New Caledonia holidays are quite unique for its pristine beaches, tropical weather and remote islands. While being a gentle reminder of the simplicity of life, its natural resources let you enjoy wonderful beach holidays. Having read about my cruising experience in Mare Island, Port Vila & Noumea, this will be a great read for all those who are planning for a trip to one among the best Loyalty islands, Lifou.

Lifou Island is the most populous of the Loyalty Islands, in the archipelago of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean which features the world’s largest lagoon and second largest great barrier reef. A former attraction for Protestant & Catholic missionaries, Lifou was a coral atoll which was later uplifted to its current geographic levels.

The population of Lifou is about 10000, mainly Melanesian heritage. Though the native language is Dehru, French/English is spoken everywhere. Even though New Caledonia has the currency CFP franc(XPF), AUD is accepted and change is also returned in AUD at most of the places. With the tropical weather, Cruises operate throughout the year, January & March being the rainy months.

If you are wondering what to do in Lifou from a cruise ship, keep reading.

How to Get to Lifou?

The easiest & most popular option is New Caledonia Cruise from one of the many operators – P&O, Princess or Carnival. Cruises provide you a full day’s time at Lifou and it works out well considering the very fewer accommodation options in this little island.

By Cruise

For travel by sea domestically between the Loyalty islands, high-speed passenger catamarans are available. For prices & schedule check www.betico.nc.

By Air

Air Calédonie operates flights from Noumea to Lifou. For traveling between the Loyalty islands Air Loyauté, is a domestic travel option.

Where to Stay in Lifou if not visiting via Cruise

Considering most of the visitors are from the cruise, Lifou does not have a lot of accommodation options. Below is a couple I could find.

Tamanou beach which has a tribal accommodation is one of the options.

Also check out Oasis De Kiamu

Getting Around in Lifou

There are local buses/vans etc available for transportation. Once you are in the main area right next to the ferry, locals will pretty much help you with any travel options you require. Having said that most popular option seems to be vans in here.

Things to do in Lifou

There is no shortage of things to do in Lifou, New Caledonia. From the cruise, a short ride in the tender boats will take you to the ferry where the traditional music & dance Performance by local people welcomes you to Lifou Island. Characterised by its steep cliffs, deep forests & beautiful cave this island is unique from the rest of the loyalty islands.
Here is a list of Best things to do on Lifou.

Jinek Bay Marine Reserve

Jinek bay is probably the best thing I liked in Lifou. This is a natural marine reserve where you get to snorkel in the pristine water and it holds a diverse range of corals & fishes. Not to be confused with the range of Great Barrier Reef, but you definitely get to see a lot of fishes here.

Once you get off the ferry, the straight road leads to a york and a left turn from there will take you through the tropical roads. A short walk of about 10 mins will lead you to Jinek bay, the protected snorkeling spot. Few things to keep in mind

• Only 100 people are allowed at any time in the reef, So better to purchase the Marine Pass for $15 AUD much ahead so that you will not lose the opportunity. The pass is valid for 3.5 hours
• Reef shoes are not allowed, a safety measure to protect the reef
• You can rent snorkeling gear at the local markets/Jinek bay for as cheap as $5AUD, but you may have the risk of it running out on busy cruise days
• For better protection of our valuable reefs, please use reef safe sunscreen ONLY.
• Noodles are available at the bay for free to use as flotation devices.
• There is no beach here as you get down to the snorkeling area directly from the ground using a ladder, but there is shade where you can sit down and relax

Also, you spot quite a few dead corals, a reminder of how careful we need to be with our natural resources

Visit world famous Vanilla Plantations

I took a half day local tour in the morning which included vanilla plantations, glimpses of the local life, Forest walk and Jokins Cliff for $65 AUD and I enjoyed it. The tickets for it can be purchased from the cruises as well.

Lifou is a great place to visit the world-renowned New Caledonian vanilla farms. One of the colorful tempo travelers(non AC) took us through the local roads and in no time we were in the vanilla plantation. Not to be confused with a gigantic vanilla farm, much smaller set up. The knowledgable guide Ricki went on explaining how the vanilla plantations are grown while giving glimpses to the way of life in Lifou.

We were given vanilla tea for tasting. Excitingly, I found some of the native plants which are quite popular in my home town in a remote island of New Caledonia!

Cliffs of Jokin & Forest Walk

From the parking, we started our walk through the forest walkway. The route to the cliff was bumpy and also had a good number of stairs, may not be a great idea for less mobile visitors.

The forest walk was easy half an hour walk, which leads you up to the cliff where you get the breathtaking views over the ocean.

You can walk down to the bottom of the cliff for snorkeling or scuba diving.

Secret Grotto

From the straight road up to the hill, when taken a turn towards the right it leads to a Secret Grotto, one of the complex cave systems of Lifou. An easy walk from the markets/ferry, this takes you through cobbled stones & rough surfaces to a secret cave where there is refreshing cool water at the bottom. Not recommended for claustrophobic or less mobile! There are tours by the cruise for about AUD $60 ( inclusive of a forest walk) , but you may as well walk up to the cave by yourself. A 15 mins walk approx.

Easo Beach

Easo Beach is next to the ferry and an easy place to spend some good time. Since there is no reef here, not ideal for snorkeling but great for swimming.

The breathtaking turquoise water makes it a great place for photography as well.

The Little Church of Notre Dame de Lourdes

When you get off the ferry, up on your left-hand side is The Little Church of Notre Dame de Lourdes. It is a walk up the hill about 15 mins further up from the Jinek bay on the only tarred road. The sparely furnished church is an epitome of its olden missionary days. The route to the church is not very comfortable for less mobile visitors.

The colorful Local Markets

The colorful markets of Lifou are quite interesting. With all the handmade merchandise & food options, it makes it easy for visitors to have a good, meal after the snorkel. And yes, hair braiding is pretty popular and comes with a very low price tag!

Also, you can get a stamp on your passport from the markets by paying 2 dollars!

Explore the Tropical weather & flora

For those who love the tropical areas, this is a great place. You can enjoy walking around the island while admiring its bright-colored native plants & flowers.

Traditional Huts of Lifou & Life in Lifou

While you are here, take a moment to walk around the island to see the traditional huts where the locals live. Some of the properties have traditional huts, few of which are allowed for the visit by the travelers while others are not. Just as we behave elsewhere, please make sure to ask permission before entering any property

Influenced by Reggae, local music is very charming & entertaining at the same time.

Enjoy a New Caledonian beer

While you are here, why not enjoy a New Caledonian Beer ?

So, when are you planning your holidays to Lifou ?