Australia is blessed with natural beauty. Lush green lands, massive mountains stunning beaches make this country more striking for every traveller. This we discovered a new  island New Caledonia. It is closer to Australia’s east coast – at barely two hours from Brisbane.

And with its French origins (it’s a self-governing dependency of France), it’s where European chic mixes with Melanesian South Seas sleepiness. Think haute cuisine served under coconut trees swaying in a warm breeze.

While New Caledonia’s capital, Noumea, offers everything from luxury overwater bungalows to family resorts, you can venture into the country’s three other island archipelagos to find a population largely unaffected by the modern world. Here’s what you need to know to plan a visit.

 CLIMATE

New Caledonia has a semitropical climate, with a hot and rainy season (when cyclones can hit) between late December and late March. It also has a cool season – between June and early September. It’s usually sunny and averages about 23C during the day.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

Noumea is home to New Caledonia’s largest range of accommodation options, with everything from simple family bungalows to uber-luxurious suites in fancy hotels. One of the best new options for families is the new family suites at the refurbished Le Meridien Noumea, which come with kitchenettes.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO GET AROUND?

New Caledonia has well-maintained paved roads on its main island of Grande Terre (where Noumea and the international airport are). There are numerous car hire companies at the international airport, including Europcar. You can also travel around Grande Terre by coach or bus.

WHEN’S A GOOD TIME TO VISIT?

You can visit New Caledonia year-round, even in the rainy season showers come in short bursts and are usually followed by sunshine. The best time to avoid crowds is to visit in the shoulder seasons — from April to May, and from September to November. It’s sunny and dry, and the water temperature won’t get below 22C.

IS NEW CALEDONIA EXPENSIVE

Most restaurants and cafes aren’t any more expensive than their counterparts throughout the South Pacific – and many resort rooms come with kitchens. And being a French territory, you can buy a fresh baked baguette, French cheese and wine from any supermarket and make yourself a heck of a picnic. Water-sport prices are reasonable and the local bus is very cheap

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