Grand Terre is the main island in New Caledonia. It is one of the largest islands in the Pacific. The barrier reef lying off New Caledonia is second only to the Great Barrier Reef in size.

Cities

• 1 Nouméa — the chic, French-influenced capital city of New Caledonia and the only real city of any size
• Bouloupari
• 2 Bourail
• Hienghène
• Koné
• 3 La Foa
• Poindimié
• Poum
• Prony
• Thio
• Voh

Other destinations

Blue River Provincial Park (Parc provincial de la Rivière Bleue)

This national park is located a little over an hour from the capital city on the eastern side of the southern tip of Gran Terre. The closest township is Yaté. The river is of course blue and the hills are made up of red earth. The flora and fauna of the area boasts carnivorous plants (Nepenthes vieillardii), wild orchids (Megastylis gigas), a 1,000 year old conifer tree (Agathis lanceolata), and it is home to the endangered Kagu bird (Rhynochetos jubatus) which is endemic to New Caledonia.

As a nature reserve camping is limited to provided huts which resemble a-frame cabins made from canvas.

Get in

By plane

• 1 La Tontouta International Airport (NOU ^IATA), Allée Guy Celton, ☏ +687 351118. is New Caledonia's only international airport and the primary point of entry into Noumea. Located in Païta, 52km northwest of Noumea, there are direct flights to Japan, Australia, New Zealand and nearby Pacific islands. Aircalin is the national airline which operates most of the flights, with Qantas, Air New Zealand and Air Vanuatu also operating flights out of the airport. Most visitors from Europe and Asia will connect via Tokyo or Osaka in Japan, while those from North America can connect via Auckland or Papeete. The airport offers free Wi-Fi and a number of eateries and gift shops, which accept both CFP and major worldwide currencies.  

Due to the long distance between the airport and the city centre, connecting transport can be very expensive. The cheapest option by far is a public bus, run by Carsud. Ligne C runs 9-11 times a day each way Monday to Saturday, however only twice a day on Sundays. The journey time is about an hour 20 minutes costing 400 CFP one-way, departing to the city from just outside the airport terminal on the right, and to the airport from the Desmazures interchange near the bingo centre. A pre-booked shuttle service to your hotel will cost about 3000 CFP per person; there are a variety of options, but the largest company is Arc en Ciel (+687 271980). A taxi could cost up to 10,000 CFP.

Do

Windsurfing

Eat

360 restaurants

Go next

• Île des Pins
• The Loyalty Islands