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Peregrine Travel Centre

New Caledonia Adventure

New Caledonia Adventure

From $ 2,795 AUD

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Description

Enter a country often overlooked in the South Pacific region beyond the resorts, a place full of endemic rainforest, Melanesian culture and truly unforgettable beaches. Welcome to New Caledonia, and on this six-day Intrepid adventure, you’ll have the chance to snorkel through transparent waters over coral reefs teeming with tropical fish, meet local makers and farmers, and experience the longstanding tribal Kanak traditions with an overnight village stay. This well-paced trip takes you from the bustling French-influenced hub of Noumea along the west coast, with excursions to Blue River National Park and Giant Fern Park. With plenty of quality inclusions, time to relax beachside and a knowledgeable local leader available each step of the way, your New Caledonian escape is the perfect mix of rest and play.

Trip Name
New Caledonia Adventure
Last Updated
2021-02-26
Days
6
Capacity
8
Highlights
  • Visit a remote tribal village in the New Caledonian foothills and experience the day and night living in local Kanak tradition. Learn of the lifestyle and customs of these communities, and spend the night in a traditional faré house.
  • New Caledonian beaches are the stuff of dreams. Go snorkelling and glass-bottom boating on the lagoons of Poe Beach, and walk the Three-Bay Trail to see its spectacular shores from up above.
  • Be welcomed at a farm property just outside of Bourail, and enjoy typical bush cuisine with their farm products. You’ll get a snapshot of regional life, with many customs adopted from American ranchers.
  • Gaze in awe at the diverse landscapes of this island nation, from the mighty Kaori trees in the Blue River National Park to lush rainforest and endemic plant species in the Giant Fern Park near Farino.
  • Your leader has got you front of mind to ensure you get the best out of your stay. Learn about the region's cultures, traditions and way of living as you travel along the coast, and get the low-down from someone who lives and breathes New Caledonia.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travellers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Day 1 - Noumea
Welcome to the laidback shores of Noumea, New Caledonia. There are no activities planned for today except for an important welcome meeting at 6 pm, so make sure you arrive at your accommodation before then. If you have some spare time, good for you! You can go exploring in New Caledonia’s main city – perhaps visit the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, Museum of World War II or the St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral. If you do happen to be here this morning, the market at Port Moselle is a great place to go people-watching, as well as see all the tropical produce, seafood and souvenirs on offer.
Day 2 - Blue River National Park – Noumea
After breakfast, join your small group on a 1.5-hour drive into the secluded Blue River National Park. This spectacular slice of nature in New Caledonia’s centre is a sanctuary of local flora, wildlife and biodiversity. Deep red earth contrasts with striking green mountainscapes and shimmering lakes in this provincial park, which is approximately 9,000 hectares of untouched national park. Head deep in the park on foot and in a 4WD, stopping by the panoramic Guepyville and Drowned Forest lookouts, across the wooden Perignon Bridge and along the Cagou Birds Trail, hopefully spotting iconic Caledonian birdlife. Find a scenic spot by the riverside and enjoy an included French-style picnic provided by your guides. Continue into a section of the rainforest to admire the unique Giant Kaori trees dotted through the canopies. There may well even be some cagou birds high above, too! Return back to Noumea for a free evening.
Day 3 - Kanak Village
Today, leave Noumea behind and drive to a Kanak Village (approximately 2 hours) for a memorable day and night spent with local villagers. Nestled deep in the foothills of New Caledonia’s main mountain range, this village is a haven for nature lovers. You will be welcomed by Élise at the Oui Poin tribal village, discovering the lifestyle, customs and traditional Kanak culture. Kanak communities across New Caledonia make up around 44% of the island population, all of which share significant connections to spirituality and the land. Learn about daily life here, and perhaps embark on one of a number of bushwalks to check out the local area. Tonight, you will stay in simple dormitory-style accommodation in a faré, or village house. You may even be treated to a traditional Kanak dish, bougna, prepared by your welcoming hosts.
Day 4 - Bourail
Bid your gracious village hosts farewell as you and your group depart for Bourail on the island’s west coast. Head to the picturesque Poe Beach, UNESCO World Heritage site, and spend part of the day exploring the lagoon by either glass-bottom boat or snorkelling. Golden sands, turquoise blue waters and shallow reefs – this is New Caledonia in all its sun-kissed glory. There may also be the chance to take a short hike along a section of the Three-Bay Trail – a nature walk connecting the sands of La Roche Percée with the column pines of Turtle Bay and the pandan trees of Lovers’ Bay. If you’ve got time, stop for a quick swim at one of the coves, and keep your eye out for turtles frolicking in the waters! For lunch, visit a nearby farm with your small group – known locally as a ‘property’. Experience a simple and delicious meal provided by your host of typical bush cuisine such as bougna, venison stew and homemade preserves. A lot of the practices adopted by the so-called ‘bushmen’ come from American ranchers, including the Stetson hats they wear! This evening, spend the night in a simple bungalow in Bourail.
Day 5 - Farino – Boulouparis – Noumea
This morning, drive to Farino (approximately 1 hour). Here, you’ll visit the Parc des Grandes Fougères, or Giant Fern Park, for a two-hour guided walk deep in the lush rainforests. Your local guide will take you through parts of this World Heritage-listed site, featuring currently around 13,000 species of fern, 70% of which are endemic. Continue to a local restaurant and stop for lunch, before heading to Boulouparis to visit a distillery in town. Here, they produce organic soaps and cosmetic products, including essential oils made from naiouli leaves and other Caledonian plants. After exploring the shop and perhaps purchasing a memento for home, return to Noumea for the night.
Day 6 - Noumea
With no activities planned for today, you’re free to leave the group after breakfast this morning. That doesn't mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in Noumea, we'll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
19-07-202124-07-2021AUD $ 2,795-
23-08-202128-08-2021AUD $ 2,795-
13-09-202118-09-2021AUD $ 2,795-
15-11-202120-11-2021AUD $ 2,795-
06-12-202111-12-2021AUD $ 2,795-
18-07-202223-07-2022AUD $ 2,795-
22-08-202227-08-2022AUD $ 2,795-
12-09-202217-09-2022AUD $ 2,795-
14-11-202219-11-2022AUD $ 2,795-
05-12-202210-12-2022AUD $ 2,795-

Accommodation

Hotel (3 nights),Fare (1 night),Bungalow (1 night)

Transport

Private vehicle,Boat

Map

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