Experiences in New Caledonia

Relaxing in New Caledonia
Dreaming of taking it easy, feet in the sand ? Treating yourself to brunch by the sea before an hour-long massage ? Or even just enjoying nature with a bit of spontaneity ?

New Caledonia is all those things: strolling through the Forest Park in the morning, treating yourself to a midday brunch and a relaxing massage…all before heading to Baie des Citrons for a lively night out! Take a holiday to Pleasure.

Culture & Arts
With museums, bush festivals, art galleries or theatres and cinemas, you will not have time to get bored. New Caledonia offers a rich and diverse cultural life. Kanak culture is very much alive, thriving in modernity, without denying its roots.

Pacific Art at its Best
New Caledonia is bursting with artists, painters, sculptors, singers, dancers and actors. The art scene is rich and diverse. Several cultural locations and art galleries are within reach.

Art at the cultural center
Tjibaou, Hienghène, Mont-Dore, Dumbéa – cultural centers and multimedia libraries are an important part to any visit to New Caledonia. A must-see is the Tjibaou cultural center, located in Nouméa, boasting the richness of Melanesian culture of the past and especially of today. Created by architect Renzo Piano, the building is formed from stylized huts that house permanent and temporary exhibits.

Local Culture
In the heart of the Pacific, New Caledonia is a land of mixed cultures. Caledonians are proud of their island and unique identity. Accents, languages, gastronomy, New Caledonia’s culture is a true melting pot of influences, promise of rich encounters and exceptional journey.

A culture influenced by the expression Carpe Diem
If you want to experience the true « New Cal » lifestyle, go and get yourself some flip flops (tongs) and a cap. Caledonians love to take it easy when it comes to fashion and usually adopt a relaxed and casual style. No need to bring the black dress or suit for a diner on lemon Bay. Here, the atmosphere is relaxed and we love to enjoy the pleasure of the moment.

Fairs & Festivals
New Caledonia offers numerous fairs and festivals all year round. The fairs essentially focus on agriculture, but the festivals can be very diverse.

Inland Fairs
The Fair of Koumac, Bourail, Boulouparis, Poum, or even Yaté… the mainland is proud of its local products and a number of towns offer you the chance to experience a weekend living like the «broussards» (French cowboys). The best-known of all is the Fair of Bourail. Its rodeo attracts both people from Nouméa and the rest of the mainland.

A variety of festivals
The Film Festival of La Foa, the festival of the Bancoule worm in Farino, and many more. New Caledonia provides a multitude of cultural festivals, to the great joy of its inhabitants and lovers of music, film, and various forms of art. Music is present everywhere with Live in August or even the Blackwoodstock Festival, a vibrant scene that nobody should miss at the end of September.

Fairs on the Islands
Do you want to discover a different side of the islands? Consider staying in Lifou, Maré, or Ouvéa during the feast of the avocado, the bird fair, or even the red snapper fair. The fairs are organized in close cooperation with the tribes, who will welcome you like a family member for a unique stay. There is no better way to discover Kanak culture.

Cultural Festivals
Museum Night, the sound and light show of Fort Téremba, or even the Ânûû Âboro popular film festival in Poindimié. Culture is always celebrated in New Caledonia and children aren’t left out, notably with the Storytelling Festival or the Pikinini.

Gastronomy and wine
New Caledonia’s cuisine is one of the best in the South Pacific. Fusion of flavours, it is a true testimonial to the blend of cultures living together on the island. Often spicy, the meals are always deliciously fresh using some of the best local ingredients.

New Caledonia’s gastronomy is truly unique, one mixing spices, tropical flavours and French techniques. Vanilla, sweet potatoes, fresh seafood or local venison, New Caledonia will surprise you and deliver a true gourmet experience.

Gastronomy
New Caledonia is renowned for its cosmopolitan cooking, oscillating between tradition and modernity, with many talented chefs and numerous restaurants. It is the ideal place for gourmets and connoisseurs looking for surprising and intense flavours. A delicious gastronomic experience that will leave a lasting memory.

Bonjour traditional French cooking
Slow cooked meals, traditional bistro dishes, terroir products, you will find French cooking at its best in New Caledonia. Why not try the traditional blanquette de veau, duck confit, quenelles or delicious foie gras. For a typical French experience, why not try the restaurant ‘Chez Toto’ in Noumea.

Experience a fusion gastronomy full of flavours
The cuisine is inspired by the different communities living together in New Caledonia : Melanesian, Asian, Wallisian, Tahitian and French. A richness which inspires our local chefs who love to rediscover local products with a modern twist. For an explosion of colours and flavours, head to Au Petit Café, So Food and l’Ed’Zen in Noumea.

Wine and dine in the best restaurants of luxury hotels
You will find the best of New Caledonian cooking at the restaurants of our many high end hotels around the mainland and the islands. During your trip, you will be spoilt for choice. Try the a la carte menu or delicious buffets from the Le Meridien Noumea, Meridien Isle of Pines, Sheraton Gouavo or La Néa in Kone. A delicious trip awaits!

A seafood diet in a seafood heaven
Surrounded by the largest lagoon in the world, New Caledonia is heaven for seafood lovers. You will be amazed by the variety of fish and coquillages, bénitiers et trocas, crayfish and coconut crab. Don’t forget to try the New Caledonian prawns, a blue variety of prawns native to New Caledonia and exported all around the world.

Try the bougna, traditional Melanesian dish
It is probably the most popular dish in New Caledonia. A traditional stew made of one protein (either chicken, local meat or fish) mixed with yams, sweet potatoes, bananes poingo, ignames, and cooked in coconut milk. The dish is covered in banana leaves and slow cooks for hours on the hot stones of the ‘Kanak oven’. The bougna is a special dish best shared with the local tribe.

Try the bush delicacies: beef and venison
With a true stockmen tradition, New Caledonia is renowned for its beef of excellent quality. The venison meat is also very popular and cooked many different ways : deer skewers on the barbecue, venison salad or stew. In the bush, one of the best restaurants to try the venison is Le Refuge du Cerf. A lovely guesthouse with an amazing view on the lagoon and a beautiful menu!

Love food? This is the foodie island you need to visit
There are unique and extraordinary flavours to be found in each of the destinations’ varied regions, whether they be from the blue waters of the crystal clear lagoon (the world’s largest), the more rural ‘cowboy country’ in the west, the Gallic hub of Noumea or the traditional Kanak culture in the east. New Caledonia’s sundry landscapes deliver delicacies, fresh produce and meals that will tantalise the taste buds and are true testimonial to the blend of cultures united on the islands.

FLAVOURS FROM FRANCE
In the Pacific, New Caledonia cultivates the French Touch. Indulge your family, your friends, or even yourself by selecting French luxury products. Delicious foie gras, renowned French wines and champagnes, fine chocolate and other sweets. Fill your suitcases with the products that made France famous.

Treasures for your taste buds
Located on Orphanage Bay, in Noumea, Maison Ballande is known for their high-end products. In this fine establishment you’ll find: an excellent selection of wines, champagnes, and spirits. You’ll be enchanted by prestigious French brands like Comtesse du Barry, Fauchon, Maxim’s, Bollinger, as well as by local Fresh products, including lobster.

Wine: A French passion
In New Caledonia, the taste of wine is synonymous with pleasure and socializing. Many wine shops offer prestigious French wines, but also more reasonably priced vintages. Here is a selection of retailers to discover in Noumea: Le Pavillon des Vins, la Vinothèque, Sodival, la Cave.

Fall for the chocolate
If you’re a chocolate connoisseur, you won’t be able to resist the urge to sample that made in New Caledonia. Walk into the workshop of Morand, the master chocolatier and creator of marvels in the Latin Quarter in Noumea. Another address in the capital: Uncle Jules and the Golden Caboose.

The foie gras will make your mouth water
French luxury product par excellence, the foie gras of Ouen Toro is prepared in the laboratory of Noumea Gourmets. You’ll be spoiled for choice between the classic foie gras recipe, or flavored with vanilla, ginger, or violet…A delight for the palate.

Indulge yourself with coffee or tea
In Noumea and facing the beach of Anse-Vata, Malongo Cafe welcomes you to the terrace for an expresso, breakfast, or brunch. In the shop, you won’t be able to resist the careful selection of coffees and teas, in pretty porcelain teapots or Italian coffee makers.

Haute couture of French gastronomy
A new shop will be opening at the Motor Pool in Nouméa. Gastronomie Import offers French brands that are renowned for the quality of their products. Foie gras, fine oils, caviar and other fancy foods will make your mouth water. For small and big occasions with friends, this is the shop you need.

SHOPPING
Nouméa is a city that will seduce you. Both modern and eclectic, the capital city is imbued within the sweet Pacific life and Oceanic values. It’s also concentrated with small shops and more well-known brands. Enjoy a shopping day followed by a spa or a drink on a terrace to unwind.

Shopping in the city center
Two streets host most of the shops appreciated by those who love French fashion: Rue de l’Alma and Rue de Sébastopol. Small fashion and custom accessory shops can be found there, but brands such as Mango, Guess, Etam, Okaïdi and even Apple also have shops on the street. The neighborhood of Alma features several high-end pret-à-porter boutiques such as Adresse 33.

Sparkling shops
If you love precious jewelry, the jewelers Gaspard, Guilleux, Diams, CHLOE, Maison de la Montre and Grand Quartier will be pleased to welcome you. In New Caledonia, you can also find brands specializing in pearls such as Créator, CHLOE Perles and La Maison de la Perle. At Marlène, you can discover a world of fragrances, lingerie and luxury leather goods by Longchamp and Sonia Rykiel.

Shopping at concept stores
Bonnie&Bonnie and MiaCasa in the Latin Quarter, Bô in the city center, Fanfan’s Art on the bay – Nouméa hosts several concept stores that offer designer jewelry and furniture and hard-to-find decoration. On the Promenade of Anse Vata, the Hype store offers brands such as Paul & Joe, Vanessa Bruno, Isabelle Marant and Zadig & Voltaire.

Shopping in Anse Vata
La Promenade is known for its concentration of very chic fashion shops and hip restaurants and shops. You can find a wide range of luxury shops such as DeCi DeLà for leather goods and Max Mara for haute couture. Desigual has also set up its pretty shop on the promenade facing the sea. To enjoy a T2 tea or a nice coffee, take a seat at the Malongo Café Store, which also offers a range of fine tableware.

Shopping for decoration
In the city center and on La Promenade at Anse Vata, Nouméa features several interior decoration shops inspired by European and Australian trends. You can find brands such as Papaya, Leonardo, Zak! even Joseph Joseph. In the city center, Ambiances et Styles, MiaCasa, Bonnie&Bonnie will guide you in choosing a very French spirit.