With This Ring: March 23, 2018

78 With This Ring
If time allows, venture
by flight or catamaran to
more Pacific perfection with a
day or two on the Isle des Pins or the
Loyalty Island destinations of Lifou,
Mare or Ouvea. World renowned for
their unspoiled beauty and simple
Melanesian lifestyles, these islands
are a paradise for visitors looking
for a tranquil escape from
civilisation.
VIVE la Différence
For a honeymoon destination that offers fun, flair and isn’t far away, New
Caledonia is just a little bit fancy! A world of difference awaits just three
hours flying time from New Zealand; a Pacific island paradise combining
the finesse of French customs with the relaxed pace of Melanesian culture,
New Caledonia is a destination like no other.
Whether you choose the sophisticated
resorts of popular Anse Vata for your
honeymoon, an apartment or bungalow
that gives you the freedom to self-cater
with divine French foods and wine, or the
solitude of a sojourn on the near-perfect
Loyalty Islands or Isle of Pines, New
Caledonia gives you sun, sand and special
ambience. Salut!
Situated on the south west coast of the
main island of La Grande Terre, the capital
of New Caledonia is Noumea, a bustling
cosmopolitan centre originally founded by
the French in 1850. Delightful remnants
of French colonial architecture share
boulevards and pretty side streets with
modern businesses that cluster around the
Place des Cocotiers, an attractive square
shaded by superb flame trees in the heart of
the city.
Explore on foot to discover the shops and
markets, enjoy an espresso or café au lait at
a sidewalk café and the leisurely pursuit of
people watching. The patisseries are mouthwatering
and local produce in the busy
market of Port Moselle is an invitation to
pick up a picnic to savour on your balcony
of local beach.
Be tempted by the local and international
cuisine which has French flair and
Melanesian flavour. The French most often
eat their main meal at lunchtime, so the
cafés and restaurants offer varied and
affordable dishes at midday. Tourists who
discover this custom will delight in a twocourse
lunch with a glass of wine and coffee
at prices that are far less expensive than
evening dining. So look for a “Plat du Jour”
or a “Prix fixe” menu and sample the “real”
taste of New Caledonia.
Board “Le Petit Train” for a scenic circuit
between the city and the popular beaches
of Anse Vata stopping at key attractions
along the way like the Noumea Museum,
Mt Koghi, the Aquarium and the Botanic
Gardens with its colourful tropical plants
and wildlife including the cagou (or kagu),
the exotic white plumed national bird of
New Caledonia.
Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons are focal
points for beach activities with watersports
including some of the best diving in the
world, petanque, entertainment, market
stalls and the alluring chic of French
boutiques close to the island’s best hotels,
casinos, marinas, clubs and restaurants.
Absorb the cultural history of New
Caledonia that encompasses the sea
voyages of the Melanesians, colonization
by the French, convict settlements, wartime
American Military Bases, the nickel
mining boom of the 1970s and the fight for
independence in the 1980s. A visit to the
Tjibaou Cultural Centre is a “don’t miss”
experience of music, theatre, dance and
crafts that showcase the various cultures of
the Pacific.
But surrounded by the azure blue ocean,
be sure to indulge in some exquisite time
out. A day trip to Phare Amedee is utterly
and visually memorable. In the middle of
the ocean, Amedee Lighthouse stands on its
own tiny isle, fringed by crystal clear waters
and impossibly white sand. Laze in the sun,
snorkel or scuba to your heart’s content,
feast on a sumptuous lunch and swim in
warm relaxing shallows before boarding
your vessel back to reality.