Isle of Pines

"The island closest to paradise," with white-sand bays ringed by araucaria pines, the Oro natural pool and outrigger sailing canoes, ideal for a slow two- or three-night getaway.

The Isle of Pines (Île des Pins) lies about 70 km southeast of New Caledonia's main island. It measures roughly 18 × 14 km and is named for the tall, column-shaped araucaria pines along its coast. It is known as "the island closest to paradise." Most residents are Kanak, and most of the land is tribal, so some sights charge a small entry fee on site. The climate is warm: May–October is cool and dry, the sea is clearest September–December, and January–March is the hot, humid cyclone season.

Main areas: in the south, Kuto Bay and Kanumera Bay are where hotels and restaurants are concentrated, and you can climb Pic N'Ga for a view over the whole island. In the northeast, Oro Bay has a natural pool, and on the east coast at Upi Bay you can sail on a traditional outrigger canoe. In the southeast, the village of Vao has a church and the totem memorial at Saint-Maurice Bay. By boat you can reach the islets of Nokanhui and Brosse.

Getting there: a small plane from Nouméa's Magenta Airport takes about 30 minutes, or a high-speed boat from Nouméa harbor takes about 2.5 hours (check flight and ferry schedules in advance). There is no public transport on the island, so rely on car rental, hotel transfers or a chartered car. We suggest 2–3 nights.

Notes: shops and restaurants are few and many close on Sundays, so cash in CFP francs (XPF) is essential. Respect tribal land and customs.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries