Isle of Pines, New Caledonia 

Join the Isle of Pines family
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Isle of Pines boasts some of the world’s whitest beaches flanked by azure waters to one side and palm trees to the other.
 

Join the Isle of Pines family

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Situated 50km southeast of its mainland of New Caledonia, Isle of Pines is truly a tropical wonderland. With a population of 220,000, the close knit atmosphere and breathtaking surroundings make for a true escape from the everyday.

The waters off the Isle of Pines must really 'wash whitest' because the sands of the Isle's Kato Bay will impress any visitor with its white, white, talcum-like beach. The Isle of Pines is part of New Caledonia and is situated 50km south east of the mainland. The tall narrow pine trees are a feature of this 17km long island. The most difficult aspect of your visit to the Isle of Pines will be saying goodbye to its sunny skies, friendly faces, warm waters and of course those beautiful beaches.

Average Temperatures in Isle Of Pines (°C)

January February March April May June July August September October November December
26°C 26°C 25°C 24°C 22°C 21°C 20°C 20°C 21°C 22°C 23°C 25°C

Featured Shore Tours from Isle of Pines 

 

  • Island Discovery IP1-000

    Tour the Isle of Pines, known as the "Jewel of the Pacific", as your experienced local guide narrates and points out a variety of landmarks and...

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  • Snorkel the Natural aquarium IP1-010

    Join a 20 minute scenic drive past the beautiful white sandy beaches of Kuto Beach and then inland towards Oro Bay, where you will discover the Isle...

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  • Le Meridien and Natural Aquarium IP1-015

    A 25 minute scenic drive will take you past the beautiful white sanded Kuto beach and then inland toward Oro bay on the north-east side of the Isle...

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More about Isle of Pines 

Docking / Disembarkation 

Your P&O Cruises ship will anchor off the Isle of Pines and tender boats will then transfer you ashore.

Taxis 

Even though there’s no regular public transport service on the island, there are several local taxis you can use to get around.

Shopping 

Local handicrafts, including hats, sarongs (known locally as pareo), bags and other items of clothing are available from small markets and stalls. Some sandalwood products, including the aromatic precious oil derived from the roots and inner wood of the trunk, can also be purchased. Please ensure that the items you purchase do not contravene Australia’s or New Zealand’s strict quarantine laws.

Dining 

Please be advised food and drinks are sometimes available for purchase ashore in the Isle of Pines. The condition and method of preparation of food and drinks cannot be monitored by P&O Cruises. With that in mind, passengers are advised that if they purchase or consume food they do so entirely at their own risk.

Climate 

The seasons don’t vary too much in New Caledonia. Situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the country’s climate is tropical, not unlike that of parts of coastal Queensland. It is warm and humid from November through to April, but the trade winds temper any extremes. Make sure you stay hydrated and sheltered from the sun.

Credit Cards 

Major credit cards and charge cards are accepted in hotels and some shops. There is a bank in Vao, open during local business hours on weekdays. You should considering changing money on board the ship before heading to the island.

Telephones International and Local 

Limited public telephones are available.

What To Wear Ashore 

To make your day ashore as enjoyable as possible, wear comfortable, flat soled shoes, lightweight clothes and a hat, and bring along some sunscreen, insect repellent and bottled water. In cooler months, bring a jacket. It’s also a good idea to bring an umbrella. Except on beaches, please cover up when walking on the island (casual clothes, not swimwear).

Shore Tours 

There are a few shore tours available for you to get the most out of your time in the Isle of Pines. Subject to availability, tours may be pre reserved prior to your cruise departure on the following link www.pocruises.com.au/cruisepersonaliser or booked onboard at the shore tours desk.

Environment 

Whatever you decide to do after your visit to the Isle of Pines or any island port of call, please bring your rubbish back to the ship with you – that includes dead camera batteries, Thank You.


How to book

To take advantage of our fantastic low cost cruises, book now. Visit your travel agent or call 13 24 94 for Australian bookings or 0800 780 716 for New Zealand bookings.

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Note: The information in this page is subject to change without notice. We apologise for any inconvenience, but P&O Cruises cannot accept responsibility for any such alterations. Thank you.

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New Caledonia at a Glance

SIZE: 18,580 square kilometres
POPULATION: 220,000 (2008 est)
LANGUAGE: French and Kanak Dialects
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: French Overseas Territory and Local Government
CURRENCY:
Pacific Franc (XPF) This is the official currency of all New Caledonian Islands. Please remember that only bank notes are able to be exchanged onboard, Pacific Franc (XPF) coins will not be able to be exchanged when back onboard.

Helpful Phrases

ENGLISH

FRENCH

Thank you

Merci

Goodbye

Au revoir

Please

S’il vous plait

How much?

C'est combien?

How do you do?

Comment allez vous ?

Fine

Bien

Toilet

Les toilettes

Cruise Ship Un bateau de croisière

What to see

Araucaria conifer trees

Scattered across the island you’ll notice the distinctive, yet beautiful araucaria conifer trees. Fittingly, it’s these very trees that led to Captain James Cook naming the island, the Isle of Pines, back in 1774.

Convict prison ruins

Trek out to the historic prison ruins and see just how tough life was for these convicts. Constructed in 1872, the French sent as many as 3,000 convicts here over the space of 30 years.

Vao

To experience firsthand how the locals live off the land, take an eye-opening trip to Vao. Not only is it home to the majority of the 2,000 people who live on the Isle, it’s also the only village.

Kuto bay markets

Local handicrafts, like hats, sarongs (known locally as pareo), straw bags and other cultural items of clothing are available from small stalls plotted along the main bay. Some sandalwood products, including the precious aromatic oil derived from its roots, can also be purchased.

Peak ‘N’ ga

For a view that’ll stick in you memory for years to come, hike to the dazzling peaks of the ‘N’ ga? From up here, you’ll enjoy a bird’s-eye view over lush vegetation, pearly-white beaches and azure seas.