use it in your favourite baking recipes back home. Yummy!