Noumea sits at the edge of the largest lagoon in the world and it has traditionally been a great windsurfing destination. Only in the last 2 years it has shown its potential for surfing, thanks to the tubes in the external reef. The waves found here are the same as all those in the South Pacific, but unlike all other locations, New Caledonia has not become as popular as its neighboring islands. The reasons are that the waves break almost exclusively on external reefs (between 3-12 miles from shore) and stretch along the 700km of reef, which turns out to be too far even for the most hardcore rowers. This means that your only chance to surf is to afford an expensive. Don’t miss out on this fabulous surf break in New Caledonia!
Roche Percèe is the only spot on the island that constantly breaks near the shore. According to locals this peak used to be as impressive as the surrounding scenery, but over the last few decades the sandbanks have plugged the reef channel where the swells entered, decreasing the size and quality of the waves. Despite the few local surfers, this wave is often crowded on weekends. People say that there are good waves nearby but it is only accessible by boat.
Reaching the outer reef channels takes time and money, however many people decide to stay in the capital Noumea and take a boat every morning. To reach the most popular spots such as Dumbea, Tenia and Corvette it takes about two hours of travel (round trip) but, since the wind tends to rise around 10-11 in the morning, many spots become unsurfaced and therefore they couldn’t worth doing all that sailing.
The best option to enjoy the best conditions is to book a seat on a boat and navigate the south face of the island. STC has been operating since 2000. If you are with your boat beware of these steps as New Caledonia has a high rate of wrecks in the South Pacific.
There are outer reefs everywhere …. just wait for some swells from south or east to create waves. The majority of the commercials haven’t yet been identified and those that have are mainly left. Many boats are actually used by dive operators, so while you are expecting waves, take a look at the wildmarine life. Living on a boat is an extraordinary experience, but tensions may arise between the passengers. Claustrophobics shouldn’t go.
Tariff per person, starting from:
| Departure | Double |
|---|---|
| From 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 | € 305 |
Notes
From May to September is the period with constant S-SE swells producing 2-10ft waves. The wind blows all year round mainly from the southeast. The prevalence of the reefs are SW facing therefore these winds are cross-shore. From September to May the winds are more E-SE coming in a more offshore direction, but unfortunately it is not the main season for swells. Most reefs are heavily influenced by the tide.
How to get there : A valid visa is required for citizens of Australia, South Africa and Brazil. New Caledonia is expensive to fly to with major airlines such as Qantas, Air New Zealand and some charter flights from France. Local airlines are Air Vanuatu and Air Calin. The airport is 45min from Noumea.
Getting around : Transportation to the island is not very useful, as all activities are carried out offshore. The boats to reach the spots are expensive. You can rent a Zodiac in Noumea for morning outings for around $ 70. If you want to surf more, book a seat in the charter boats, you can choose between: Raid Ngatahi ($ 150 / day) or La Violante ($ 1800/10 day in the period of June-July) with STC.
Accommodations and Food : You can live aboard these super luxurious charter boats. The food will be purely fresh fish and it will be accompanied by a lot of beer. The night in the sea which can be noisy and stormy. On land, hotels are not cheap. (about $ 40 / double Le Lagon).
Climate : This location boasts a warm and sunny climate with two main seasons: from December to March there is the hot season, with short rains and rare cyclones, from April to November there is the dry season. The weather, subject to little variation, is characterized for most of the year by mild spring temperatures. The strongest change is recorded in the period between mid-November and mid-April, which is hot and humid, unlike the ‘winter’ months of July and August which are milder. On average, maximum temperatures range from 22 ° C to 28 ° C.
Nature and Culture : If you are not a surfer your activities on board will be sunbathing, fishing and diving ($ 40). On land it is possible to go trekking, horseback riding and exploring the numerous caves.
Dangers and Nuisances: It is a very safe island, so the only danger is surf, or cuts on the reef.
Tips : There are no shops so bring all your equipment with you. The French influence is strong and the standard of living is high.
Exchange rate 1 EUR = 1.08 USD; 1 € = 1.51 NZD; 1 EUR = 1.41 AUD
Exchange rate variations (more than 3%) will lead to an adjustment of costs. They will be communicated within 20 days of departure.
The tariff does not include
Duration: 9 days / 6 nights
from € 305 - Excluding flights
Duration: 8 days / 6 nights
from € 242 - Excluding flights
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Premio Turismo responsabile Italiano 2011
