New Caledonia
Oceania · Nouméa · NC
New Caledonia is the magnificent French territory of the south-west Pacific, a country of the islands and the lagoons that combines the great main land of the Grande Terre, with its mountains and its marvellous turquoise lagoon, with the islands and the archipelagos of the Loyalty and the Isle of the Pines. It is one of the world's great natural treasures, the coral lagoon that surrounds the main island being one of the largest and a wonder of the ecologically precious biodiversity, home to the dugongs, the sea turtles and among the longest barrier reefs of the planet. The capital of the Noumea, a polished French provincial town of the bays, the markets and the cafés that anchors the territory on its grand harbour, contrasts with the strong Kanak cultures of the interior, whose tradition, the custom houses and the festivals remain the deep soul of the country. French, Melanesian and extraordinarily beautiful, the New Caledonia is the great undiscovered jewel of the south Pacific.
Overview
New Caledonia is a country in Oceania. Its capital is Nouméa and the international dialling code is +687. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include French. Local currency is the CFP Franc (XPF). Our guide covers 1 airport, including La Tontouta International Airport. We also list 1 city in New Caledonia: Nouméa.
The Lagoon of the Corals and the Reefs of the Turquoise
The great lagoon of the country, the enormous basin of the shallow coral waters that ring the main island for its whole length, is one of the largest and the most beautiful lagoons of the world, and one of the great protected wonders of the natural earth. The barrier reef of the lagoon, the long rampart of the living coral that breaks the swell of the open ocean, shelters the extraordinary wealth of the marine life, the dugongs of the sea grass meadows, the turtles of the islets and the mantas and the sharks of the passes. The boat trips of the lagoon, threading the channels of the reef to the uninhabited islets and their turquoise shallows, and the snorkelling and the diving of the coral gardens throughout the great blue basin, are the quintessential experience of the country.
The Capital of the Noumea and the Bays of the Faubourg
The capital of the Noumea, the elegant French town of the peninsula that curves around its grand natural harbour on the south-west coast of the main island, is the polished, prosperous heart of the territory, a city of the waterfront cafés, the museums and the lovely bays. The markets of the town, the cultural centre of the Tjibaou, the remarkable architecture of the Kanak culture that rises in the woods on the edge of the city, and the aquarium of the lagoon with its celebrated nautiluses anchor the essential visits of the capital. The beaches and the viewpoints of the peninsula, the lighthouse of the bay and the pleasant island boats of the weekend complete the sophisticated, French-flavoured life of the leading city of the south Pacific.
The Custom of the Kanak and the Houses of the Tradition
The Kanak people, the first inhabitants of the islands, preserve in the Caledonian countryside one of the strongest great cultures of the Pacific, the world of the custom, the clans and the carved houses of the tradition whose architecture still dominates the villages of the eastern and the northern coasts. The great carved houses of the chiefs, with their rounded roofs and the arrow finials of the custom that point toward the alliance and the power, and the mounds of the yams and the ceremonies of the tribute, carry the deep social and ritual life of the clans, a world still governed by the strict protocols of the custom. The cultural centres and the festivals of the interior, where the dances and the music of the Kanak still fill the village grounds, keep this profound indigenous world alive in the tropical stone of the mountains.
The Mountains of the Interior and the Treks of the Province
The interior of the main island, the long spine of the rugged ranges that drops through the dense forests, the waterfalls and the nickel mines of the central highlands, holds the wild, green heart of the Grande Terre beyond the lagoons of the coasts. The treks of the mountains, following the ridges and the rivers of the massifs, reach the great peak of the Panié, the highest summit of the island, and the spawning grounds of the ancient forests with their extraordinary endemic birds and their kauri trees of the crowns. The mining townships of the interior, with their story of the nickel industry that built the territory, and the mission houses of the old villages, give the cultural and the industrial layers of the inland world of the main island.
The Isle of the Pines and the Loyalty Islands of the East
The islands that surround the main island carry the finest of the island life of the country, the celebrated Isle of the Pines with its extraordinary stands of the pines of the pines, its perfect bays and its ancient sacred grottoes, and the raised coral islands of the Loyalty group with their limestone plateaux and their turquoise shorelines. The Isle of the Pines, the tourist jewel of the territory, offers the diving of the superb coral gardens, the ruins of the old penal settlements and the natural harbour of the Oro, while the villages of the Loyalty, beyond the tarmac, preserve the untouched traditional life of the Kanak of the outer islands. The series of the islands, with their beaches, their reefs and their isolated valleys, complete the varied geography of the lagoon country of the south Pacific.
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- Capital
- Nouméa
- Currency
- CFP Franc (XPF)
- Languages
- French
- Calling code
- +687
- Internet TLD
- nc
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter New Caledonia.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of New Caledonia?
Nouméa is the capital of New Caledonia, and the country sits in Oceania.
What currency is used in New Caledonia?
You pay with CFP Franc (XPF) in New Caledonia. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in New Caledonia?
The languages we list for New Caledonia are French. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for New Caledonia?
The dialling code for New Caledonia is +687 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve New Caledonia?
La Tontouta International Airport (NOU) in Nouméa is the airport we cover for New Caledonia.
Which cities in New Caledonia do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for New Caledonia: Nouméa (capital).