New Caledonia with teenagers

Hi everyone

I'm looking for some travel tips for New Caledonia - would be really grateful for any comments.

We're planning to go for 2 or 3 weeks over Christmas. We're a family with teenage children and we like: French-flavoured culture, attempting to speak French, beaches, diving, some hiking (not overnight camping though), outdoor activities, beautiful places, interesting people. The kids like staying in the kinds of places where they will meet other kids the same age - especially if they're French.

Here's what we have in mind so far.
- Stay for a few days first in Noumea. We're thinking of Casa del Sole because it looks affordable and it might be the kind of place where other families stay.
- Hire a car. I haven't properly checked out prices yet, but even the cost of airport transfers or taxis (for 5 of us) from the airport looks like it might cover the cost of at least a couple of days' car hire.
- Make a day trip or two from Noumea to the south of Grand Terre.
- Drive around Grande Terre. I haven't worked out where to stay yet, but was thinking of including Bourail (good diving?) and Hienghene (looks spectacularly beautiful).
- Would be interested in staying in a Kanak village if that's possible (I read that it is but haven't investigated properly yet).
- Depending on how long we go for we could visit Ile de Pins or Loyalty Islands (seems like we'd be packing a lot in, so maybe instead of one of the above).

Questions:
- Any comments on Casa del Sole (and is it, as I suspect, somewhere that my kids will feel other families stay and not yet again somewhere their parents have dragged them where they only meet old people!!)
- Is it sensible to hire a car in Noumea, or is it the kind of place where there's nowhere to park so it just ends up being frustrating?
- Any comments on good places to visit around Grande Terre for natural beauty, diving, horse riding, learning about Kanak culture, and that teenagers would like?
- Can you in fact stay in a Kanak village, and if so how do you go about organising it?
- Which is better, Ile de Pins or Loyalty Islands? Not looking for a really wild party scene, but are looking for something that's more lively than a peaceful relaxing time on the beach doing nothing.

Really appreciate any comments - thanks in advance.

Edited by: Mattt

Laszlo should be the one answering to the Grande Terre questions, I did not explore GT at all. However, you can find my post about my 3 weeks in NC in this very same forum branch, in case you're interested.

I'd warn you that driving after darkness falls is a VERY RISKY practice in New Caledonia, so get off the road when it gets dim - especially as you have children! Why? Lots of drug drivers.

And if you have 3 weeks, I suggest you go for a week in one of Loyalty Islands - I'd pick Lifou. It's big, lots of stuff to do and there are "lively places" you are looking for. Depending on what you classify is lively, though. Nevertheless, the diving there should be EXCELLENT, even though I do not dive - I cannot due a health condition - I snorkelled there and man it was so good, better than anything I had in the numerous times in Australia's GBR. And our local friends there said that three years ago a team of scientists came to study the fish and coral in Lifou because there is stuff there that hasn't been found anywhere else and they found about 10 new coral species and 5 new fish species, so yes, the dives should be VERY VERY interesting! There is two dive operators on Lifou, Wetr Plongee and Lifou Fun Dive. Once you get to Nouméa, the tourism info booths (I used the one in Place de Cocotiers) can give you info how to book these...

IDP was nice and you could easily spend a week there if you like lazing on the beach but it's a pretty quiet place otherwise!

http://www.scubalinx.com/lifou_fun_dive.html - There's some review of the other dive company in Lifou.

Hope this helps, check my topic on the branch for more information.

-J

Hi Mattt
Unfortunately I cant help much with Grande Terre either but Noumea & the Isles I can....
Casa del Sole is a great base in Noumea. Fantastic views from either side of the building and the rooms are spacious and clean. It is a couple of years since our last stay , but the rooms and furnishings were OK then. Its good to have an apartment as you can shop at the market in Noumea and there are a couple of great supermarkets, bakeries and interesting bottle shops( if thats of use) nearby. I dont know if CdS is specifically better than any where else for Teenagers, I think they are more likely to make friends at the beach or walking around than in most of the hotels/apartments themselves.
We have never hired a car (only 2 of us though). It is much more fun I think to travel on the local buses - more chances of meeting people (not just tourists) and talking than in a car.
They are cheap and cover all Noumea - out to the Tjibaou Cultural Centre but they stop running about 6.30pm so Taxis are necessary if you go into town at night.(Or a nice walk!)
But a car might make sense with your group espescially if you use it to go South of Noumea.
If you want to stay in a Kanak village there are lots of gites around - Information is available through the Air Caledonie Web site or New Cal Tourist Office. The Loyalty Islands has its own tourist office : Destination Iles Loyaute [http://www.iles-loyaute.com].
Both Isle of Pines and Loyalty Islands are beautiful places. I wouldn't descibe either as having much night life for tourists really. The Isle of Pines has interesting French historical sites such as the cemetary and the ruins of the penal settlement. There is lots of walking and the snorkelling is very good. There is diving available at Relais de Kodjeue on the west coast.This is a pretty remote spot but would probably be busier at christmas time. The Loyalty Islands are different again I have only been to Lifou and Mare and both are quiet and unspoilt. The Kanaks are very friendly and proud of their beautiful home. Their are gites or hotels available here. There is probably more to see on Lifou - vanilla plantation villages and just touring around by car is great. I think the snorkelling in either place is fantastic - but for Diving Im pretty sure Lifou would be much better. Lifou has more facilites than Mare.
Hope this helps.
Deerose

J, Deerose, thank you both for your comments.

Lifou is sounding pretty attractive, I really like the sound of it from your descriptions.

Edited by: Mattt