New Caledonia

New Caledonia. Island of Light. Land of Eternal Spring. An unspoilt island situated between New Zealand and Australia and surrounded by the world’s largest lagoon. Discovered by James Cook in 1774, claimed for France by Tardy de Montravel in 1854, headquarters of the US Army in WWII, and finally achieving autonomy within the French Republic in 1998.

A unique island with a blend of Melanesian and French. The capital city, Noumea, is home to many excellent restaurants for which it justifiably enjoys a superb reputation. The main island and the outer islands can provide everything from luxury resorts through to simple beach huts. If you want a tropical paradise with a unique French touch where either you or the family can relax in sun-soaked splendour, then this is it. This is another French Riviera in the South Pacific, with all that sophistication you would expect in the main centres, complemented by beautiful remote unspoilt deserted beaches. As you would expect, the lagoon is magnificent.

Rich in minerals, the island is on a path to limited independence which is currently resulting in the evolution of a distinct "Caledonian" culture. Both the native Kanuks and French emigres, recent and long-established have welcomed this process which will result in a stable, strong and balanced New Caledonia. We are of the firm belief that this beautiful unspoilt land will become very popular with travellers who are looking for something at the same time high-quality and unspoilt. Recent developments in power-sharing and ecological tourism will hopefully safeguard this blend well into the future. From 5+ star resorts on tropical paradise islands to basic stays in genuine Kanuk villages, this country has everything the traveller could wish for.

And as for the hunting – this is the Rusa Deer capital of the world. Enormous herds roam free across the highlands and the single biggest problem for hunters is getting to that prize stag without disturbing the other dozens between you and your target. This is hunting as it used to be. In the same vein, the turkey population is considerable with both bowhunting and shotgun hunting available. Our hunting is provided by Daniel Marhic, a highly experienced international hunter and veterinarian who is a certified master measurer and keeper of a number of world record Rusa trophies. He says there are quite a number of other records out there which he intends to help clients towards.

The fishing is very high quality too. Georges Balla has been a pioneer of game fishing in New Caledonia and can provide a variety of fishing to suit your tastes. From fly fishing on remote Isle des Pins or the far North, through to lake fishing in the interior, lagoon fishing, or deep sea fishing we can arrange a superb fishing itinerary to complement your stay. Although Georges is a fan of Marlin fishing (the bigger the better says Georges), he believes the best New Caledonia trophy fish (world record potential) to be Sailfish and Dogtooth Tuna. Local fishermen report Dogtooth Tuna up to 100kg and Sailfish up to 120kg as well as Wahoo up to 70kg. If you consider that this fishing will take place in a Crusoe-esque setting, the world's largest lagoon, dotted with romantic palmed desert islands, then it's a fairly enjoyable and unique way to spend a few days.

This is a year-round destination, with temperatures ranging from 20C to 29C, and sunshine all the time.

As usual, we can tailor your entire holiday based on in-depth local knowledge. This is a particularly interesting destination for families where non-hunters/fishermen can take advantage of top class diving, snorkelling, or simply lazing about while the hunters/fishermen are off after their trophies. We can also combine your New Caledonia hunt with our services in Australia, New Zealand or Tonga. Give us a call or drop us an e-mail and we can start planning a superb holiday.