Is New Caledonia good for tourists? What life in Noumea is really like in 2025

As a result of internal political unrest in New Caledonia last year, the government halted overseas visitation and implemented some short term measures such as curfews and closures. Now, in 2025, many tourists are left wondering whether or not it is not safe but also enjoyable to return to the shores of our neighbouring island.

Boris is a friend of mine, a New Caledonian who I met while living in New Zealand, currently residing in Noumea with his wife and their adorable Sharpei and cats. He has answered some of our questions regarding life and tourism in the country since the conflict, and will provide you reassurance that the diverse paradise of New Caledonia is more welcoming than ever.

What happened, from a local perspective, during the conflict in 2024?

During the conflict at the very beginning of course it was very scary because everything happened so fast but at the end we never felt unsafe, it was more a conflict between rioters and the police. There was also lot of closure of businesses and lots of people lost their job. Tourism of course was impacted so tourism jobs were lost too. The southern suburbs of the city were not touched at all and the hotels area were unaffected too. As I said it was more scary than anything else. 

What is New Caledonia like for a local now, in 2025?

Now life is back to normal, it took a few months to get to where we are now but it’s like nothing happened. Very quiet and peaceful. France is helping us to rebuild our economy, tourists are slowly coming back. The cruise industry especially is booming again!

How do you spend your days lately? And do you feel safe?

Maybe one month after the riots, even earlier maybe, we got on with our lives. We never really felt unsafe as I said before but we feel even safer now. At one point we had 1/3 of the total police force sent from France, and lot of them are still here now. What happened before won’t happen again because of the security forces now and the political situation being now way more peaceful. We go to work as normal, go on little holidays, and I take my boat out on the lagoons.

What is tourism like in New Caledonia since the conflict?

In total in 2024, we lost 50% of our tourists numbers compared to 2023. Tourism is really important for us and is the second biggest industry here. The cruise ship industry is back to normal now (or close) but we have a long way to go to rebuild trust in the destination as a whole. People were frightened and unsure but I want to let them know that it's nothing like that now. It is safe, stable, and beautiful – come and visit!

Which locations and activities would you recommend to visitors from Australia?

The southern province of New Caledonia is really beautiful and some where I would recommend. There are so many close, small islands from Noumea (a short taxi boat ride) – Amédée Island for example, or Duck Island. A 3-4 day trip also to Bourail, north of Noumea on the main island, is worth a visit. And of course relaxing on Noumea beach’s and enjoying the shopping.

There is also the Isle of Pines and the Loyalty Islands, short flights from Noumea but very unique and untouched for authentic New Calendonian experiences.

What message do you have for tourists who have holidays booked, or are considering booking a holiday to, New Caledonia?

In all honesty, today it is like nothing happened and it won’t happen again so please feel safe to book a trip to New Caledonia. It’s a beautiful place with very few crowds compared to other destinations. In some places you can have the beach all to yourself! Embrace the French culture, it’s like you’re in France but only a few hours away. We can't wait to welcome you.

Thank you Boris!