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NEW CALEDONIA: THE PACIFIC ISLAND PARADISE

A land of unsuspected beauties and natural wonders lies not very far away from Australia, yet it’s often overlooked by tourists. New Caledonia is a true tropical paradise hidden in the Pacific Ocean, but at disposal to everyone searching for the peace that only nature brings. The endless blue horizons, lush green hills and diverse underwater species will leave you with an out-of-this-world experience and a natural vibe of tranquility and serenity.

EXPLORING THE WORLD’S LARGEST LAGOON

Encircling two thirds of the main island, New Caledonia’s lagoon is the largest one in the world with more than half of listed as World Heritage site. This amazing land also features the world’s second largest barrier reef which, along with the lagoon, features over 9,000 rare marine species. This natural wonder offers a range of options for exploration, from scuba diving, snorkeling and diving, to kayaking, water parasailing and kite surfing. Here, you can satisfy both your adventurous spirit and the love for nature and admire the endless turquoise and azure waters of New Caledonia.

SETTING OFF INTO THE WILD AT THE BLUE RIVER PROVINCIAL PARK

Located only a 45-minute drive from Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia, lies the vastness of 9,000 hectares of unspoiled wilderness waiting to be explored. The Blue River Provincial Park has it all – meandering rivers, spectacular waterfalls, dreamy fresh water lakes and endemic plant life. There’s no better place to reconnect with nature and finding your inner peace. Just keep your eyes open for the Cagou, New Caledonia’s rare national bird.

ADMIRING THE HEART OF VOH

Nature is all about love, and after seeing the Heart of Voh, you won’t doubt it for a second. In the vicinity of the township of Voh north of Koné, you can admire the perfect heart shape of a mangrove swamp. For the best view of this natural wonder, you should be up in the air. However, if you follow the track up Mt Kathépaïk, you can see La Coeur of Voh from an altitude of 400 metres. Although this won’t provide you with the perfect view of the Heart like the one from the air, you’ll have an opportunity to explore the natural beauties of the region which will make the hike definitely worthwhile.

HIKING THROUGH GRAND TERRE

The scenic landscape of Grand Terre will leave you breathless as you follow the Grande Randonnée hiking trail. The area features a chain of mountains right in the heart of New Caledonia’s main island. Since the main island is surrounded by the world’s largest lagoon, you’ll be able to admire the panoramic views and sublime scenery. To the west, you can see the country towns, while lush vegetation stretches to the east, slowly descending to the sea. The trail will take you from Prony to Dumbéa and through awe-inspiring landscape.

DISCOVERING THE WONDERS OF THE ISLE OF PINES

The magical Isle of Pines features breathtaking scenery of sandy beaches, turquoise waters and lines of pines, which makes it one of the most popular New Caledonia holiday packages. The most picturesque area of this dreamy island is the Oro Bay, also called the natural pool, with powder white sandy beaches and endless blue horizons. At the Isle of Pines’ islets of Turtle Bay and Brush Island, you can swim with loggerhead turtles and discover the underwater world. The contrasting landscape of the Isle of Pines is dominated by the high N’ga Peak. You can follow the hour-long rocky and steep trail from Vao to the top and admire the spectacular view. Once you reach the summit, you’ll understand why New Caledonia is one of the heavens on Earth.

The awe-inspiring natural beauties of New Caledonia will leave you wondering whether you’ve discovered a completely different world. Not only will you explore the wonders of this tropical paradise, but you’ll reconnect with nature and find your inner peace.

PIN IT FOR LATER

This is a guest post by Marie Nieves. Marie is a lifestyle blogger who loves unusual trips, gadgets and creative ideas. On her travels she likes to read poetry and prose and to surf the Internet. Her favourite writer is Tracy Chevalier and she always carries one of her books in her bag. Most of her free time at home she spends walking her Labrador Retriever named Max. She is an avid lover of photography who loves to talk about her experiences. You can find Marie on Facebook or follow her on Twitter and Pinterest.

All Images courtesy: Sébastien Jermer

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