First of all where is New Caledonia?

New Caledonia is an overseas dependent of France, and it lies in the Western Pacific in the Coral Sea with Australia to the west and Vanuatu to the east.

If you want to go to New Caledonia, then the normal way is to fly to the capital city of Noumea, and you can fly direct from Paris by Air France. New Caledonia is a popular place for Japanese tourists so there are direct flights from Tokyo, as well as Air New Zealand, and Quantas. There aren’t a whole lot of flights, and very little competition so prices will be high.

You must have a ticket to leave otherwise they won’t let you in, and you’ll need to check with the airline you are using about visa requirements.

Noumea the capital is full of fine French restaurants, designer boutiques, and for all the world is like Paris in the sun, and it is to be found on the west coast of the large cigar shaped main island called Grand Terre. If you visit new Caledonia you really need to go exploring, because although Grande Terre is an exciting place to be the finest beaches are all on the islands.

At least cross over to the exotic east coast, and go by boat to the Isle of Pines, the Loyalty Group of Islands, and the small uninhabited dependency of Walpole Island.

The d’Entrecasteaux Reefs which consists of two separate stunning lagoons centred around the very small islands of Huon and Surprise. Much more distant are the Chesterfield Islands, but there is plenty to see and enjoy much closer to Grande Terre.

New Caledonia is very much in the south compared to other South pacific Islands, and so its climate is more like the south of France than the Pacific. It is quite cool and windy from June to September, so much so you will need sweaters in the evening, and you will find the sea quite cool. December to March is warm and wet, and is also the hurricane season, so beware.

It is really the stupendous beauty of the Isle of Pines that is the draw, and to visit New Caledonia and not go to the Kuto/Kanumera area, because this is picture postcard country with unbelievable white sand beaches and shimmering turquoise and blue sea.

As a visitor there are things you just have to do.

1. Snorkelling, Diving, and Windsurfing. The places to go include Ilot Canard just outside the Anse Vata if you are a beginner. See the Aguille de Prony which is a quite incredible underwater structure just south of Noumea in the Prony Bay.

2. You could do absolutely nothing except lie around getting a suntan. If you want to do that near Noumea then the Baie des Citrons and the Anse Vata are beaches to visit.

3. Stay at a resort on Ilot Maitre , which is a tiny white sand island reachable by taxi boat from Anse Vata or a boat from the Baie de Mouselle.

4. Stay at one of the resorts on Grande Terre or the Isle of Pines.

5. Hiking and Camping on Grande Terre are popular, and you shouldn’t miss the Parc Riviere Bleu south of Noumea in the Yate region. Do join a hiking group.

You need to be aware that French is spoken everywhere, and very few people will attempt to converse with you in English. You also need to be aware that New Caledonia is extremely expensive as much of the food you will eat has to be imported. This means that restaurants are expensive, so you should shop in the markets and try the local delicacies.

For more information about Pacific Ocean Hideaways go to http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Pacific-Ocean-Hideways/

Where is it?

For the purposes of this guide, the Pacific refers to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia. There are thousands of islands scattered around this area of the Pacific and the Coral Sea, and many are largely unexplored by tourists.

Where can I stay?

Each of these countries is used to tourism and Australia and New Zealand in particular are not short of places to stay; from grand hotels to backpacker hostels. Europeans travelling to this part of the world usually stay for some time because of the long flights and because there’s so much to explore. Take the weight off your sight-seeing feet and choose to stay in one of the growing number of boutique hotels. Specifically designed for those who like to stay somewhere different on their travels, these hotels pay careful attention to design, detail and service, ensuring that your stay is comfortable and straightforward so that you can concentrate on the cities, landscapes and activities nearby. In Australia, try the Tower Lodge in the country’s Hunter Valley – internationally famous for its wine production. With just twelve rooms that are simply and elegantly furnished and designed for maximum comfort whatever the weather, a stay at Tower Lodge is the perfect start to an Australian tour. By contrast, try the luxury yachts that operate out of French Polynesia. A six or seven night cruise around these beautiful islands is refined by the number of spacious bedrooms – just 30 – and the addition of several sundeck levels, champagne breakfasts and on-land excursions designed to let you see the wonder of these islands at first hand.

What can I see?

You can’t possibly fit everything that this area has to offer into a couple of paragraphs, but all of the countries of the Pacific benefit from astonishing coastlines, unforgettable mountain, desert and forested areas, rich culture and an adventurous spirit. Whether you’re bungee-jumping in New Zealand, surfing in Australia, river kayaking in French Polynesia or enjoying the scuba diving in Fiji, you’re sure to want to return to the Pacific again to explore its delights.

How do I get around?

Transport varies from country to country. Australia and New Zealand are well served by airlines, so you can visit both countries in one trip, just move between New Zealand’s North and South islands, or take in as much of Australia as you can. It’s straightforward to hire cars in both countries and they operate public transport networks that are obviously cheaper and more regular in the cities than in rural areas. In Fiji, you can island hop by plane or, more cheaply and slowly, by ferry. Alternatively, there are reasonable bus services on the larger islands. French Polynesia is much the same, as are many of the other island groups in this part of the Pacific.

As more and more boutique hotels emerge to cater for travellers who appreciate design and service, the Pacific islands will feature in many more travel wish lists.