Unique New Caledonia & Vanuatu holiday

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Melbourne
• 3 nights Vanuatu
• 2 nights Noumea
• 1 night Kone
• 2 nights Heinghene
• 2 nights Poe Beach
• 3 nights Isle of Pines
• 1 night Noumea
• 2 nights Singapore

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights

Day 2: Arrive Melbourne

On arrival in Melbourne, you will 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, take a stroll along the river, watch the street entertainers or have a drink at one of the many restaurants and bars making the most of this lovely location.

Included: Transfers, 4* hotel

Days 3 & 4: Melbourne

Melbourne has long been lauded as Australia’s “Cultural Capital” and is chock full of cool music venues, cute coffee shops and old buildings. Leafy boulevards are complemented by European architecture and contrasted by high quality graffiti art while a variety of cuisines including Chinese, Lebanese and Greek can be enjoyed at the Queen Victoria Market. Head to the beach by St Kilda to relax in the sun or wander along the Southbank to enjoy a meal on the waterfront hub. Outside of the city lies the Yarra Valley, where the river snakes between lush vineyards and Philip Island, home to famous little penguins easily visited on a day trip from Melbourne. 

We’ve included a tour of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens with a First Peoples Guide. The gardens are a significant cultural site for the local Kulin Nation – you’ll gain insight into the rich history of their thriving society and learn about the native plant uses, including tasting lemon myrtle tea.

Included: Breakfast, Botanical Garden tour, 4* hotel

Day 5: Fly to Vanuatu

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the airport for the flight to Vanuatu. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel, checking in for three nights.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, international flights, The Havannah

Days 6 & 7: Vanuatu

Spend a few days completely chilling out at the Havannah Vanuatu, a luxurious hotel on a pristine white-sand beach. This adults-only resort is perfect for a romantic break – you’ll be staying in a Waterfront Villa, with direct beach access and a private infinity plunge pool. Spend your days sipping fruity drinks, soaking up the sun and swimming in the turquoise water. If you want to get out and about, there is lots to do – whether you snorkel around the resort looking for bright blue starfish and lazy dugongs or head out on a tour to explore the island. You can visit the local market, explore coconut plantations and hike to waterfalls, all in an easy day tour from the hotel. Your time here will fly by!

Included: Breakfast, all meals, The Havannah

Day 8: Fly to New Caledonia

This morning, you’ll be driven to the airport for your flight to Noumea in New Caledonia. You’ll arrive in the evening and be met and taken to your hotel in the city, checking in for two nights.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, international flights, 4* hotel

Day 9: 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, day tour to Amedee Island, 4* hotel

Day 10: Drive to Kone

This morning you’ll pick up your hire car and drive north to explore the New Caledonian bush. The driving here is easy, with brilliant roads throughout the island. We’d recommend a

 stop at the Boulouparis niaouli distillery where you will see how local niaouli essence and perfumes are made.

Soon you’ll get to Great Fern Park, a beautiful area between the villages of Farino, Moindou and Sarramea. The park lush, green and full of ferns, many as tall as trees, with spectacular walking trails of different lengths and difficulties to enjoy. Almost 70% of the plant species here are endemic, as well as several species of birds, including the cagou and the Caledonian warbler. This park truly is the lungs of New Caledonia, with huge ‘arborescent ferns’, that look like huge trees creating a canopy above the smaller plants that carpet the ground.

By the end of the day, you’ll arrive in Kone, checking into your hotel for one night.

Included: Breakfast, car hire, dinner, 3* hotel

Day 11: Drive to Hienghene

After breakfast, you’ll drive to the airstrip, to enjoy a microlight flight over the New Caledonia Barrier Reef and the Heart of Voh. This stunning experience is sure to be a highlight of your trip – with incredible views over the lush green mangroves where the natural heart shape has grown, and then out over the reef. Look for hammerhead sharks and turtles in the turquoise water before soaring over the blue hole, a stunning area of the reef with a rich blue colour.

After your return to the ground, you’ll set off to drive around the northern tip of the island, seeing the lush, green interior of the island. You’ll drive right up into the hills, eventually reaching the top of the island where you’ll see views of the ocean emerge, before driving down the otherside towards the east coast. The road down the east coast is spectacular, with views of enchanting waterfalls and Mont Panie, the highest peak on the island. You’ll also have to pass over New Caledonia’s last working ferry, crossing a river that flows into the ocean on a tiny platform that shuttles between each side. The views along the banks of the river are just stunning – you’ll see why this island was named after Scotland!

Included: Breakfast, car hire, 3* hotel

Day 12: Hienghene 

This spectacular stretch of coastline is waiting to be explored, so get out here and soak up the views. The Linderalique cliffs, including the Brooding Hen and the Sphinx, tower amongst the ocean vistas, their striking black limestone rock jutting out of the water. Why not head out on the lagoon in a kayak to admire the cliffs or head out for hike up to Col de Ga Wivaek, which boasts magnificent views over Hienghene Bay. Alternatively you could head out on a snorkel tour to Hienga Island, looking for colourful fish in the warm water and relax on the pretty beaches of the island.

Included: Breakfast, car hire, 3* hotel

Day 13: Drive to Poe Beach

After breakfast, you’ll continue driving down the east coast, perhaps stopping for lunch in the tiny town of Poindemie. The views along the drive are lovely, with coastal bays, windswept beaches and little pull ins that you can stop for a photo and a stretch of your legs. Eventually you’ll cut back through the interior of the island, arriving in Poe Beach in the afternoon.

Included: Breakfast, car hire, 3* hotel

Day 14: Poe Beach

Relax on Poe Beach, where you can chill by the water or go on a snorkelling tour out on the reef. There is an underwater trail with well marketed pointers and a pontoon for resting and sunbathing. Look for coral, fish and rays in the perfect water. Make sure you stop in at La Roche Percée Beach, where you can begin the 3 Bay Trail – this will take you to the neighbouring coves of Turtle Bay and Lovers Bay, where you can admire the mighty palm trees and clear water.

Included: Breakfast, car hire, 3* guesthouse

Day 15: Drive Noumea, fly to Isle of Pines

This morning you can relax on the beach or in the pool, before driving back down towards Noumea, dropping your car off at the internal airport before catching the short flight to Isle of Pines. 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 Cook Pines, trees that resemble the masts of sailing ships, set against a clear turquoise lagoon.

Included: Breakfast, car hire, internal flight, 4* hotel

Days 16 & 17: Isle of Pines

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 and Moro, 4* hotel

Day 18: 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: Breakfast, transfers, internal flight, 4* hotel

Day 19: Fly to Singapore

This morning, you’ll be driven back to the airport for your flight to Singapore. On arrival there, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel, checking in for three nights.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, international flights, 4* hotel

Day 20: Singapore

Spend a couple of days exploring this island city – strolling along the harbourfront, enjoying the lush Botanical Gardens and shopping in the designer boutiques of Orchard Road. We’ve included a short walking tour which will give you some insight into Singapore’s heritage – you’ll walk along the river to see a local fishing village and learn about the colonial buildings and bridges before sipping Singapore Slings in the iconic Raffles Long Bar.

Singapore is melting pot of culture and the best place to experience this is in its food – try dumplings from the hawker stalls of Chinatown, spicy curries in Little India or nutty satay in the Malay District. As the sun sets, make sure you take a walk-through Gardens by the Bay; the enormous illuminated “trees” are a spectacular sight at night. 

Included: 4* hotel

Day 21: Depart Singapore

After breakfast, you’ll be driven back to the airport in time for your flight home.

Included: Breakfast, transfer, international flights

Day 22: Arrive UK