Drive Yourself Wild in New Caledonia [Aircalin]

 









A holiday in the islands doesn’t have to be all about laying on a white sand beach soaking up the sun. A lot of us do it.....but a lot of us like to explore as well and this is where New Caledonia could hold the crown as King of self-drive pacific island destinations. 

Can you imagine driving through the bustling French city of Nouméa one minute and on the open roads heading towards paradise the next?    There are many fly-drive options but  all can be done in the knowledge that  New Caledonia is perfect for a self-drive holiday because it has excellent sealed roads, signposts, accommodation, attractions, flora and fauna every step (or kilometre!) of its 400km x 50km land mass.

(Click map to enlarge)

Some places of interest to include in your itinerary:

• Boulouparis – La Ouenghi river, golf course (so easy to pack those clubs in the car)

• Bourail – Pierced Rock, Turtle Bay beach, The New Zealand Cemetery

• Dumbéa – Mount Khogi bush walkways, giant omelette festival (April)

• Farino – coffee plantation Ida-Marc

• Hienghène – Viewpoint to ‘brooding hen/sphinx’ rock, La Ouaïème Ferry

• Houaïlou – Petroglyph sites, Bwa and Coula waterfalls

• Koumac – Koumac caves

• Mont-Dore – underwater Prony needle (if you’re a diver!)

• Poum – Boat pass – northern most point of the main island

• Voh – Natural heart in the mangrove of Voh

• Yaté – The Blue River Provincial Park, The Madeleine waterfalls and botanical pathway

New Caledonia has more to offer though than La Grande Terre (its diverse mainland) – there are also the stunning islands of:

•    Isle of Pines

o    Oro natural pool, Queen Hortense cave

•    Loyalty Islands

o    Lifou – Jokin cliffs, Vanilla plantation
o    Maré – The natural aquarium, Pethoen Cave, The Warrior’s Leap at Wakoné
o    Ouvéa – The Blue Hole of Anawa, Vanilla Plantation at Saint-Paul, Saint-Joseph Cathedral,  Mouli Bridge

The above is to give you only a hint of the many, many things you can see and do and experience during a fly-drive holiday to New Caledonia.

Aircalin is a full service carrier, and offers a generous luggage allowance, regardless of the fare you pay.  We are also the only airline to offer both economy and business class.

w: www.aircalin.com
p:  09 308 3363

 

Published 9th Jan 2011

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