Alpha International, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
PRESENTATION
New Caledonia is an Oceanian archipelago located in Southern Melanesia. It is the third largest island in the Pacific after Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
It is located about 1,500 kilometers from Australia, 1,700 kilometers from New Zealand, 7,000 kilometers from Japan, 10,000 kilometers from the west coast of the United States, and 20,000 kilometers from France.
Contrary to the neighboring volcanic islands, New Caledonia is a fragment of ancient continent that surfaced 250 million years ago. Its flora and fauna is truly unique. There are about 3,500 species of plants, 75% of which was counted on the main island alone. There are 4,300 species of land animals, 1,000 species of fish, and 6,500 species of invertebrate sea animals.
New Caledonia is 500 kilometers long, 50 kilometers wide and offers an infinite variety of landscapes, beautiful white-sand beaches and spectacular mountain views.
Surrounded by a 1,600 kilometer long coral reef, New Caledonia is the largest lagoon in the world. At certains spots, the coral reef is just a few kilometers from land, at others you have to go 65 kilometers out to sea to see it (with an average depth of 40 meters in the lagoon).
New Caledonia is made up of the “Main Island”, the Isle of Pines south of the Main Island, the Loyalty Islands to the east (Maré, Lifou, Tiga and Ouvéa), the archipelago of Belep to the north and several other small islands…
The main island has the largest concentration of population in New Caledonia. It is divided in the middle by a mountain chain called the “Central Mountain Chain”. The highest mountain peak in the north of this mountain chain is named “Mount Panié” and it is 1,629 meters high, and in the south there is “Mount Humboldt” with a height of 1,618 meters. Numerous plant species can be found in these mountains.
This mountain chain splits the island into two distinct regions:
The East Coast is humid and windy with fertile soil and exotic vegetation, green valleys, magnificent waterfalls, savage rivers and typical Melanesian huts along the roads.
The West Coast is a dryer and more temperate zone. We can find coconut trees and « Niaouli » trees by the thousands. Wildlife is abundant. The population here lives with their herds and breeding farms. We can also find fabulous beaches.
A taste of paradise. At 80 kilometers south-east of Noumea, the Isle of Pines is absolutely captivating. It is 14 kilometers wide and 18 kilometers long. Here you can find superb beaches and a garden like environment. Some people think it’s the most beautiful island in the world. “Kunié” (its Melanesian name) is a place for ocean bottom lovers (the lagoon has crayfish, turtles, spiny lobster and myriads of fish). But this paradise-like universe was also the site of a tumultuous and dramatic past. In the 19th century, deported Parisian men were exiled here and left their mark… The charm of this island has remained despite all the tourist activities.
Lifou, Maré, Ouvéa…three pearls of beauty in the Pacific Ocean. These islands are well preserved but are so different from each other…Liou, Maré and Ouvéa open their hearts to you. They offer some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, with hundreds of plants and endemic animals. Come discover their original and exciting culture!
USEFUL INFORMATION
For citizens of the European Union: A valid ID card is enough for stays less than three months long. You are recommended to have a valid passport for international layovers.
Australians and New Zealanders: A visa is unnecessary for stays less than three months long.
Americans: A visa is unnecessary for stays less than 1 month long.
Local time is +11 hours from the GMT time.
French is the official language here and is spoken by everybody. There are also several Melanesian languages and dialects in the different tribes. French, English and Japanese are in general spoken by most tourist agencies and service providers. In the bush and in the Loyalty Islands, it is better to speak a little French when you are not at the hotel in order to communicate better.
New Caledonia serviced by several international airline companies. Ask your local travel agency more information, or feel free to consult the following sites: