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Soak up the sunshine on tropical Ile des Pins
Take a trip to St. Kilda in Melbourne
Visit the largest lagoon in the world in New Caledonia
Spot koalas in the trees around Sydney
Take a harbour tour in sunny Sydney
Explore the picture-perfect Ile des Pins
See the colourful beach huts on Brighton Beach in Melbourne
Watch the sun sink into the lagoon in New Caledonia
From: UK
To: Australia | New Caledonia
£5,095
See more ideas for: Australia | New Caledonia
Set off on an island hopping holiday through the paradise islands of New Caledonia and take in the best of Australia’s cities. Starting in Melbourne, you’ll have three days to explore. Think delicious local wines on the vibrant Southbank and a trip down the Great Ocean Road.
Next, you’ll fly to New Caledonia to visit three of the Loyalty Islands – Ouvea, Lifou and Mare. Here, your days will be filled with white sand beaches, turquoise waters and pink sunsets. During the trip, visit the spectacular Oro Bay in Ile des Pins, where the eponymous trees create a stunning natural skyline. At the end of the journey, you’ll head back to Sydney to take in the best of the harbour city on your way home.
This itinerary can be tailored to suit your requirements; please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.
Depart the UK from your chosen airport.
On arrival in Melbourne, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel where you will check in for three nights. The rest of the day is yours to relax at your hotel or head out and explore. Your hotel is located right on the Southbank, so make the most of this lovely location. Take a stroll along the river, watch the street entertainers or have a drink at one of the many restaurants and bars.
On your first full day in Melbourne, we’ve added a day tour to visit the Great Ocean Road. Ride along the spectacular coastline witnessing some fantastic sites such as the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and Gibson Steps. During the trip, you’ll also get a chance to see koalas in the wild.
The next day is yours to do as you wish. Stay in the city and take a wander down the laneways, stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens or head down to St. Kilda, with its funky bars, quirky restaurants and stunning beach you'll be spoilt for choice.
Tip: Head down Acland Street and check out the selection of patisseries. Yum!
This morning, you’ll take a transfer back to the airport for your flight to New Caledonia. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel in the capital of Noumea, where you’ll spend one night before island hopping tomorrow!
Today you will be taken to the airport for your short flight over to the island of Ouvea. On arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel.
You can spend the rest of today at your leisure on one of the most beautiful atolls in the Pacific. On the island's west coast, you'll find pristine white sands and a spectacular blue lagoon. In the east, the island is sheltered by limestone cliffs and high coral rocks. Known for its coconut oil production, this island is home to a blend of Wallis Islanders and Polynesian people, making it unique compared to the other islands in New Caledonia.
Spend the day exploring the island! Why not go and explore the Cong-Ouloup Caves? Full of local legend, you'll have amazing views of the cliffs too. Alternatively, visit the 25km long Mouli Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with clear aquamarine waters and white sand as far as the eye can see!
After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lifou (via Noumea). You’ll be greeted on arrival and assisted in picking up your hire car before driving to your hotel.
Lifou is the largest, most dynamic and most populous of the Loyalty Islands. The interior of this atoll is a vast plain invaded by forest. The north and south are characterised by cliffs with many caves, while the east and west are home to magnificent beaches.
Today, you can take a look around Lifou, visit the vanilla plantation at Mucaweng, take a tour of Santal Bay, admire the Jokin cliffs or swim and dive in the small coves. If you want to chill, relax by the pool at the hotel and make the most of your stunning surroundings!
Today, you’ll drop off your rental car at Lifou Airport and take a flight to Mare, the last of the Loyalty Islands. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel, where you’ll check in for two nights.
Known as ‘Nengone’ in the local language, Mare is the wildest, highest and most mysterious of the three Loyalty Islands. Overflowing with untamed beauty, this island is composed of rocky cliffs, secret creeks and long white sandy beaches.
Mare is a quiet and unspoilt island renowned for its tranquillity, hospitality and fruit and vegetables, especially its avocados, which have a unique festival dedicated to them every year! You can enjoy these avocados for breakfast at your hotel, tucked into a hidden creek between a tropical forest and a lovely little beach.
After breakfast, you’ll be collected and taken to the airport for your flight to Ile des Pins (via Noumea). On arrival, you’ll be greeted and taken to your hotel. One of the beautiful islands in the world, Ile des Pins is home to pine trees that resemble the masts of sailing ships, set against a clear turquoise lagoon.
At the end of the 19th century, the island became a prison for 3,000 political prisoners deported from France, and you can visit the remains of the convict prison in the islands wooded interior.
On your first day in Ile des Pins, you’ll set off on a full-day boat excursion to spot dolphins and turtles in the water. In the morning, you’ll visit Ilot Brosse, a tiny island covered in the trademark pine trees of this region, where you can snorkel and swim in the perfect water. Next, you’ll head to another small island, Moro, for lunch. Here, you’ll enjoy grilled lobster, fresh coconut and crunchy papaya salad in the sunshine – delicious!
The rest of your time is free to breathe in the beauty of the island, walk hand in hand down the beach and toast cocktails at sunset. Don’t miss the spectacular landscape of Oro Bay, the famous natural swimming pool in New Caledonia. Oro Bay truly is paradise – swim, snorkel, relax and soak in the incredible turquoise and blue colours of Ile des Pins.
After breakfast, you’ll be taken back to the airport for your flight to Noumea, where you’ll spend your final day in New Caledonia. Why not enjoy a delicious seafood dinner by the harbour, the perfect end to your time on these paradise islands?
This morning, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Australia. On arrival in Sydney, you’ll be met at the airport and take a shared transfer into the city. Why not head straight to Circular Quay to get your first views of Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, brightly lit in the warm Australian evening?
You now have two days to enjoy Sydney. To help you on your way, we’ve included an iVenture Sydney card, which gives you to access many of the main sights in the city. As well as entry to the Opera House, Wildlife Sydney and the Aquarium, the pass also gives you access to some brilliant tours. Fancy learning about Bondi’s beautiful beaches and coastal living or taking a walking tour of the historic Rocks neighbourhood? Both covered!
Using the iVenture Sydney Card, you can also go jet boating on the harbour, take the hop-on-hop-off bus out to the Blue Mountains, join a bike tour through Manly, or take advantage of 2-hour board and wetsuit hire and try your hand at surfing.
Today, you can take one last stroll along Circular Quay before being taken by shared transfer back to the airport for your flight home.
Melbourne has a reputation for its changeable weather, often having 'four seasons in a day'. Generally speaking, the hottest time of year is between November and February, with an average temperature around 25 degrees. Winter (June-Sept) can get cool, with temperatures dropping to around 14 degrees.
New Caledonia has a temperate climate with two main seasons; cold and hot. The cold season runs from June to August, and hot seasons stretches from mid-November to mid-April. In the cold season, temperatures are approximately 24 degrees during the day and 15 degrees at night. If you’re planning to hike, this the perfect time to visit. If you’re hoping to soak up the sunshine, the temperatures in hot season hover between 26 degrees and 30 degrees. The cyclone season runs from January and March. Overall, the best time to visit is between September and December.
The summer season in Sydney and the surrounding areas runs from November to March, with hot sunny weather on a daily basis. From May to October, winter can bring cold and rainy. Christmas and New Year are peak times for travel to Sydney, meaning prices are high and availability less. If you’re planning to travel over the festive season, it’s vital to book ahead.
This itinerary is purely a suggestion and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact us with your dates and requests, and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.
