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Whale Watching - Humpback whales can be seen in the lagoon during the mating season from July to September.
Diving -wreck dives, reefs, drop-offs, drift diving, thermal formations, dive/camping, caves and night dives. Different sites can offer different sea creatures including turtles, dugongs, nautilus, manta rays, sunfish and thousands of varieties of tropical fish and corals.
 Underwater walks - a modern twist on the diving helmets of old. Visitors can walk along the ocean bottom wearing a lightweight, modern breathing helmet. The expeditions allow a taste of life beneath the sea without requiring dive training. Suitable for children, with age restrictions.
Water sports - New Caledonians love water sports. Popular pastimes include windsurfing, kite surfing, para sailing, yachting, pedal craft, sea kayaks and canoes, jet skis, water skiing, wake-boarding, day cruises and motorboat hire. Resorts and visitor centres can advise on locations and operators.
Ile aux Canards (Duck Island) - A small island playground offshore from Anse Vata reached by water taxi from Nouméa. Snorkelling equipment, deck chairs and umbrellas are available for hire. There is also an "underwater walkway" where snorkellers can follow interpretive signs through the marine life.
Ilot Amédée (Amédée Island) - One of New Caledonia's 'must do' day trips on the barrier reef, about 45 minutes by fast cruiser, this tiny islet is dominated by its 1865 lighthouse constructed in Paris and sent to New Caledonia by Napoleon. Enjoy its white beaches, excellent snorkelling, swaying palms and castaway atmosphere. The day excursion includes lunch and cultural entertainment, plus there is an optional expedition to the barrier reef for shark and turtle spotting.
Plages Loisirs - A beach kiosk at Anse Vata in Nouméa, Plages Loisirs hires a variety of beach and water equipment. Many hotels offer passes which give guests free use of equipment at the kiosk. Options include snorkelling gear, catamarans, paddleboats, canoes and kayaks. Plages Loisirs also serves as the departure point for water taxis to Ile aux Canards.
 Fishing - Deep-sea fish including tuna, marlin and deep snapper. Several operators offer cruiser and catamaran expeditions, including rod fishing, spear fishing and bone fishing. Anglers can also hire their own boats for self-navigated expeditions.
Nouméa - enjoy the waterfront and the outdoor lifestyle, teaming with French restaurants, cafes, bars and marinas. The weekly evening carnival Thursdays at Place des Cocotiers draws hundreds to the city square to enjoy food, arts, music and entertainment.
Tjibaou Cultural Centre - Here you can learn about New Caledonia’s history, the Centre’s architecture, the unique flora and its signification and you will hear Kanak myths and legends. There is also a gift shop that sells handicrafts, clothing, books and magazines.
Isle of Pines - Vivid turquoise waters, wild orchids and ancient trees have earned the Isle of Pines its title as the Jewel of the Pacific. Its combination of volcanic geology and uplifted coral reef create a prehistoric landscape, capped off by the island’s araucaria pines, which encircle the bays and inlets.
 Pirogues - Traditional outrigger sailboats known as pirogues ply the turquoise waters of the Isle of Pines. Their timber construction and inverted triangle sails make for a romantic journey among the palms, pines and rock outcrops.
Blue River Provincial Park - At the heart of the Southern Province, this park is a favourite destination for nature lovers who come for its waterfalls, bushwalks and swimming holes, river kayaking and rainforests.
Madeleine Falls - In an unusual landscape of shrublands, marshes, waterholes and ancient flora, the Madeleine Falls provide a home to New Caledonia’s cork wood tree, a rare conifer that grows in water. The falls are 75km east of Noumea and are reached via a series of walking tracks through surrounding bushland.
Dumbea - Framed by mountains and rainforest slopes, the district of Dumbea sits in a picturesque valley 15 minutes outside Noumea. Parks around the Dumbea River and dam offer a chance to bushwalk, while canoe and kayak operators escort groups along the river’s clear, languid waters.
Mont Koghi - Rising 1061m above Dumbea, Mont Koghi offers superb views over Noumea and the New Caledonia lagoon. Its peaks and ridges are draped in mists and rainforests, offering a respite from the subtropical heat and an opportunity to enjoy forest trails, cascades and swimming holes. The Auberge du Mont Koghi offers a chance to stay in simple cabins in the rainforest, including a tree house 15m up a giant houp tree.
Click here to read about New Caledonia.
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