Isle of Pines, New Caledonia 

Join the Isle of Pines family
0:36
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

1 of 1
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.

Resort style island du jour

Want to find Nemo? He's on holiday on the Isle of Pines, where white-sand beaches are the joy of relaxed holiday makers and a lagoon encircles the island like a jewelled aquamarine necklace. On arrival it's easy to see why Isle of Pines is commonly referred to as the Jewel of the Pacific. Its beauty is simply breathtaking. Formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, the island is now surrounded by a colourful reef, teeming with life.

Why not book a P&O Cruises Shore Tour^ and head to Oro Bay, which is like a gigantic natural aquarium. The Shore Tour begins with a scenic drive and a guided walk through a forest trail. Then plunge in for your own snorkelling time and eyeball angelfish, giant clams and little 'Nemos' (clownfish). It's rush hours on the Isle of Pines, marine style!

Above the water you may opt for our Island Discovery Shore Tour^, which is ideal if you want to try a little of everything. Shop for sandalwood and sarongs at market stalls, explore Vao village, churches and some of the natural grottoes and landmarks of this lovely island.

Isle of Pines is located just 50 kilometres south-east of Grand Terre, New Caledonia’s main island. The most difficult aspect of your visit to Isle of Pines will be saying goodbye to its sunny skies, friendly faces, warm waters and of course those beautiful beaches.

^ Charges apply to Shore Tours.

Average Temperatures in Isle Of Pines (°C)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
26°C 26°C 25°C 24°C 22°C 21°C 20°C 20°C 21°C 22°C 23°C °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...

    More Details
  • 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...

    More Details
  • Lagoon and Islet boating adventure IP1-020

    Explore the beautiful lagoon of the Isle of Pines on this unforgettable scenic boat tour. Starting at the majestic Kanumera bay you will cruise...

    More Details


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.

Find Cruises and Book

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.

Find a cruise and book

Find out about our cruise types
Cruise from
Going to
When do you want to go?
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
Which Ship?

Isle of Pines Port Guide

For all you need to know about Isle of Pines download our handy P&O Cruises Port Guide

 

here

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.