The Isle of Pines

The Isle of Pines, off the southern tip of New Caledonia, is one of the most beautiful islands in the entire Pacific, long nicknamed the closest island to paradise. Named by Captain Cook for its towering, distinctive endemic columnar pines that spike its skyline, it is a vision of tropical perfection: dazzling white-sand beaches, warm turquoise bays and a jade-green natural pool, the Piscine Naturelle, a sheltered lagoon of astonishing clarity fed by the sea and perfect for snorkelling. Home to the indigenous Kanak people, the island blends heavenly beaches with sailing on traditional outrigger pirogues, caves, and a serene, unspoilt beauty.

What you actually see

• The Piscine Naturelle - the jade-green natural swimming pool.
• The white-sand beaches - the dazzling beaches and turquoise bays.
• The endemic pines - the towering columnar pines of the skyline.
• The outrigger pirogues - the traditional Kanak sailing canoes.

When to go

April to November, the cooler, drier season, for the best weather and calmest seas, ideal for snorkelling the Piscine Naturelle and sailing; the wet season is hotter with a cyclone risk. The island is reached by a short flight or a ferry from Nouméa, and rewards a relaxed few days over a rushed day trip.

Honest expectations

The Isle of Pines is remote and low-key, with limited, often pricey accommodation and few facilities, so it is a splurge island escape rather than a budget or bustling one; reaching it depends on flights or a sometimes rough ferry. For the reward of one of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific, though, its heavenly white beaches, jade natural pool and iconic pines, blended with living Kanak culture, the Isle of Pines is a genuine paradise.

Nearby

The lagoon, the capital Nouméa and the Loyalty Islands are reached by air or sea.