New Caledonia

New Caledonia has managed the Covid 19 endemic very well and is now regarded as “Covid Free”. For up to date information regarding travel to New Caledonia click here.

The small arc of islands that make up New Caledonia are found in the South Pacific to the south of Vanuatu.   After two referendums held in 2018 and 2020 New Caledonia voted to remain as an overseas territory of France though the currency is in XPF (Pacific Francs) rather than Euros. French is still spoken widely throughout the islands with English less commonly so.  The beautiful palm fringed beaches, forested mountains and pleasant climate has made it a popular holiday destination particularly with French speakers. In recent years cruise ships have become very big business.

There is one large island, Grande Terre, and numerous small islands, of which, along with Grand Terre, Lifou with its endemic Large Lifou White-eye and Small Lifou White-eye and Ouvéa with its endemic Ouvéa Parakeet, hold most interest for the birdwatcher. Grand Terre itself has a total of 22 extant endemics. The total bird list for the island group is recorded at 222. Many of these are seabirds and unlikely to be seen without a pelagic.

Without doubt it is the Kagu (Cagou), a monotypic family, that is New Caledonia’s biggest drawcard. Saved from the brink of extinction by Yves Létocart and his team, who established a breeding programme and a feral cat, dog and rat control programme in Parc Nationale de la Rivière Bleue, the “Grey Ghost” is now also found in a few other parks on Grand Terre.

Other birds of note which any bird tour will be looking for include New Caledonian Crow which is one of the few tool using birds, Cloven-feathered Dove, New Caledonian (Goliath) Imperial Pigeon, Horned Parakeet, New Caledonian Parakeet, Red-fronted Parrotfinch, New Caledonia Friarbird, the rare Crow Honeyeater, Green-backed White-eye, New Caledonian Goshawk, New Caledonia Myzomela, Barred Honeyeater, New Caledonia Cuckooshrike, New Caledonia Whistler, New Caledonian Cuckooshrike, New Caledonian Whistler, Yellow-bellied Robin, Striated Starling and New Caledonian Grassbird.

New Caledonia also has some interesting endemic plants including the Amborella plant which is thought to be the world’s oldest flowering plant.

Why not join us on a tour to New Caledonia? Our French speaking guides can make the trip easier for you. We can also offer day trips and shorter tours for specific species.