Adventure #238

n e w c a l e d o n i a
c a l e d o n i a
NEW CALEDONIA
ESCAPE THE
WINTER CHILL
The winter is well and truly here and while there are a lot
of fun activities to experience during the colder months
in New Zealand, sometimes all you want to do is to go
somewhere warm to keep the pulse pumping.
New Caledonia might seem like just another beach
holiday destination to the untrained eye. While the
destination is the perfect next-door option for a chill
holiday during the summer months, there are about
a million reasons why it’s the perfect active holiday
destination during the winter months, in particular
between June and September.
During these months, the temperature is still warm
but the humidity is much lower, which means you can
enjoy getting active and taking part in a variety of
outdoor activities more comfortably than at the height
of summer. The winter months, also known as the dry
season offer the ultimate climate for hiking, biking and
other on-land activities as it typically rains less and has
a milder temperature than during the wet seasons. The
temperatures during the winter range from the coldest of
17ºC to the highest of 30ºC.
Located less than 3 hours from Auckland, New
Caledonia offers a mix of ocean encounters in the world’s
largest lagoon, on-land activities and thrilling skyward
adventures.
Hiking
New Caledonia is a surprising playground for hikers as it’s home to
over 500 km of marked trails labelled by the French Federation of
Hiking (FFRP). The vast destination isn’t overloaded with tourists
meaning you can hike in large, open spaces away from the crowds.
It’s also one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet, with many
endemic plants and animals making it a great spot to discover
species you’ve never seen before. It has a variety of landscapes too,
ranging from a red earth desert in the south, to dense tropical forests
in the east, dry golden plains in the west and a mountain chain
running from north to south.
If you’re exploring the mountain range, make sure to pack some
warmer clothing as the temperatures can drop as low as zero at
night. Chilly nights apart, the cool season is the ideal period for
setting off to hike along the signposted trails that crisscross the vast
nature reserves in both the North and South Provinces of the Main
Island.
Check out trails such as the Mont Panie climb which will take you
through the northern province of the mainland, visiting tribal areas,
waterfalls and swimming holes. The end of the track is a hut at the
top of the 1,629m high mountain where you can rest overnight before
continuing on your journey. Closer to the capital there’s another great
mountain trek up Mont Dore which will treat trekkers with a beautiful
panoramic view of Noumea, the lagoon and the mountains of the
south.
Those wanting to challenge themselves have the opportunity to take
on the Grand Randonnée ® NC1 Nord and Sud trails which are an
extension of the French long distant trails. The Sud route will take
you through the contrasting landscapes of the Great South with its
red-earth deserts, lakes and rivers, through the Blue River Provincial
Park, a drowned forest and old mining trails. In contrast, the Nord
route will bring you close to the green wilderness of the east coast,
through the forests and many traditional Kanak villages where you
can try the traditional Bougna dish.
Sentier Boe Areredi - Bourail-© JC Robert
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