From Ouvéa to the Isle of Pines, passing through Lifou, Tiga and Maré, the five islands bordering the Mainland, Grande Terre to the East are yet more gems to discover. From the blue hole of Hanawa at Ouvéa to the Warrior’s Leap at Wakone on Maré, via the Jokin Cliffs at Lifou or the Oro Bay on the Isle of Pines, let yourself be amazed!
While the Isle of Pines was first reached by James Cook in 1774, during his second voyage towards New Zealand, the ‘discovery’ of the four islands which make up the Loyalty Islands was not actually his work. The first acknowledgement of these islands in fact dates from 1803 when William Raven, captain of the Britannia, gave the name of his ship to Maré.
Those we now call the Loyalty Islands did ‘play hard to get’ before unveiling their charms to the world. And what charms!
Each island has its own character...
On Ouvéa, the combined beauty of the sky, the lagoon and the flora have earned it the title of the closest island to paradise. This is a well-deserved title for the island which offers a fabulous beach of white sand stretching for almost 25 km, majestic coconut plantations and extraordinary diving sites, especially around the Pléïades Reef. At the Mouli Bridge, connecting Lékiny to the main island, you can see the spectacle of turtles and eagle rays that move through the channel daily, to the great delight of tourists.
Lifou is characterised by its variety of scenery, combining immaculate beaches, steep cliffs, deep forests and impressive caves. The largest of the Loyalty Islands is probably the one that offers the greatest contrast, whilst also catering perfectly for tourists who come to visit.
As for Maré, the intense, wild beauty of its scenery, and the deep connection that the Mareans have with nature, have given this island a very personal identity. The island will leave a lasting impression on those who take the time to discover it.
The other closest island to paradise!
Further south, the Isle of Pines is, without question, Ouvéa’s greatest rival for the title of the closest island to paradise! The Oro, Kuto and Kanumera Bays offer an astonishing spectacle of beauty and harmony. As for vestiges of the penal colony, they testify, in a moving way, to a bygone age.
While French is the common language across the Loyalty Islands and the Isle of Pines, each one has its own vernacular language. Nengone is most common on Maré, while Drehu is spoken on Lifou and Kunié is the language of the Isle of Pines. Ouvéa, on the other hand, has two separate languages: the lay language, Melanesian, and Faga-Uvéa, spoken by the descendants of the Wallisians. This language has kept the morphology and syntax of Polynesian, while borrowing from the Melanesian languages.
Discover the must-sees of the Islands
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Kanumera bay
Situated at the south of the Kuto peninsula, Kanumera Bay offers a view over a stunning fine white sand beach, like its neighbour, Kuto Bay
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Jokin cliffs
If there is one place in Lifou where you can quite easily understand the island’s geology and how it formed, it would have to be the Jokin cliffs that tower over the ocean at a height approaching...
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A heavenly climate
The islands of New Caledonia enjoy an extremely pleasant climate, with average temperatures between 22°C on Maré and 24°C on Ouvéa, with seasonal variations of no more than 6°C. In addition to which, since there are no mountains to pull in and retain the clouds, there is very little rain. So the weather is particularly favourable for tourism and leisure!
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