Captain Cook set sail from England on the Endeavour on 25 August 1768 and embarked on his first exploration of the Pacific Ocean on a secret mission in search of the "unknown southern continent", with 18 months of sustenance, and finally arrived in Tahiti, Oceania, on 13 April 1769. Although he circled the South Pacific again and again, he never found the destination we are discussing today.
Shortly after his first expedition back home, he set sail again on 13 July 1772 for a second pacific expedition, arriving in Tahiti in August 1773 to replenish it, until September 1774, when Captain Cook discovered the new island near Fiji, which Cook named New Caledonia after the ancient Scottish name Caledonia.
< h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > overview</h1>
New Caledonia (hereinafter referred to as New Calgar), a small island located in the South Pacific Ocean, is located between Fiji and Australia, about 1500 kilometers from the east coast of Queensland, Australia. But it was not an independent country, and after several twists and turns, it became an "enclave" of France, NewCastle has officially become a British overseas territory since 1957, and in December 1986, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that NewCastle was included in the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, thus establishing its unique highly autonomous status, but the administering power is still France.
Location of New Caledonia on the map
The islands of the South Pacific, mention Fiji, Tahiti (Tahiti), Tonga, etc. are well-known, but few people know about New Caledoni, and even fewer have traveled here. According to the local tourism bureau, only about 300 people arrived in New Caledoni Chinese in 2017, making it a veritable super-unpopular tourist destination for China.
Stunning lagoon and coral reef views
Although New Ka is a beautiful island, it is completely different from the Maldives, Fiji and so on. In addition to the island's standard blue waters and fine white sand beaches, there are also colorful forests, lagoons, mangroves and local indigenous cultures.
Regional distribution map
New Caledonia is extremely rich in tourism: the vermilion of the inland plains of the west coast, the emerald green of the tropical mountains of the east coast: the silver of the beautiful beaches of the Loyalty Islands, the golden splendor of French life in the capital Noumea, and the crimson of the wilderness of the Great South – five different colors that can be experienced in one trip.
<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" > the main island of Dadi Island</h1>
The capital is Noumea
Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia, is at the southern tip of the main island, a city built on the sea, with multiple bays along its coastline, which not only has magnificent natural beauty, but also a rich natural cultural heritage. Noumea is home to many museums, galleries, theatres and cinemas, and some colonial buildings are still well preserved today.
Noumea is a lively city of 100,000 people
The Gibaao Cultural Centre combines an arts centre, a museum, a performance space, a library and more to perfectly showcase the indigenous culture of Karnak. There are also plenty of bars, clubs and two casinos, and the nightlife is just as varied.
Jibaao Cultural Centre
West Coast
Thanks to its favorable geographical location and climatic conditions, the West Coast is well suited for the development of extensive livestock farming, and today the vast meadows of the West Coast pastures are dotted with tens of thousands of cattle. Located in the West Coast, the lagoon is a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful spots in New Caldonia.
Natural pastures
The world-famous Hear of Voh is located deep in the long mangroves of the West Coast. The New Calvary Tourism Board made this pattern into the tourism image logo of New Caledonia.
Naturally formed heart-shaped mangroves
East Coast
The central mountain range of the main island (Terra Isle) is a natural dividing line that overlooks a very different east-west coast. The east coast has stronger sea breezes, making it more humid and lush with vegetation. The population here is predominantly melanesian indigenous, retaining its charming local character.
The proven reserves of nickel ore, Xinka accounts for the largest proportion in the world, the land area of New Kaga accounts for 0.013% of the global land area, but the nickel ore reserves account for 25% of the world, and the main nickel ore are concentrated on the east coast.
Open pit nickel mine
Great South
The Great Southern Region is often a hiker's paradise. Whether it's climbing Mont Mondor (the lagoon at the entrance to Noumea has a magnificent view) or choosing the hiking trail from Dambea to Ploni, travelers will find the route that suits them best.
< h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" > the outer islands</h1>
Ovira Island
The beautiful skies, lagoons and flora of Ovira Have earned it the title of "the closest island to paradise". The island has beautiful white sand beaches that stretch for almost 25 kilometers, vast coconut plantations and unique diving sites.
This is a small island. The island is only 35 kilometers long, with only one road winding through countless coconut trees, some only 40 meters wide!
Lifu Island
Lifu Island is also located about 100 kilometers east of Dadi Island. The island is made up of many corals covered in dense bushes, and the interior of the island is a vast plain, once a lagoon that is now covered by dense tropical forest, making it ideal for hiking.
Inside the island there are several vanilla plantations that produce local vanilla of exceptional quality and are known worldwide.
Matsushima
It is located at the southernmost tip of the island of New Caledonia, basically on the Tropic of Cancer, at 22° south latitude. It is the closest outer island to The Land Island and can be accessed by boat or plane, and flying over this southern lagoon is a stunning panoramic experience.
The island has long been The most popular attraction in New Caledonia, and Matsushima's fame owes much to the island's several world-class bays.
Matsushima's most famous attraction, the Natural Pool, is viewed from above, and this natural lagoon is like a sapphire embedded in araucaria, and the crystal clear waters have become a natural pool for tourists and a good place for snorkeling.
Mare Island
The unique scenery of Mare Island has been preserved along with the traditional customs of the Aborigines here. The island is the most humane, and the main craft of the Mare people is still gardening.
They serve fruits and vegetables with unique characteristics and flavors to every place in New Caledonia. Avocados are the most famous crop on the island, and the Avocado Festival is held every year on the first weekend of May!
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > information about transportation and visas</h1>
At present, China does not have direct flights to New Caledonia, you can choose to transfer to Tokyo, Japan or Australia, New Zealand, from Tokyo or Osaka about 10 hours to reach the capital of New Caledonia, Noumea, if the transfer interval is too long, you also need to apply for a visa for the transit country in advance.
When Chinese tourists travel to New Caledonia, visas are still a more troublesome thing:
1. All Chinese group visitors to New Caledonia through a certified travel agency can enjoy a visa exemption of up to 14 days (inclusive).
2. Those who already have a Schengen visa issued and activated by the French Embassy or Consulate and valid for 6 months (inclusive) to 5 years (inclusive) can enter New Caledonia directly.
3. Independent tourists can apply for a Visa for the French Overseas Territories (DROM-CTOM), please refer to the official website of the French Embassy for specific procedures and documents: https://cn.ambafrance.org
< h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > considerations</h1>
Time difference: 3 hours, Xinka 10:00am, Beijing 7:00am
Currency: CFP Franc, 100 Chinese Yuan (CNY) = 1550.3377 CFP Franc (XPF)
Plug: European standard plug
Languages: French, Melanesian, English is not very common, it is recommended to bring a translator.
Temperature: average 23°all year round, 23-30°/ From November to April