10 days in New Caledonia

This was our first trip to New Caledonia. We chose to stay 3 nights on the Isle of Pines at the Oure Tera hotel and 6 nights in Noumea. What a superb hote on the islandl! Hard to fault. Right on one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen (and we've been to most Pacific Islands). Fabulous sand, white and powdery. The accommodation was very good, roomy and spotless.
The restaurant provided plentiful breakfasts, hot and cold, and the evening meals were high quality but pricey.
There isn't too much to do on the island but we'd recommend strongly the canoe trip to the natural pool at Oro Bay- absolutely awesome. Incidentally, the nearby Hotel Kou-Bugny looked very tired, run down and not in the same league as the Oure Tera. We had a pleasant lunch at The Meridian but wouldn't trade that hotel for ours either.
We then flew back to Noumea and spent 6 nights at the Royal Tera on Anse Vata beach. Right on the best beach in the area, this hotel is very well positioned for local cafes and restaurants. The Meridian down the road looked old and was a decent walk from the local shops.
The rooms at Royal Tera were outstanding with well equipped kitchens and a large bathroom. The negatives were the grumpy receptionist (Michel) who struggled to raise a smile and didn't make us feel welcome at all; the nightclub by the pool was very noisy and kept going well into the night; and a hotel of this quality really should have porters. The girls in the Boutique shop inside the hotel couldn't have been more helpful with booking trips and general assistance.
Things you must do include: the Saturday market in town (brilliant fresh prawns and tuna) and the short boat trip to Ile aux Canards (Duck Island) which is truly beautiful and largely unspoilt. Pretty good snorkelling there.
We were concerned about not speaking very much French. There was no need to worry as all the people we spoke to could speak sufficient English. Also, you don't have to pay the earth for food. There are expensive restaurants everywhere but there are also very decent quality restaurants at reasonable prices. And don't miss the baguettes on the strip along Anse Vata (I think called The Sandwich Bar) which were only 600 francs (about NZ$8) and full of delicious chicken and salad.
Overall a great place for a relaxing holiday; sun, good food, good snorkelling and just enough to do to keep you occupied.