South Pacific Islands Honeymoon - New Caledonia Island

New Caledonia, located between Fiji and Australia, has a distinct feel of Paris and is reminiscent of everything French, right from designer wear boutiques to the dining experiences.

The capital Nouméa is located on Grande Terre and the majority of inhabitants are scattered among seven islands. New Caledonia is also renowned for having the largest lagoon in the world. For the connoisseur of cuisine, every palate is catered to, ranging from French, Moroccan and Italian to Japanese and Chinese fare.

New Caledonia is famous for its Jean-Marie Tijbaou Cultural Center. Grande Terre’s east coast and the Isle of Pines’ Kuto area are picturesque – the former with its majestic mountains and the latter with its beautiful beaches.

December to March is warmer and one can even experience the occasional hurricane, while April to August can be quite cool and even windy. The currency is the French Pacific franc and the Melanesian languages are the commonly used languages.

Kone’s Rodeo is held in April and August in New Caledonia sees the Jazz Festival being held in Nouméa and the Agricultural Fair at Bourail.

There are many other scenic islands like Tuvalu, Niue, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea among others. Each of these have their own spectacular features, lush landscapes and unique culture and customs, rituals and lifestyles that also make them a favourite with honeymooners looking to enjoy some quiet time as a twosome.

Tuvalu, for instance, which has six atolls and three islands, is less commercial and among the smallest of the islands on the South Pacific. It offers a less touristy and more unique experience in terms of serenity and peacefulness, once again ideal for a South Pacific honeymoon. It is spectacular with its atolls, coral reefs and lagoons. Temperatures are around 28-30 degrees Celsuis. The currency is the Australian dollar and Tuvaluan and English are commonly spoken. The inhabitants love their traditional dances and the other passion is te ano, the national game.

Niue is one of the smallest, self-governing states and lies in a triangle between Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands. It is a coral atoll and is mainly made up of coral, limestone and marble. Popularly called the ‘Rock of Polynesia, its most spectacular features are its rough and rugged terrain, steep cliffs, amazing caves and reef pools. Diving, fishing, snorkeling and swimming with the whales and dolphins are the major tourist attractions. The weather is pleasant all through the year and averages about 24 degrees Celsius. The people are citizens of New Zealand and so the currency is the New Zealand dollar, with English and Nuiean commonly spoken here.

Papua New Guinea, lying to the north of Australia, includes 600 odd islands and coral reefs and is rich in natural resources and is replete with majestic mountains, green valleys, highlands and splendid beaches. Mount Wilhelm, the highest peak is breathtaking at 4,500 meters. The diverse flora and fauna includes varieties of orchids, butterflies and rare birds. It is famous for its diving opportunities. It can be hot, with temperatures going up to 28-30 degrees Celsius. The currency is Kina, and Pidgin and English are the languages spoken.

Kiribati is subdivided into the Gilbert Islands, the Phoenix and the Line Islands, totally about 33 in number, with only about 20 of them inhabited. Swimming, snorkeling and fishing are popular here and temperatures range between 25-32 degrees celsius, cooled by a light sea breeze. The currency is the Australian dollar and I-Kiribati is the main language spoken, with English less frequently used on the far-flung islands.

Vanuatu, located roughly between Fiji and the Solomon Islands, is made up of about 83 islands and was formerly known as the New Hebrides. It’s fun to explore, with every nook and cranny harbouring a waterfall, cliff, blowhole, cave or a hot spring. The name means ‘Land Eternal’ and rightly so because it has an air of timelessness to it! The climate is tropical but can also be hot and rainy, with sudden showers. The months from May to July are cooler, while January to April often witnesses hurricanes. Scuba diving, game fishing and hiking are popular activities. The currency is the Vatu and French, English and a form of Pidgin English called Bislama is spoken here. In February, there is the Jon Frum Festival at Sulphur Bay and the Pentecost Land Dive in April and May. Independence Day has parades, sporting events and dancing and is held at Port Vila.