15 days for New year's eve - Loyalty islands?

Hi everyone,

We are a couple and will spend 15 days in New Caledonia for New year's eve. Travelling with students budgets, backpacks and probably tent.

I was thinking of spending 3 days at the most in Noumea and the rest of the time in the Loyalty islands to enjoy seafood, beaches, snorkelling, hiking and kank culture (more space and less tourists?). And to take the boat from one island to the other.

What would you recommend?

We won't have the time to do everything but a friend told me that l'Ile aux Pins was quite touristy and the loyalty islands were wilder...

What about la grande terre?

Thanks for your help!

Hy !!
First of all, bring your tent ! This will be a really good idea if you are on a student budget.. There are fews campings on each islands of the Loyautés. After, the transport between the islands is not really convenient as most of the locals just from their island to Noumea and back, especially if you want to do it by boat (only 2 boats per weeks, so if you want to go to the 3 islands and back to noumea, looks hard, if not impossible). My advice is to buy the air pass Air Calédonie, it s really a good deal when you come from abroad. And there are at least 2 flights a day to Nouméa from each island (you will have to make a connection via Nouméa to flight to the next island, no direct flight sorry, but with the air pass no worry).
About the Grande Terre, it s nice but really bigger than the Loyautés, so I would not recommend it to you, if you have only 2 weeks. And also, you will have more chance to feel the island pacific life style and know about the Kanaks Culture in the Loyautés, especially in a short stay.
Good trip