New Caledonia is a fascinating melting pot of the thousand-year-old Kanak culture blended with European style and elegance.  It relishes its French way of life on a little known and tiny island in the South Pacific.

Natural swimming pool down the beach from the resort and campground.

As the first-ever contingent of gay and lesbian travel agents and writers descended on Nouvelle Caledonie, love was in the air.

They loved the weather, the friendly locals, the gourmet moments, the waterfront hotel, the lagoon, the Homo-Sphere gang, the Kanak dancers, everything down to the Isle of Pines adventure set up by New Caledonia Tourism operators.

Noon Thursday:  Depart Sydney International Airport for 2.5 hour flight to Tartongua International Airport.

Arrive 3pm:  Noumea Discovery Transport takes 45 min. to get to our Best Western Premier Hotel on Anse Vata Bay.  Nico, our bilingual tour guide, making the mountain to sea scenic drive more interesting, and setting the stage for our active weekend visit, including a dance party with Rainbow theme for the Australian delegation.  But first…a welcome reception with Kanak performers and French hors d’oeuvres.

9am -9pm Friday

City bus tour of historic and shopping areas, water taxi to Duck Island (a coral outcrop in the turquoise lagoon, visible from the hotel), and afternoon visit to the Tjibaou Culutral Centre, the outstanding museum of Kanak Culutre.   Late night dinner at the bustling restaurant and club district on Lemon Bay, where the entire wait staff appeared to be gay.

7am – 7pm Saturday

A 20-minute flight over the world’s largest and bluest lagoon ends on the Isle of Pines, which is idyllic, indulgent and a picturesque tropical paradise.  Three, four and five-star hotels and fancy yachts house the tourists.  As day-trippers, we were treated to a lobster barbecue on the beach and a swim in a natural pool of coral and colourful fish, eels and urchins.

8pm -3 am  After dinner at Le Roof on the pier, and cocktails at the Homo-Sphere Community Centre, the group made its weary way to the premiere dance club, MV Lounge.  Many caught their second wind, and managed to catch the early morning bus back to the airport.

Wind and Kite Surfing Capital of the South Pacific

Is a short but sweet weekend in Noumea for you?  Leave your laptop at home, speak French in under 3 hours, and play your heart out in New Caledonia. Just ask Rainbow Tourism how to find your joi de vive!