It's ironic that an island named because it was a reminder of Scotland is, for many Kiwis, a close-to-home slice of France.
New Caledonia - a Pacific paradise with all the stunning beaches and scenery you expect in such a place - was given its name by Captain Cook in 1774 because it somehow reminded him of Scotland. But it soon became a French territory. In 1853 France took possession of the island, setting it up as a penal colony, eventually sending 22,000 prisoners to the territory.
Those days are long gone and today New Caledonia - Nouvelle Caledonie to give its French name - is a popular destination for Kiwis wanting an escape to warm and sunny climes during our winters.
While it is well known for its beautiful beaches and outer islands, there is a lot more to New Caledonia – not least the experience of a French-speaking society and culture in our own Pacific backyard without the need to travel all the way to Europe.
With a unique fusion of French and Melanesian cultures, it offers visitors a glimpse into both these worlds with a direct flight from Auckland of a little over two hours.
"France" in two hours seems a dream come true but what is often not realised by travellers is that New Caledonia marries some of the elements of France – luxury, cuisine and adventure – with the climate, the beaches, the wildlife and the Melanesian culture of a tropical island.
It is a great place for connoisseurs of good food, especially in the capital Noumea. Outdoor markets abound and the many top-class restaurants serve cuisine from around the world, the most common being French, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.
New Caledonia has a warm tropical climate (this time of year temperatures are typically a balmy 20 to 23 degrees) and is home to many unique plants and birds caused by the central mountain range on Grand Terre which over centuries has created a variety of ecological niches, landforms and micro-climates.
For holiday-makers there are plenty of activities on offer - swimming, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, kayaking, golf, cultural and botanical tours, swimming with turtles, bird and wildlife watching expeditions, sightseeing by light plane, lagoon tours and shopping and gourmet food discoveries.
- Blue River National Park - where visitors often come face-to-face with the delightful cagou bird, an orange/bluish-grey creature that loves to show off by posing on one leg. The park has vibrant scenery and the 'Drowned Forest' Lake where it is possible to see, below the water, the remains of ancient kauri forests.
- Tjibaou Cultural Centre - a perfect place to learn about the culture of the original inhabitants of New Caledonia, the Kanak people. Displays are designed to celebrate traditional Kanak culture together with art and sculpture from all over the Pacific. The centre was built as a tribute to the pro-independence Kanak leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou.
- Place des Cocotiers - This is located in the very centre of Noumea with markets, food stalls and craft and clothing for sale. It is where locals go to gossip and, for tourists, a great place to watch the world go by - and gain a sense of everyday life in the city.
- Ile aux Canards - A tiny islet just off the mainland, it features a marine reserve excellent for snorkelling in the coral among all types of brightly coloured fish and other sea creatures.
If it's beaches you are looking for, New Caledonia offers them in abundance - from those on the main island of Grand Terre (the French call it Le Caillou or 'the pebble') and outer islands including the Loyalty Islands, Chesterfield Islands, the Belep archipelago and the iconic Isles of Pines.
Recently on a visit to the Isle of Pines, Coast FM announcer Lorna Subritzky said it was hard to disagree with the claim it is the closest island to paradise.
"Bordered by crystalline waters, the Isle of Pines is bathed in warm Pacific sun and dotted with outrigger canoes that are the pride of its inhabitants," she wrote of her stay. "The resort (the luxurious five-star Le Meridien Ile des Pins) is nestled in a centuries-old coconut grove overlooking the pristine white beaches of Oro Bay."
For more information on visiting New Caledonia click here.