Kitesurf in New Caledonia : all you need to know
New Caledonia is a Pacific territory that offers great opportunities for kitesurfing stays.
The trade winds are the type of wind that blows on the island’s spots, lightly but surely between November and March, which is the best season.
The most popular spots are those around Nouméa.
High Season
Required level
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Other activities
Why kitesurfing in New Caledonia is a good choice ?
New Caledonia is a small, paradisiacal archipelago located off the East coast of Australia, in the Pacific Ocean.
The journey is very long from Europe (24 hours and more), so plan at least two good weeks on site, and a good budget: life on site is expensive and some spots are only accessible by taxi-boat.
On the other hand, going to kitesurf in New Caledonia means riding on idyllic spots, which are rarely found elsewhere.
Best period and spots to kite in New Caledonia
While it’s not yet very developed for kitesurfing, the archipelago has numerous spots for all levels, from flat lagoons to reef waves, most of which are located on the main island, Grande Terre, or at most a few kilometers off its coast (boat access). Among the most well-known are: Ilot Maître, Ilot Goeland, Ouano, and others still to be discovered in the list of spots!
New Caledonia is not swept by strong winds, but by typical trade winds of tropical regions, reinforced by thermal winds, particularly from November to March, during the wet season.
Best season (for kiting): November to March.
Discover the kite spots in New Caledonia
Ilot Maître
Meridien
Ilot Goeland
Poe
Ouano
Ilot Tenia
What we love most
Drawbacks
- Tropical Paradise
- Not too crowded
- Beautiful waves
- Very long journey
- Very expensive
- Wind stats not always reliable
Our best advices to travelers
How to get there ?
Travel time: From 24 hours with Air France, including a layover. It can take up to 40 hours depending on the airline.
Direct flight: no
Time difference: UTC+11
Airlines: Etihad Airways – Singapore Airlines – Qantas Airways – Air France – KLM
Main airports: Noumea International Airport (NOU)
Flight price: 1400 / 2000€
Formalities
- Mandatory vaccines: There are no mandatory vaccines for American and British nationals traveling to New Caledonia.
- Visa requirements: American and British nationals can stay in New Caledonia for up to 90 days without a visa. For longer stays, a visa is required. The cost of a visa for New Caledonia varies depending on the type and length of stay.
- Electrical adapter: American and British nationals will need a Type F electrical adapter for their devices in New Caledonia.
- Official language: The official languages of New Caledonia are French and several indigenous languages.
- Currency: The currency used in New Caledonia is the CFP franc.
Additional tips
For those who want to escape any trace of civilization, there are also some spots on the neighboring island of Lifou, accessible by ferry or small plane from Nouméa.
The water taxis to access the different spots depart from Anse Vata, in the South of Grande Terre.
Make sure you have what you need against mosquitoes, however, there is no risk of malaria in New Caledonia.
What are the best non kitesurfing activities ?
New Caledonia offers many gems in terms of beaches, it would seem illusory to want to visit them all.
However, those who love surfing will be served as there are superb waves in New Caledonia.