One-week sailing itinerary in New Caledonia from Nouméa

Have you ever wanted to escape and leave for the end of the world? Discover an idyllic region that you would explore from island to island aboard a beautiful sailboat, freed from all the hassles of everyday life? New Caledonia could be the ideal destination for you.

In this article, I present a one-week sailing itinerary in southern New Caledonia, from the capital, Nouméa.

One-week itinerary departing from Nouméa

Day 1: Nouméa → Larégnère Islet (7.3 nautical miles for 1 hour and 15 minutes of sailing)

Your journey begins in Nouméa, capital of New Caledonia. After a long flight over the Pacific, you land at Tontouta international airport, while the afternoon sun welcomes you pleasantly. A short bus transfer is enough for you to finally arrive at Port Moselle, the place of your yacht charter in New Caledonia. You are already diving in total immersion into the peaceful atmosphere of Caledonian life, and perceive the municipal market, its colorful stalls, and its smells of fresh fruit, while walking on the docks. Once you arrive at the marina, you board your vessel, discover it, and proceed with provisioning, before setting off on your adventure.

Your first stop? The islet of Larégnère, just across from the coast. Leaving the port, you contemplate the bay of Anse Vata and its beach, particularly appreciated by water sports enthusiasts. You finally arrive at Larégnère, and finally understand why so many wonderful things are said about the Caledonian lagoon, the largest in the world: everything is magnificent, the fine sand beach lit by the last rays of the sun, the water of rare transparency, the lush vegetation of the island. No need to drop anchor, as buoys are available for boaters, perfect for mooring without difficulty. Ashore, you explore this little piece of paradise, and discover farés, these traditional Pacific dwellings. But the best part are these little bonfire spots, around which you spend the evening, listening to the flames crackle.

Day 2: Larégnère Islet → Goéland Island → Amédée Islet (12.1 nautical miles for 2 hours of sailing)

Your first awakening is gentle, exceptionally gentle. It must be said that your night, spent at anchor, went smoothly. After a hearty breakfast, you set off for the next discovery of your cruise in New Caledonia: the Goéland islet. The latter does not bear its name by chance, as it is the refuge of numerous species of birds that make it their home for breeding, so much so that landing on the island is prohibited from October to March, during the laying season. But beyond the seabirds flying gracefully, and the bank of this golden sand, what amazes you is seeing loggerhead turtles and green turtles swimming near you.

After a lunch of crab and shrimp salad bought the day before, you set off to reach your afternoon destination. And what better way to continue this journey than to visit the island housing the largest metal lighthouse in the world? So it's to Amédée that you head, a little further east. There, the 56-meter-high building, which counts among the most beautiful lighthouses in France outside the mainland, sits in the middle of the islet, and offers a grandiose panorama to all those brave enough to climb it. And as night falls and the island becomes increasingly deserted, you realize what an extraordinary moment you are experiencing, alone on an island at the end of the world, among the turtles, listening to the sound of waves crashing on the coral reef.

Day 3: Amédée Islet → Iré Bay → Casy (24.7 nautical miles for 4 hours of sailing)

A good lie-in, that's what you needed! You wake up slowly, rocked by the waves, and take time to enjoy the magnificent landscapes around you. You who were still looking a few months ago where to go on a cruise in October, you now know that you have chosen the right destination. There, in the distance, your next stop awaits: it's the bay of Iré, off the island of Ouen. You sail into the Woodin Channel, then anchor your boat in the bay. The scenery set there, before your eyes, is magnificent. A red earth beach bordered by wild flora, which reminds you that there are still quasi-virgin territories, unaltered by human activities, full of life.

Your exploration of southern New Caledonia continues along the Woodin Channel, where you finally reach the discreet island of Casy. Your boat moored to one of the buoys, you decide to set foot on this islet with such varied biodiversity. The weather is ideal for spending the afternoon underwater. What better than snorkeling to meet the different local species, such as angelfish, parrotfish, or trumpetfish? But in the midst of this myriad of colors, the most fabulous are the corals, of all shapes, which shelter this underwater life. You end this day dining outside on the beach, watching the sunset.

Day 4: Casy → Kuto Bay (38.4 nautical miles for 6 hours and 20 minutes of sailing)

Today, a long day awaits you, as you set off for 6 hours of sailing, heading for one of New Caledonia's secret pearls, the Isle of Pines, sometimes nicknamed "the closest island to paradise". Approaching your destination, you realize that the island lives up to its name... It is covered with tall columnar pines that give it a wooded and confidential appearance, sheltered from view, hidden by its trees. You arrive in Kuto Bay, one of only two authorized anchorages on the island, and drop anchor. The place is the ideal starting point for exploring the island, without leaving any of its little hidden wonders.

You rent transportation for the day to reach the four corners of the atoll. The most adventurous want to explore the submerged cave of la Troisième and the Queen Hortense Cave, while relaxation lovers choose instead the Oro natural pool in the northeast of the island. This open-air aquarium is simply magical: fine sand beaches, rocks sparkling in the sun, crystal-clear water... As the afternoon sun brings its warmth, it's the perfect time to pull out your beach towel and relax while tanning. You take advantage of the return journey to Kuto Bay to stock up and buy your evening dinner, a dish of bougna, the typical New Caledonian stew, cooked with sweet potatoes, plantains and coconut milk, all cooked in banana leaves.

Day 5: Kuto Bay → Kouaré Island (36 nautical miles for 6 hours of sailing)

The sunrise over the bay offers you a unique spectacle that reveals another facet of the place. Much more than a paradisiacal lagoon, the place has become sincere, intimate, and charming. You enjoy these last moments in Kuto over brunch, as you must soon leave the Isle of Pines to set course for the next stop, the islet of Kouaré. The sailing is pleasant, and you arrive after 6 hours in this haven of peace, just west of Téré. The islet is magnificent, and makes you understand how a few square meters of sand lost in the middle of the ocean can become paradise on earth.

You anchor your boat south of the island, and disembark on Kouaré. What strikes you when setting foot on the island is the whiteness of the sand grains, immaculate. After two days of sporty sailing, you have only one desire: to do nothing, simply. Farniente has never seemed so pleasant as when you settle on one of the deserted beaches of the islet. The most curious equip themselves with masks and snorkels to say hello to the local fauna, while others enjoy the sun until its last rays. Night falls, you get back on board your boat, and share a good meal, crowned by a tasty dessert, a tropical fruit salad flavored with vanilla.

Day 6: Kouaré Island → Ua Island → Uo Island (16.5 nautical miles for 2 hours and 45 minutes of sailing)

How sweet is the awakening in New Caledonia! Not a sound in the distance, except that of the waves and living nature. You are alone on the water. This waking dream, you decide to prolong it a little more, by setting your next stop on the islet of Ua, going up the sea to the north. Ua is part of the "5 islands" of the Great South Lagoon (Uatérembi, Ua, Uatio, Ngé and Gi), and is therefore one of these island jewels that are always a pleasure to explore. Before your cruise, you feared that the islets might be too similar, but today you are forced to face the evidence: each of your stops has a unique charm that takes you from surprise to surprise.

After enjoying a good Tahitian salad made with raw tuna and lemon-flavored coconut milk, you take the helm again to head to the island of Uo (not to be confused with the island of Ugo, further northwest). What adds even more appeal to Uo compared to the other stops on your journey is that you can find almost no information about the islet, anywhere. Arriving on its beach with pearly reflections, you feel like an explorer, setting foot for the first time on this little piece of sand hidden in the middle of the sea. Completely deserted, the place is perfect for spending a quiet end of the day, walking peacefully on the shore admiring this expanse of water that never seems to end.

Day 7: Uo Island → Île Redika → Sainte-Marie Island (23.2 nautical miles for 4 hours of sailing)

Today you begin a quiet return to the vicinity of Nouméa. You leave Uo in the morning, with full sails, to reach the intermediate stop of the day, Redika Island. You access the islet from the north, thanks to the pass located there, and instantly fall under the spell of its reefs. The hesitation is brief, and you end up jumping into this water warmed by the sun's rays. Your goal for the morning? Try to meet a spotted eagle ray, also known as a leopard ray, one of the marine wonders of Caledonian fauna.

But the day passes, and you soon decide to continue to the last stop of your journey, the island of Sainte-Marie, east of Nouméa. The anchorage is pleasant and well protected, but what makes its reputation is especially its status as a spot very suitable for beginners who want to learn to sail. Around you, young people trying their hand at windsurfing give New Caledonia yet another image different from all those you have discovered during this week, a human and lively image. You set off for a sunset walk on the islet Uéré, just south of Sainte-Marie.

Day 8: Sainte-Marie Island → Nouméa (5.2 nautical miles for 50 minutes of sailing)

It's the (somewhat difficult) day of departure! You enjoy one last time a hearty breakfast on the deck of your boat, before leaving to return to Nouméa and Port Moselle. Once your boat is returned, it's time for you to say goodbye to New Caledonia. If there's one thing you're sure of, it's that you plan to come back and discover the 3 Loyalty Islands, in the far north of the country.

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