Noumea

What to do in New Caledonia?

Caledonia was the Latin name for Scotland back when the Romans were running the show. Which really makes you wonder what Captain Cook was thinking when he named the place, because the warm tropical climate, sapphire blue lagoons and sparking white sand beaches don't look like any part of Scotland!

Air New Zealand has flights to Noumea, New Caledonia from Auckland with connections from Wellington, Christchurch and the entire domestic network.

Caledonia was the Latin name for Scotland back when the Romans were running the show. Which really makes you wonder what Captain Cook was thinking when he named the place, because the warm tropical climate, sapphire blue lagoons and sparking white sand beaches don't look like any part of Scotland!

Regardless, as soon as his back was turned the French swooped in and set up shop and they're still running the place. As a result, the food is excellent, there is an appreciation for style and culture only the French can pull off, and an overall feeling of 'joie de vivre'.

All this for a 3 hour flight away! Don't try to watch Lord of the Rings on the plane, chances are, you'll land before it ends (spoiler alert, Sean Bean dies? is that really a spoiler though? I mean, who saw THAT coming?!?!)