Recently, one of our New Caledonia travel experts embarked on a trip to this stunning archipelago to explore the island of Lifou. With white sandy beaches and stunning blue oceans, Lifou is the perfect day-trip destination for anyone enjoying a New Caledonia holiday.
Exploring Lifou
I am very grateful to have the best job in the world that allows me to experience our beautiful South Pacific destinations first hand! During my latest trip I took the chance to experience Lifou, one of the stunning Loyalty Islands, as part of my New Caledonia travel itinerary.
Let’s explore Lifou! This is the largest of the Loyalty Islands so I couldn’t wait to see what I discover there. After a quick breakfast in Lemon Bay, Noumea at the quirky and vibrant Babar Café (yup, that’s right, named after Babar the Elephant!), we headed off to the airport for our day trip to Lifou. Waiting at Magenta Airport for our twin-prop flight to come in, there was a cute souvenir shop to wonder through to pass the time. After heading through security we were right on the tarmac and walking out to the plane, with just enough time for a quick photo op next to our plane. We hurried on board and take a seat. There was no allocated seating in the 2 x 2 seat formation, but some of us were (nicely!) asked to move to the front or either side of the cabin as required to balance out the weight of the plane.
Arriving into the brand new Lifou airport was very flash for such a small island destination! We found our tour bus and started making our way to a Vanilla Plantation. New Caledonia is famous for its production of high quality vanilla and it all started on little ol’ Lifou! We arrived at “Maison de la Vanille” or Vanilla House where our guide showed us the vanilla plants and explained the process from plant to packaging (18 months in production). With the hint of sweetness in the air we were keen to try it ourselves, and thankfully there were plenty vanilla goodies available in the gift shop!
Drehu Village
Next up it was time to head out to Drehu Village. We went along windy roads past lush gardens, quiet churches, and colourful houses painted in bright oranges and blues along the way. Drehu Village is set on an amazing white sand beach where the water looks like a patchwork of brilliant sea greens & turquoise. This place really is heaven! The boutique 3-star hotel features 28 bungalows creating a very intimate and tranquil atmosphere. The rooms are clean and comfortable with a traditional island décor featuring high ceilings and dark woods. I could easily stay sipping my tropical juice looking at the beach all day but it’s on to the next stop!
Luengoni Beach
We drove for about half an hour to get to Luengoni Beach. This is the Insta-worthy shot I’ve been waiting for! The brilliant white beach is so powdery it’s more like talcum powder than sand. Our guide told us there’s plenty of turtles in the area and lots of great snorkelling. You could easily spend the whole day here soaking up the sun, maybe with a packed picnic lunch and a good book. Speaking of lunch, our stomachs loudly pronounced it must be getting close to lunchtime so we quickly made our way to our next stop!
Oasis de Kiamu Hotel
This little 2 star property is a hidden gem located directly across the road from Luengoni Beach. There are 27 room types from studios to 2 bedroom apartments, a swimming pool, and a restaurant. The restaurant serves up a delicious 3 course lunch including a mouth-watering dessert of coconuty-mangoey-cakey goodness topped with strawberry ice-cream. Before rolling ourselves back into the car, we took a quick peek across the road at the beach. Again, we were greeted by white powdery sand and turquoise waters. After another quick photo op, we headed back on the road. As we drove past villages, shops, and schools, it was clear that the traditional Kanak huts or ‘cases’ are still prevalent on the island and are very impressive to see up close. The volcanic terrain is a stark contrast to the white sand and lush gardens.
Heading Back to Noumea
After about a 40 minute drive, we arrive at the Jonkin Cliff lookout. At 60 metres above sea level, we were at the perfect vantage point to take in the island’s geology and the myriad of blue-green hues of the ocean. At the foot of the cliffs, we were able to spot some snorkellers making the most of the crystal clear waters.
Then it was time to head back to the airport for a flight back to Noumea. Arriving safe and sound in Noumea we headed off to a local restaurant for dinner. 3 Brasseurs Restaurants (3 Brewers) is a superb bistro situated on the Lemon Bay promenade and is the only craft brewery in Noumea. They serve up delicious international fares from pizzas and burgers, to fresh mussel hot pots and German sausages. Conveniently, they had a menu in English as well as French so it was easy to read through our options, although choosing off such an extensive list was a little more challenging! Enjoying a crisp craft beer was the perfect way to finish off our day and share our photos of Lifou.
Book Your Lifou, New Caledonia Travel Package Today!
To add a relaxing Lifou day trip to your next New Caledonia holiday, get in touch with one of our New Caledonia travel experts or call us on 1800 800 722.