New Caledonia

Places in New Caledonia

• Blue River Provincial Park

  Blue River Provincial Park (Parc provincial de la Rivière Bleue) is New Caledonia's most visited provincial park, offering a rare combination of drowned tropical rainforest, vivid blue rivers, red-earth hills, and ancient petroglyphs. It's the best place in the territory to spot the endangered Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus), a flightless bird found nowhere else on Earth.

  Atlas entry

• Bourail

  Bourail is a small town on Grande Terre, offering a relaxed coastal base with beaches, lagoon activities, turtle watching, and cultural sites like the Museum Bourail. It suits budget travelers and nature lovers.

  Atlas entry

• Isle of Pines

  The Isle of Pines (Île des Pins, Kunyié) has been nicknamed 'L'île la plus proche du Paradis' ('the closest island to Paradise'). The island is home to the world's largest gecko species and features lush pine forests framing turquoise bays.

  Atlas entry

• Koné

  Koné is the administrative seat of New Caledonia's Northern Province, making it a functional hub in a largely rural region. The town itself is among the smallest in the territory, with nine tribes represented in its community.

  Atlas entry

• La Foa

  La Foa makes a convenient stop on the east coast road between Noumea and Boulouparis. The main draw is Fort Teremba, a well-preserved convict-era prison from 1871 with a small museum and occasional sound-and-light shows.

  Atlas entry

• Le Mont-Dore

  Mont-Dore is the second-largest city in New Caledonia with a population of 27,620, located on the island of Grande Terre. While the town itself is small, 60% remains covered in bush, making it an ideal base for nature exploration.

  Atlas entry

• Loyalty Islands

  The Loyalty Islands offer pristine, largely untouched beaches that few tourists ever reach. With 94% of the 19,000 residents being Kanak, visitors experience one of the Pacific's strongest indigenous cultures rather than a Frenchified resort destination.

  Atlas entry

• Nouméa

  Nouméa is the largest city in and capital of New Caledonia, offering a rare blend of French sophistication and Pacific Island charm. One of the most westernised cities in the Pacific Islands, it features beautiful beaches and colonial mansions without the heavy tourist crowds found elsewhere.

  Atlas entry

• Ouvéa

  Ouvéa is a classic Maldives-style atoll in the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia, featuring a thin ring of coral around a sheltered central lagoon with stunning turquoise waters. The island has blindingly white coral sand beaches and a population of only 3,000, making it an unspoiled paradise far from mass tourism.

  Atlas entry