The island destination close to home that’s booming for Aussie travellers

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As travel gets increasingly expensive and difficult to navigate, Aussies are seeking out destinations closer to home. 

And when you can reach paradise in under three hours, why wouldn’t you book a trip?

Enter: New Caledonia. According to data from Expedia, there has been an impressive 90 per cent increase in Aussies searching for the island nation in the last year.

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The French-speaking New Caledonia has sparkling water, warm temperatures, world-class snorkelling, lush rainforests, sprawling grasslands, and incredible food.

What else do you need?

Read on for everything to know about a trip to New Caledonia.

How many days is enough for New Caledonia?

This depends what you want to do. As it’s such a short flight from Australia, you could easily just hit up New Caledonia for a long weekend – stay in the capital city of Noumea or park up at a resort on the coast.

To really see the island, you’ll need at least two weeks. This way you’ll have time to explore Noumea, head north to experience the inland forests, and fly to the stunning Isle of Pines for island relaxation vibes.

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Is New Caledonia expensive?

Though New Caledonia is technically a French territory, they use the CFP Franc – the same as French Polynesia.

Thankfully, prices aren’t quite as high here as they are in France, and the exchange rate is a little more favourable.

Expect to see prices similar to what we see here in Australia. A nice dinner out for two will set you back around $100, beers are about $10, coffes are $5, and accommodation can range from $100 – $1000 per night depending on what you’re after.

Just like any destination, you can do it luxe or you can do it on a budget.

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Best things to do in New Caledonia

I went to New Caledonia in 2022, and had one of the best trips of my life. Here are all the best things that I can recommend.

Stay in an overwater bungalow

We splurged and spent four nights at the DoubleTree by Hilton Noumea, where you can stay in overwater bungalows that evoke the Maldives or Bora Bora.

The snorkelling is amazing – just step right off your balcony and there are turtles chilling right there under the surface.

It cost around $500 per night, and was worth every cent.

Take a road trip north

Though they do drive on the right in New Caledonia (it is France, after all), the roads are easy to drive and navigate, and once you get out of the city, they’re beautiful.

Bourail is a popular spot a few hours’ north of Noumea, where you can stay on the beach, dine on delicious French-Island food and hike the coastal mountains that New Caledonia is famous for.

Visit the Port Moselle Market

Hit up the local market in the morning to stock up on fresh fruit, grab a pastry and a coffee, and check out the buzzing fish market where vendors are spruiking their catch of the day.

Just a warning – if you order a latte with your croissant, it’ll come in a bowl, just like the French do it. Perfect to dip your pastry into.

Eat as much as you can

The food was amazing. The cuisine across the islands is distinctly French, but with the fresh ingredients that the South Pacific does so well.

In Noumea, I can recommend L’Ed’Zen, where we had an amazing French set menu, with wine, for just over $100. Marmite et Tire-Bouchon is another, slightly more elevated, French restaurant with water views and a stunning menu.

Fly to Ile de Pines

Yes, the main island is beautiful. But you can’t visit New Caledonia without heading to Ile de Pines. It’s a short flight from Noumea, known for its white sand beaches and tall pine trees. It doesn’t get more idyllic than this.

Find a place to stay on the beach and spend your days swimming, snorkelling, and gorging on local food.

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How to get to New Caledonia

There are direct flights to Noumea from Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, with flight times ranging from two to three hours.

Do you need a visa for New Caledonia?

As an Aussie, you won’t need a visa for a holiday. If you’re planning a long trip, you just can’t exceed a total of 90 days in the country over a period of 180 days.

Make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after your return date.

Is it safe to visit New Caledonia?

After temporarily pausing tourism due to civil unrest in 2025, New Caledonia has resumed all flights.

Smart Traveller’s rating for New Caledonia is yellow: “We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in New Caledonia. There’s still a high police and security presence in country.”