Far-flung paradise: New Caledonia island hopping holiday

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Melbourne
• 2 nights Noumea 
• 2 nights Ouvea
• 2 nights Lifou
• 2 nights Mare
• 3 nights Ile des Pins
• 1 night Noumea
• 3 nights Sydney
   

Day 1:Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flight

Day 2: Arrive Melbourne

On arrival in Melbourne, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel where you will check in for three nights. The rest of the day is yours to relax at your hotel or head out and explore. Your hotel is located right on the Southbank, so make the most of this lovely location. Take a stroll along the river, watch the street entertainers or have a drink at one of the many restaurants and bars.

Included: Transfers, 4* hotel  

Days 3 and 4: Melbourne

On your first full day in Melbourne, we’ve added a day tour to visit the Great Ocean Road. Ride along the spectacular coastline witnessing some fantastic sites such as the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and Gibson Steps. During the trip, you’ll also get a chance to see koalas in the wild.

The next day is yours to do as you wish. Stay in the city and take a wander down the laneways, stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens or head down to St. Kilda, with its funky bars, quirky restaurants and stunning beach you'll be spoilt for choice.

Tip: Head down Acland Street and check out the selection of patisseries. Yum!

Included: Great Ocean Road tour, 4* hotel                          

Day 5: Fly to New Caledonia

This morning, you’ll take a transfer back to the airport for your flight to New Caledonia. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel in the capital of Noumea, where you’ll spend one night before island hopping tomorrow!

Included: International flight transfers 4* hotel     

Day 6: Amedee Island

Today, you’ll set off on a full-day tour to Amedee Island, a tiny paradise where palm trees sway and colourful fish flit through the water. The sand here is sugar-white and the coral beneath the crystalline water is healthy and plentiful, thanks to the island’s status as a protected marine park.

During the trip, you can go stand up paddleboarding, snorkel with the local turtles and learn how to climb a coconut tree. You’ll also visit the Amedee Island Lighthouse. Built in France, it stood in Paris for two years before beginning its journey to Noumea, where it was finally erected in 1865. You can also send a postcard home from the island’s post office, officially the smallest in the world, and enjoy a delicious exotic lunch whilst watching the famous dance show.

On Amedee Island, you’ll have access to a “bio suncream” distributor, a 100% natural sunblock that doesn’t hurt the coral. Read our blog post for more about visiting coral reefs responsibly.         

Included: Breakfast, full day tour of Amedee Island, 4* hotel 

Day 7: Fly to Ouvea

Today you will be taken to the airport for your short flight over to the island of Ouvea. On arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel.

You can spend the rest of today at your leisure on one of the most beautiful atolls in the Pacific. On the island's west coast, you'll find pristine white sands and a spectacular blue lagoon. In the east, the island is sheltered by limestone cliffs and high coral rocks. Known for its coconut oil production, this island is home to a blend of Wallis Islanders and Polynesian people, making it unique compared to the other islands in New Caledonia.

Included: Flight, transfers, 3* hotel, breakfast   

Day 8: Ouvea

Spend the day exploring the island! Why not go and explore the Cong-Ouloup Caves? Full of local legend, you'll have amazing views of the cliffs too. Alternatively, visit the 25km long Mouli Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with clear aquamarine waters and white sand as far as the eye can see!

Included: 3* hotel, breakfast      

Day 9: Fly to Lifou

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lifou (via Noumea). You’ll be greeted on arrival and assisted in picking up your hire car before driving to your hotel.

Lifou is the largest, most dynamic and most populous of the Loyalty Islands. The interior of this atoll is a vast plain invaded by forest. The north and south are characterised by cliffs with many caves, while the east and west are home to magnificent beaches.

Included: 3* hotel, breakfast, flights, car hire, transfers

Day 10: Lifou

Today, you can take a look around Lifou, visit the vanilla plantation at Mucaweng, take a tour of Santal Bay, admire the Jokin cliffs or swim and dive in the small coves. If you want to chill, relax by the pool at the hotel and make the most of your stunning surroundings!

Included: 3* hotel, breakfast, car hire    

Day 11: Fly to Mare

Today, you’ll drop off your rental car at Lifou Airport and take a flight to Mare, the last of the Loyalty Islands. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel, where you’ll check in for two nights.  

Included: Breakfast, Flights, car hire, transfers, 3* hotel

Day 12: Mare

Known as ‘Nengone’ in the local language, Mare is the wildest, highest and most mysterious of the three Loyalty Islands. Overflowing with untamed beauty, this island is composed of rocky cliffs, secret creeks and long white sandy beaches.

Mare is a quiet and unspoilt island renowned for its tranquillity, hospitality and fruit and vegetables, especially its avocados, which have a unique festival dedicated to them every year! You can enjoy these avocados for breakfast at your hotel, tucked into a hidden creek between a tropical forest and a lovely little beach.

Included: 3* hotel, breakfast      

Day 13: Fly to Ile des Pins

After breakfast, you’ll be collected and taken to the airport for your flight to Ile des Pins (via Noumea). On arrival, you’ll be greeted and taken to your hotel. One of the beautiful islands in the world, Ile des Pins is home to pine trees that resemble the masts of sailing ships, set against a clear turquoise lagoon.

At the end of the 19th century, the island became a prison for 3,000 political prisoners deported from France, and you can visit the remains of the convict prison in the islands wooded interior.

Included: Flight, transfers, breakfast, 4* hotel   

Days 14 and 15: Ile des Pins          

On your first day in Ile des Pins, you’ll set off on a full-day boat excursion to spot dolphins and turtles in the water. In the morning, you’ll visit Ilot Brosse, a tiny island covered in the trademark pine trees of this region, where you can snorkel and swim in the perfect water. Next, you’ll head to another small island, Moro, for lunch. Here, you’ll enjoy grilled lobster, fresh coconut and crunchy papaya salad in the sunshine – delicious!

The rest of your time is free to breathe in the beauty of the island, walk hand in hand down the beach and toast cocktails at sunset. Don’t miss the spectacular landscape of Oro Bay, the famous natural swimming pool in New Caledonia. Oro Bay truly is paradise – swim, snorkel, relax and soak in the incredible turquoise and blue colours of Ile des Pins.

Included: Day tour to Ilot Brosse/Moro, 4* hotel              

Day 16: Fly to Noumea

After breakfast, you’ll be taken back to the airport for your flight to Noumea, where you’ll spend your final day in New Caledonia. Why not enjoy a delicious seafood dinner by the harbour, the perfect end to your time on these paradise islands?

Included: Flight, breakfast, 4* hotel, transfers   

Day 17: Fly to Sydney

This morning, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Australia. On arrival in Sydney, you’ll be met at the airport and take a shared transfer into the city. Why not head straight to Circular Quay to get your first views of Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, brightly lit in the warm Australian evening?            

Included: Transfers, 4* hotel, international flight            

Days 18 and 19: Sydney

You now have two days to enjoy Sydney. To help you on your way, we’ve included an iVenture Sydney card, which gives you to access many of the main sights in the city. As well as entry to the Opera House, Wildlife Sydney and the Aquarium, the pass also gives you access to some brilliant tours. Fancy learning about Bondi’s beautiful beaches and coastal living or taking a walking tour of the historic Rocks neighbourhood? Both covered!

Using the iVenture Sydney Card, you can also go jet boating on the harbour, take the hop-on-hop-off bus out to the Blue Mountains, join a bike tour through Manly, or take advantage of 2-hour board and wetsuit hire and try your hand at surfing.

Included: iVenture Sydney Card, 4* hotel             

Day 20: Depart Sydney

Today, you can take one last stroll along Circular Quay before being taken by shared transfer back to the airport for your flight home.

Included: International flight, transfer 

Day 21: Arrive UK