Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# New Caledonia itinerary advice Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / New Caledonia
kristins1 20:58 UTC 15 Mar 2010 | I will be travelling to New Caledonia for 11 days in June alone with my 8-year-old son. The following itinerary is one I am considering, and I would appreciate any advice from fellow travellers with experience there: Sat 6/19 Arrive Noumea, Le Meridien Sun 6/20 Rent Car, drive to Hienghene, stay at Koulnoue Village Mon 6/21 Koulnoue Village Tues 6/22 drive to either Kone Hotel Koniambo or Sarramea Evasion (see Heat of Voh?) Wed 6/23 Sarramea Evasion Thurs 6/24 Noumea, Le Meridien Fri 6/25 Depart for Ouvea 9 AM, 2 nights Paradis d’Ouvea Sat 6/26 Ouvea Sun 6/27 Depart Ouvea 17:00, arrive Magenta 17:50, depart Magenta 18:30, arrive Ile des Pins 19:00, 2 nights Le Meridien, Ile des Pins Mon 6/28 Le Meridien, Ile des Pins Tues 6/29 depart Ile des Pins 16:30 or 19:30, Le Meridien, Noumea Wed 6/30 Depart Noumea 7:45 AM I have read all the posts that New Caledonia is expenive, but that is not my primary concern. We're coming all the way from America and won't likely be back, so I'm willing to spend a bit of money to have fun, stay in nice places, and really see as much of the islands as I can pack into the time we have. My biggest concern is that I am proposing a very tight flight connection between returning from Ouvea and heading out to Ile des Pins. Are the Air Caledonie flights typically on time at that time of year? Or is a 40 minute connection just completely unrealistic. If I had to choose two out of three - Ile des Pins, Ouvea, Hienghene area - which two would be the best? Is there anything I have missed that would be worth sacrificing part of this itinerary? It's clear that one could easily spend way more than 11 days seeing the whole place, but I would like to pack as much as I can into the time we have. We'll still have another week on the beach in Fiji to relax and recover, before heading back to reality. :) Thanks in advance for any help. Kristin |
mandja 03:27 UTC 16 Mar 2010 | "I have read all the posts that New Caledonia is expenive, but that is not my primary concern" - it is not horribly expensive there - certainly much less so than say , Tahiti. and besides, if you can afford the rooms at the Meridien, then the rest wont be any problem. "My biggest concern is that I am proposing a very tight flight connection" - I presume that both flights are with Air Caledonie? If yes, then there shouldnt be any issues, as luggage would be transferred and the second leg flight delayed if need be. That said, Id check with the airline to be sure. "If I had to choose two out of three" - I think the itinerary is good as is, but tempted to take Ile des Pins (IDP) and Hienghene if forced to choose. When staying on IDP, make sure that you dine at thenearby Chez Regis (ask to see the "pet" giant clam) and visit the Piscine as often as possible. Koulnoue Village is an excellent choice of place to stay in Hienghene | 1