New Caledonia Hotels

Other Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Camping

by hunwagner

New Caledonia offers the best opportunities for campers in the South Pacific, which makes the territory affordable to budget travellers!
Most campsites are run by the Kanaks on tribal land - these are most common along the North-East coast of Grande Terre and on the Loyalty Islands. They tend to charge around 1000 francs on Grande Terre, more on the islands.
These campsites are usually in beautiful locations near the coast, have showers and toilets, and helpful owners who ensure your stuff is safe and can provide meals.
Most are very quiet much of the time and have lots of space, so reservations are certainly not necessay.

There are also some municipal campsites that are usually cheaper or even free.
However these tend to offer poorer facilities and no security.

Tribal homestays

by hunwagner

Often called gités, these Kanak-run places are most common in the Loyalty Islands where big hotels owned by outsiders are not allowed to set up business. Here they work as simple beach-style accomodation elsewhere in the South Pacific or Asia.

Even more interestingly, you can stay in traditional Kanak tribal huts in some remote villages in Grande Terre. These can offer a full-on immersion to Kanak culture if you speak French!
The biggest selection is offered in villages near Hienghéne.

Hotels in New Caledonia

by hunwagner

As you might expect, New Caledonia offers some excellent hotel and resort accomodation - at a price. The truly extravagant places to burn your money on are in Noumea and the Isle of Pines, with hotels elsewhere being more modest affairs.

If you have the big bucks, you won't go wrong with these places - fortunately budget travellers can go elsewhere though!

Lilo Camping: Spectacular home away from home on Lifou

by callmeval

Lilo camping is truly an amazing homestay. If you're willing to give up some of the not-so-necessary creature comforts of a hotel, I would definitely recommend a homestay, and I would encourage you to stay at Lilo Camping. There are three (very large and oh-so-fragrant) bungalows there that can hold about two to three couples each. The outdoor amenities block has hot water (yay!!!) and is kept clean by Annie (the wife of the proprietor, Pascal). The property sits right at the edge of the Baie du Santal in Xepenehe, and you can hear the waves gulping in the caveronous rocks as you lay in your bungalow. The food (prepared by Annie) is delectable (and, man, do I miss it), and the family is incredibly friendly and helpful.

Not only is the property beautiful, but there are a tennis court and cars for rent. The view out the door of my bungalow was breath-taking. Annie and Pascal also live next door to a small vanilla plantation. The whole island is amazing, and this is really a wonderful place to come back to at the end of the day. While it wasn't completed when I visited, there is also a structure they are readying for eating while looking out on the ocean--wow! There is also camping available. They're also really close to a diving business. And there are sea turtles!!!

Lilo Camping: Spectacular home away from home on Lifou

by callmeval

Lilo camping is truly an amazing homestay. If you're willing to give up some of the not-so-necessary creature comforts of a hotel, I would definitely recommend a homestay, and I would encourage you to stay at Lilo Camping. There are three (very large and oh-so-fragrant) bungalows there that can hold about two to three couples each. The outdoor amenities block has hot water (yay!!!) and is kept clean by Annie (the wife of the proprietor, Pascal). The property sits right at the edge of the Baie du Santal in Xepenehe, and you can hear the waves gulping in the caveronous rocks as you lay in your bungalow. The food (prepared by Annie) is delectable (and, man, do I miss it), and the family is incredibly friendly and helpful.

Not only is the property beautiful, but there is a tennis court and cars for rent. The view out the door of my bungalow was breath-taking. Annie and Pascal also live next door to a small vanilla plantation. The whole island is amazing, and this is really a wonderful place to come back to at the end of the day. While it wasn't completed when I visited, there is also a structure they are readying for eating while looking out on the ocean--wow! There is also camping available. They're also really close to a diving business. And there are sea turtles!!!

hostel: l'auberge de jeunesse

by Maximilian21

The cheapest accomodation appart from camping is in the auberge de jeunesse in Noumea. Its well priced in comparison to the other accomodation found on the island. It also has a good feel to it is nicely situated in town. Its is also clean which is always a bonus.
Its around $25 aus for a single

Gîte Si-Hmed: Camping and Bungalows on Maré Island

by minstrel74

I stayed at Gîte Si-Hmed mostly out of necessity. The idea was to fly to Maré and find a small village where I might be able to set up my tent and spend time with the local people and away from the tourists. When I arrived at the airport, I hitched a ride with a carload of local men who unfortunately turned out to be heavily inebriated and whose behavior was somewhere between extremely hospitable and frighteningly aggressive. When things started to get a little bit dodgy, I decided to bail out at Gîte Si-Hmed.

As far as services and amenities go, I was not too impressed with this lodge. It had everything that one could ask for, but the ambience seemed fairly sterile. They have a handful of bungalows in which one can stay, but they also permit camping, which is what I did. I wanted to set up my tent on the beach across the road, but the wind was far too blustery, so I camped on the lawn in front of the lodge instead, which was a bit more protected.

Price of accomodation:

Camping--CFP 1200 (app. US$14)
Bungalows with private bath--CFP 4000/4500/5000 for single/double/triple

I'd say the most appealing characteristic of this lodge is its location on a picturesque white sand beach, the two being separated only by the narrow coastal road. The location is also fairly convenient--only a few km from Tadine but far enough away that one can enjoy some peace and quiet and meet some really friendly local people.

Ibis Hotel: Moderate priced accommodation Noumea

by tryhard

The Ibis Hotel is located on Baie des Citrons literally a stones throw across from the beach. Although nothing special and looking a little tired the hotel has a couple of pints in its favour.
1. Location. Grab your togs, towel and stuff and walk all of 30 seconds across the road and onto the beach. or take a 1 minute walk up the road to catch a bus into the city centre. Or maybe take a long leisurely stroll around the point to Anse Vata where you can sit in a beach front cafe and sip a latte as you gaze out to sea.
2. For a comfortable no frills room and the convenient location (and a small but adequate swimming pool) the price is actually not to painful.
3. Right next door is a groovy little eatery called the la Fiesta run by a spanish family who know how to cook! The food is really good, the prices reasonable and you can sit down with a good beer (which they sell) in their open fronted cafe and watch the world go by.

Club Nautique: camping near Hienghène

by minstrel74

This was a fairly decent place to stay near Heinghène. You camp right near the beach with a nice view of the rock formations out in the bay.

There are showers and toilets for campers here, but at the time of my visit the showers had no knobs. Hopefully you can survive a night without a shower.

Costs in 1997 were 250 CFP for one tent and 150 CFP for each person. Please note that by now New Caledonia may be using a different currency, so these prices should only be used as a rough estimate, that is if you can find a way to convert them in the first place!

The reason one stays here is probably just convenience, but the view of the "Brooding Hen" rock formation makes for some nice photos.

beach at the Baie des Tortues: free camping near Bourail

by minstrel74

It is possible to camp for free at the beach adjacent to La Roche Percée. There was only one other couple around the evening I stayed here. Transportation to this area is rather informal. I had to hitchike to get here as there did not appear to be any form of public transport; at least, I didn't have the patience when it was so close that hitching was the quickest way (which, by the way, was very easy).

As one might expect, sea turtles can be spotted in the Baie des Tortues. I saw a couple during my stay, bobbing up and down in the gentle waves.

The beach was a fine place to pitch a tent. The area was very quiet and the sand soft enough to sleep on the floor of your tent without extra padding.

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Questions and Answers

Q: Volleyball? "Can anyone tell me if there are any resorts in New Caledonia with volleyball facilities? Thanks!"

A: "Hello, Most resorts in New Caledonia offer volley ball facilities. You could look this resort up and they may then link you up to other resorts. Tieti Tera Beach..."

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New Caledonia Hotels

27 Hotels

Other Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Camping

Tribal homestays

Hotels in New Caledonia

Lilo Camping: Spectacular home away from home on Lifou

Lilo Camping: Spectacular home away from home on Lifou

hostel: l'auberge de jeunesse

Gîte Si-Hmed: Camping and Bungalows on Maré Island

Ibis Hotel: Moderate priced accommodation Noumea

Club Nautique: camping near Hienghène

beach at the Baie des Tortues: free camping near Bourail

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Questions and Answers