About 1,500 km east of Australia lies a real paradise for sailing holidays, an archipelago called New Caledonia. With 1,600 km length it has the second largest barrier reef in the world. The locals own the second-most boats worldwide relative to the country. So the infrastructure for yacht charter in New Caledonia is truly great.
General Info
Lying in the Southwest Pacific region of Melanesia, the islands that make up New Caledonia are a special collectivity of France. It has yet to decide whether it wants to govern itself or continue being a part of France. It was given its name by the famous sailor James Cook, who upon seeing the rugged coastline said it reminded him of the Scottish region of Caledonia and named it thus. French yacht charter sailors affectionately call the archipelago “Caillou” which could be translated as “the pebble”.
The country consists of the main island called Grande Terre and several other smaller islands like the Belep Archipelago to the North, the Loyalty Islands to the East, the Ile des Pins to the South and the Chesterfield Islands to the West. The main centre for boat rental in New Caledonia and other tourism remains Grande Terre which has a mountainous relief with the highest peak exceeding 1,600m.
Visiting yacht charterers with a passion for nature will have an amazing experience when coming to New Caledonia.
Because the islands are part of an old sunken continent (Zeelandia) that was once joined with the mega-continent Gondwana, there are numerous primitive species that can only be found here. Also, the islands are home to the second largest coral reef in the world, so it’s a paradise for snorkeling and diving.
When you go there on a skippered or bareboat yacht charter, don’t miss out on seeing the Kagu bird. It is a national emblem just like the Cook Pine, the Niaouli tree and the only mammal to be found here originally, the large vegetarian bat called Roussette or flying fox. All in all, a truly unique flora and fauna.
The yacht charter season begins in April and ends around November, when the weather is cool and dry and the prevailing southeastern trade winds are stronger. From December until the beginning of March in New Caledonia it is hurricane season with abundant rainfall, especially at higher altitudes.
Law & Order
The largest city and the centre for yacht charter in New Caledonia is Noumea where there is a wide range of marinas with many facilities. In fact, during the peak tourist season you might have trouble to find moorings, so it might be wise to book in advance.
Upon entry in the country you are to fly the yellow flag and remain on board until clearance is completed. The port of entry for Noumea is Port Moselle on the eastern side of the island. All visitors including French citizens require a passport with at least 6 months validity. Generally speaking, everyone coming on a motor or sailing yacht charter requires a visa but there are some exceptions: People coming from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Malta, The Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden , Switzerland and the UK do not need a visa for stays up to 3 months; people from Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and the USA don’t need a visa for up to one month. All others need to apply for a visa at a French Consulate or Embassy.
New Caledonia has strict rules when it comes to firearms, pets and all products of animal or plant origin that are foreign to the country. Crews on a yacht hire have even had problems with items such as bikes that had soil stains. All fresh food items will be confiscated by the health officer so it is best to carry as little as possible upon arrival.
The maximum period of stay for any visiting yacht before it is eligible for import duty is six months to one year, if the charter vessel has not made a visit to New Caledonia in the previous 3 years.