Yacht charter Nouméa

   By Lila Kergall 

April 29, 2022

Summary

1. Practical information for your yacht charter in Nouméa
2. What activities should you prioritize in Nouméa and New Caledonia?
3. Where to sail from Nouméa?
4. The most beautiful anchorages when leaving Nouméa
5. What sailing itinerary should you follow?
6. What are the weather conditions?

With its fascinating natural environment, enhanced by an incredible diversity of landscapes, New Caledonia is one of those wonderful exotic destinations that have still managed to escape mass tourism. Located about 1500 kilometers east of Australia, in the Coral Sea, this Oceania archipelago is also an exciting region to discover by sailing. All the more so as this area of the Pacific Ocean, lulled by the trade winds, remains highly appreciated for its tranquility and pleasant climatic conditions.

Thanks to the yacht charter in Nouméa, you will have the privilege of exploring a magnificent and atypical country at your own pace. This region is particularly well known for being home to the largest lagoon in the world and the second largest coral reef on the planet. Visitors to this enchanting archipelago will find that scuba diving combines marine cruising with the contemplation of the beauty of the seabed, whether in the north, the south or the Loyal Islands.

1. Practical information for your yacht charter in Nouméa

Renting a boat in Nouméa: with or without a skipper?

Average rates according to the season and the size of the boat

Below is a table showing the prices for a one-week yacht charter from Nouméa. Note that these prices are a rough guide and may vary depending on the season, the model and the age of the boat.

The

The port of Nouméa

Your cruise in New Caledonia will start in Nouméa, from Port Moselle, where our main local partner Dream Yacht Charter is based. This modern marina offers all the necessary services and amenities (professional reception, showers, toilets, water, electricity, Wi-Fi, post office, laundry, parking) and has 700 berths. To reach your base, you can take a flight from France (approximately 24 hours of travel time with a stopover) toTontouta International Airport, located about 45 minutes from Nouméa.

Port Moselle is ideally located right next to the large Moselle market. This is the largest market in New Caledonia and is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 5 a.m. to midday. You can do some shopping there before you leave and take advantage of all kinds of local products, regional specialties, seafood, etc. Various shops and restaurants are also located near the port and you can reach the center of Nouméa in a few minutes on foot.

Our local partner

On site, you will find the base of our partner Dream Yacht Charter. Founded in the Seychelles in 2000, this yacht charter company aims to help its customers discover the pleasure and freedom of sailing. They now offer more than 1,000 boats in some sixty destinations around the world, including Nouméa in New Caledonia.

2. What activities are best in Nouméa and New Caledonia?

Enjoying the bays, beaches and islets around Nouméa

Located on the southwest coast of New Caledonia, facing the lagoon, the city of Nouméa is surrounded by magnificent bays, offering its inhabitants and visitors a wide choice of beaches to stroll along the water's edge. Let yourself be tempted by the Baie des Citrons, now considered the trendiest spot in the capital. only ten minutes on foot from the center, the bay, protected from the wind, invites you to take a walk on the beach or to discover its festive places (bars, restaurants, nightclubs) by day or by night! You can also spend a few hours at the unmissableAnse Vata beach, where water sports enthusiasts will find what they are looking for. In the open sea off Nouméa and its beautiful beaches and bays are the islets of Canard and Maître, easily accessible by boat.

Discover the cultural and architectural wealth of Nouméa

The capital of New Caledonia is considered the country's artistic center. Fans of museums and art will easily find what they are looking for. You can visit the New Caledonia Museum, which has the finest collections of Kanak art in the world, or the Maritime Museum, which presents the history of the country's maritime traffic with the rest of the world. The numerous art galleries, theaters and cinemas also bear witness to the artistic wealth of the capital. Lovers of beautiful colonial architecture will enjoy immortalizing its ancient buildings such as Maison Célières or Château Hagen, which characterize the Vallée des Colons district. Finally, the country's cultural diversity is also reflected on your plate! Caldoceanian cuisine will seduce you with its blend of spices, tropical flavors and French techniques.

Water, land and air activities in New Caledonia

Stéphane, my contact at our local partner Dream Yacht Charter, explains to me that there are many activities to do in the Nouméa region: "In Nouméa and throughout the country, all water sports are represented. There is also a lot of trekking to be done. You can even go paragliding in the middle of Nouméa!".

In terms of water activities, you will indeed find what you are looking for in the open sea off Nouméa and throughout your cruise in all areas: water-jet-powered motorized craft, canoeing, paddleboarding, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, etc. For surfers, you will need to take a boat to the coral reef to ride the most beautiful waves in New Caledonia. Finally, for thrill seekers, you can go paragliding in the heart of Nouméa with Parapente Plein Vent.

In addition to excursions in the air and at sea, and water sports, New Caledonia also offers other ways to have fun while discovering its most beautiful attractions. For nature lovers, hiking is a must. The lush greenery of the eastern region is ideal for this type of activity. The trails and paths will take you through a lush forest before you reach the majestic Bâ waterfall. You can also opt for a walk on the trails of the Blue River Provincial Park.

3. Where can you sail from Nouméa?

According to Stéphane, my contact at our local partner Dream Yacht Charter, the best places to sail during your cruise from Nouméa are: "The Southern Lagoon, Isle of Pines and Prony Bay. But it is possible to sail in many other magnificent places depending on the duration of the charter!"

The South Lagoon

The Great Southern Lagoon is one of six lagoons classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 for its incredible biodiversity. It is located at the southern point of Grande Terre in New Caledonia, and forms a crescent with two distinct parts: the eastern and southern parts. Covering close to 24,000 square kilometers, this natural jewel is an idyllic playground for boaters and diving enthusiasts. The endless islands and islets of all shapes and sizes that make up the lagoon offer countless dream stopovers. The lagoon is home to the second largest coral reef in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, with more than 400 species of coral. Various species have developed in this protected area, such as sea turtles, different species of marine mammals (painter dolphin, dugong, spinner dolphin, bottlenose dolphin), and many species of birds. Yacht charter in New Caledonia is an opportunity to travel to these oceanic wonders a few dozen kilometers from Nouméa.

The Loyal Islands

The Loyalty Islands province comprises, from north to south, four main islands of coral origin, Ouvéa, Lifou, Maré and Tiga, as well as numerous islets northwest of Ouvéa and the Beautemps-Beaupré reef. Located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, 125 kilometers in the open sea from the east coast of the main island of New Caledonia, this archipelago is a true paradise on land and sea.

On the island of Maré, take the time to visit the village of La Roche. Don't miss the Asicen caves and the natural aquarium of Cengieté. To relax and enjoy the wonderful climate, head to Pede Bay. On the islandof Ouvéa, some places are also worth a visit, such as the cliffs and Lekiny Bay, Mouli's deck, Anawara's blue hole and the shark nursery. On Lifou Island, let yourself be enchanted by the Mucaweng vanilla factories, the beaches of Luengoni and Peng and the Wedrumel caves. For diving enthusiasts, head to Jinek Bay to discover the fascinating seabed!

'I'le des Pins'

about 50 miles from Nouméa, you can reach the Isle of Pines, another jewel of New Caledonia that will make you feel like you are in paradise. Located at the southern tip of New Caledonia, this island is home to some of the most beautiful bays and white sand rivers in the Pacific, such as Kanuméra Bay, where you can go snorkeling encounter multicolored fish, coral, shells, turtles and other marine species. The natural wealth of this island offers a range of activities: hiking on Pic N'Ga, a dugout canoe trip on Upi Bay, swimming in the natural pool of Oro Bay, discovering the remains of the penal colony and the village of Vao.

Prony Bay

Located at the southern point of Grande Terre, Prony Bay is a huge bay protected from all winds. Known as the "cyclone hole", its typically southern landscape is dry, arid and absolutely spectacular. In addition to the humpback whales that come to breed there during the austral winter (July-September), the bay offers very interesting underwater views. Discovered in 1979,the Aiguille de Prony is a huge chimney with a diameter of about 15 meters at the bottom (at a depth of about 35 meters) and just under 5 meters at the top, 6 meters below the surface. This structure, caused by intense hydrothermal activity, is a superb opportunity for a diving excursion! In the center of the bay is also Casy Island, a magnificent 40-hectare nature reserve located near Aiguille de Prony. This small island has an extraordinary biodiversity, with over 80% endemic flora. A one-hour stroll along the beacon-marked paths allows you to appreciate the diversity of this currently uninhabited island. You can also go snorkeling to admire the coral and fish around the islet.

Dive to discover the spectacular Aiguille de Prony (YouTube video)

4. The most beautiful anchorages starting from Nouméa

There are numerous anchorage possibilities in New Caledonia. The following list is not exhaustive, it is based on suggestions from our partner Dream Yacht Charter.

Baie des tortues - Ouen Island

Located 20 nautical miles from Nouméa, at the point of New Caledonia, Ouen Island is particularly known for the many turtles that live there as well as its former jade mine. The southern bays of this mountainous island are perfect for protecting you from the trade winds. On the advice of our local partner Dream Yacht Charter, I suggest you anchor your boat in Turtle Bay. From here you will enjoy a superb point of view over the South Lagoon!

casy Island - Prony Bay

In Prony Bay, south of Grande Terre, anchored boats can tie up at the buoy in front of the Casy Islet pontoon. This small islet is an uninhabited nature reserve. This stopover is an invitation to take a hike and discover the extraordinary biodiversity to be found there. You will reach the summit after a walk of about 45 minutes.

Carénage Bay - Prony Bay

Located at the end of Prony Bay, Carénage Bay is an ideal location for an overnight anchorage. Here, peace and quiet are the order of the day, and the bay is extremely well protected from the trade winds. You can walk to the nearby hot springs!

Kuto Bay - Isle of Pines

Kuto Bay, just to the west of Kanuméra Bay, is an ideal starting point for an excursion to the natural pool of Oro, or for an ascent of Pic N'GA. From here you can also enjoy the restaurants hauled in along the beaches of the south of the island and take a trip in a traditional Mélanese pirogue!

kouaré Island - South Lagoon

In the heart of the southern lagoon, Kouaré Islet is well worth a stop! This islet, surrounded by reefs teeming with fish, is an invitation to a wonderful snorkeling session. Far from the land and the inhabited islands, enjoy a peaceful stopover on the islet's beaches and take a moment to relax.

5. Which sailing itineraries should you follow?

Here is a one-week cruise sailing itinerary starting from Nouméa, based on the sailing itineraries suggested by our local partner Dream Yacht Charter. During this cruise, you will sail right into the heart of the Southern Lagoon and discover the beauty of the southern islands of Grande Terre such as Ouen Island, Isle of Pines and thelots of the South Lagoon. Your yacht charter from Nouméa is an invitation to discover the natural and cultural riches of New Caledonia!

One-week sailing itinerary in the South Lagoon departing from Nouméa

Total distance traveled: 159 miles

• Day 1: Nouméa, Marina Port Moselle → Île Ouen, Baie des tortues (23 miles ~ 4 hours)
• Day 2: Ouen Island, Turtle Bay → Casy Islet, Prony Bay → Carénage Bay, Prony Bay 14 miles ~ 2/3 hours)
• Day 3: Carénage Bay, Prony Bay → Kuto Bay, Isle of Pines (40 miles ~ 7 hours)
• Day 4: Kuto Bay → Oro natural pool → Kuto Bay (20 miles ~ 2 hours)
• Day 5: Kuto Bay → Kouaré Islet, South Lagoon (35 miles ~ 5/6 hours)
• Day 6: Kouaré Islet, South Lagoon → Nouméa, Marina Port Moselle (40 miles ~ 7 hours of sailing)

Enjoy

6.

What are the weather conditions

?

"For a cruise in New Caledonia, I advise you to plan your stay outside the cyclone season, which runs from November to April", explains Stéphane from Dream Yacht Charter,

our local partner.

New Caledonia is located in the southern hemisphere and therefore benefits from a tropical oceanic climate with two main seasons: the warm (austral) season and the dry season. The weather is spring-like throughout the year with temperatures varying between 23°C and 32°C. Sailing in the Caledonian archipelago is possible all year round, but the best time is during the dry season, from April to October. The water temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C! The southern trade winds blow throughout the year with an average of 18 to 22 knots in summer and 15 to 18 knots in winter.

 

 

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Acknowledgements

I

would like to thank Stéphane from Dream Yacht Charter for his valuable advice on sailing in New Caledonia, and New Caledonia Tourism for their photos, which illustrate my article to perfection!