New Caledonia Tours & Holidays
Diverse experiences await on an island that combines French flair with South-Pacific culture.
Welcome to New Caledonia, where tropical holidays can be so much more than relaxing by the hotel pool with a cocktail in hand – think hiking through endemic rainforests, snorkelling over coral reefs teeming with brightly coloured fish, and walking along beaches that sparkle under the sun. From exploring the country’s diverse mountainous landscapes to learning about local culture from Kanak tribe members, our tours on this island paradise promise memorable adventures you can’t get anywhere else.
Our New Caledonia trips
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Explore tailor-made tripsNew Caledonia at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Noumea
POPULATION
292,000
CURRENCY
Pacific Franc (CPF)
LANGUAGE
French
TIME ZONE
UTC+11:00 (Noumea)
CALLING CODE
+687
ELECTRICITY
Type C (European 2-pin), Type E, Type F (German 2-pin, side clip earth)
Learn more about New Caledonia
Best time to visit New Caledonia
There's plenty to keep you busy in New Caledonia regardless of the month you're travelling in, however, the peak season runs from December-January and from July-August, coinciding with the Australian school holidays. However, travelling in December, January, and February will bring extremely warm and humid weather so if you want to avoid that, the shoulder months of May-June and September-October are also good options.
Geography and environment
New Caledonia's climate is considered to be tropical with southeast trade winds and levels of humidity affecting weather patterns and temperatures throughout the year. This means that New Caledonia also experiences a cyclone season from Novermber-March.
The terrain in New Caledonia is mostly made up of coastal plains (being situated in the South Pacific) with interior mountain ranges but it does face environmental issues such as erosion from mining exploitation and forest fires.
Festival and events
New Caledonia isn't short on festivals and trust us when we say, this island nation knows exactly how to celebrate. Here are some of our favourite festivals to dip your toes into South Pacific culture:
1. French cheese festival
With a focus on celebrating French flavours and traditional cuisine, the French cheese festival is held in two of Noumea's best hotels (Le Meridian and the Sheraton) every June and features over 130 different cheeses for you to sample alongside a glass of your favourite wine.
2. Francofolies
Another French celebration that's been adopted in New Caledonia is Francofolies - a 3-day festival in September that's designed to appreciate French music and language. While its origin comes from a festival of the same name in France, Francofolies also ties in South Pacific culture with a host of local talent showcasing their skills, as well as a bunch of international artists for you to listen to.
New Caledonia travel FAQs
Most nationalities will not need a visa to enter New Caledonia.
To enter New Caledonia you may need:
- A passport valid for at least six months after exit from New Caledonia
- A return or onward ticket from New Caledonia
- Proof financial resources and travel insurance
- Documentation supporting the purpose of your stay, like accommodation or tour booking.
There are two distinct seasons in New Caledonia; a hot and rainy season from December to March and a cold and dry season from June to September which makes up the island country's tropical climate. During the hot season, temperatures average around 30/32°C but can climb as high as 35°C with the humidity also making it uncomfortable to spend long periods of time outside. You can also expect heavy rainfall during this time although it doesn't tend to last for too long unless there's a tropical storm. The cold season sees temperatures average at around 20°C while remaining relatively dry.
What to pack for New Caledonia largely depends on what time of the year you travel in, but because it's a tropical destination, packing plenty of t-shirts, dresses, short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and skirts is a safe bet.
Make sure to pack clothes that are made from light, breathable clothing because it can get warm and humid in New Caledonia during the summer.
You should also pack appropriate sun protection such as hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen if you plan on spending a considerable amount of time in the sun. Don't forget to pack your swimsuit!
It's relatively easy to get to New Caledonia as there are several options available including catching a plane or arriving via boat. Flying to New Caledonia is the easiest and most time-efficient way to travel, especially if you're flying from Australia's east coast with plenty of direct flights arriving into and departing daily from La Tontouta Airport in Noumea.
New Caledonian cuisine is heavy on both seafood and flavour, so you can expect traditional dishes to be tasty and packed with local produce. With a combination of both Melanesian and French influences, you're guaranteed to want seconds of everything you eat. Here are some of our favourite dishes:
- Bougna (a stew-like dish made of chicken, lobster or fish and served with root vegetables).
- Plenty of seafood including coconut crab, New Caledonian blue prawns, and oysters
- Venison
- Civet de Rousette (bat stew)
Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.
We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.
We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.
Travelling from Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
Go to: Safe Travel
From the US?
Go to: US Department of State
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.
Find out more or make a donation