Marco's Travel Update: The Largest Lagoon in the World <2009.2.7>

Welcome to my first report in 2009.
And to give you a warm welcome, I travelled far to reach for the warm weather during this winter days. But not everywhere in the world is winter … NO - on the other side of this planet the summer is at its peak or smoothly fading out.

So I took the chance and started the diving season with a one week trip to the biggest lagoon on this planet – do you know it … New Caledonia!

Do you have the same first thoughts as me? Ah nice … but where is New Caledonia?
To help you out here you can find a picture – it is in between Australia & New Zealand:

Further here come some facts (out of Wiki):
New Caledonia (French: Nouvelle-Caledonie) is a dependent overseas territory of France lying in the western Pacific Ocean, in the Coral Sea, to the east of Australia and west of Vanuatu. The territory consists of the main island of Grand Terre, the archipelago of the Loyalty Islands (Iles Loyaute), and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls.

New Caledonia offers stunning beaches, mountaintop fondue in chalets, camping, amazing snorkeling and diving, and fabulous French food.

N.C. is not a typical tourist place so don`t expect the typical infrastructure of plenty souvenir shops and never-ending opening hours. This place seems to live for its own and the people enjoy their lives in very pacific-french way of live: short opening hours; closed in afternoons; bus systems stop at 7 p.m. & the live is happening in and around the beaches.

The weather is all-year round stable around 25 – 35 deg. That`s why it is called the endless spring islands. Only the months from Jan – March are a bit wet but the rain never last long.

One of the highlights is to visit one of the islands around. Like the one I visit – Ouvea – which is called the island which is closest to heaven … see yourself:

Here I want to share my great impression of these lovely islands:

ABOVE THE WATER:

Around the hotel - Anse Vata