Named the ‘master isle’, Ilot Maitre can be found less than 5km away from Anse Vata Bay and is considered to be a firm favorite with sailors, travelers, and locals alike. Ilot Maitre is famed for its fabulous beach and shimmering lagoon. White sands, limpid waters, and snorkeling alongside turtles and shoals of shimmering fish all set the scene for days in New Caledonian paradise. The cote au vent is also close and provides plenty of warm wind for those who want to try their hand at kite surfing.
A smidge of stunning coral is waiting for you on the atoll of Amedee Island, just 30 minutes or so from the shores of Noumea. With its white sands, kaleidoscopic underwater color, and drifting turtles, you couldn’t dream up a more spellbinding spot for spending a day in paradise. Charter guests can picnic, swim, and hike to the lighthouse to be rewarded with dazzling views from every angle. The warm waters are popular with green sea turtles, an abundance of tropical fish, and harmless sea snakes. For those who don’t want to get their hair wet, there’s also the option to take a glass-bottom boat trip instead.
Mato Islet can be found less than ten miles from Prony Bay. Calm, clear waters, pretty pathways cutting through the green trees, and sandy sweeps all make for a mesmerizing backdrop to spend an afternoon exploring the magic of Mato. The isle rises 40 meters high and is part of the largest coral reef lagoon in the world, which is so impressive it has even been awarded UNESCO heritage status. For those charter guests who hike to the top of the islet, you will be rewarded with sweeping views of the whole blue lagoon.
A small island in the southwest of New Caledonia, the isle of Pins takes its name from the dense blanket of tall pines standing proudly on the island for over a hundred million years. Nine miles in length and eight miles in width, The Isle of Pins can clean up in the beauty awards category. Along with dreamy evergreen forests, there’s shallow cotton flower colored waters, tiny bays, and impressive rock formations climbing with coral and home to all kinds of bright fish. It’s unsurprising that these shores offer spectacular snorkeling thanks to the rich ecosystem and natural pools. Kuto Bay in particular, is a dazzling highlight with its cashmere-like sands and local restaurants offering you the chance to eat the famous Isle of Pins snails.
Prony Bay is its own slip of sweet sea found in the deep south of New Caledonia. Littered with creeks, bays, and caves, Prony Bay boasts no less than fifteen anchorages. With a wild and varied landscape, guests can marvel at the rich red earth from the former years of nickel mining, the freshwater swimming options, and the breathtaking biodiversity that colors the surroundings. Orchids, humpback whales, hikes, and viewpoints make for a dazzling stay on Casy Island.
For charter guests wanting to swim with turtles, Ouen Island and Turtle Bay are a tantalizing dream come true. Sitting south of the Woodin Canal and located between Ils de Pins and Noumea, this high land island is a vision of sculpted rock, rich jade mines, and wise old turtles. It’s not only turtles that take to these waters but humpback whales can also be spotted breaching the blue surface between the months of June and September. Turtle Bay stays true to its name with fragrant pine forests and loggerhead turtles making their nests on the beach for laying season (November - February). The waters that roll into Turtle Bay can be spectacular, so swimming should be done with caution.
Nouméa is a modern coastal capital with lots to offer. Visit Amédée lighthouse, the Museum of New Caledonia amd the countless bays that line the shore.