Mare Island Tadine, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
Frequently Asked Questions
Ships anchor off Tadine, the main village, and tenders land passengers at the small village jetty. There is no alongside berth at Maré.
Two options: Yejele beach, about twenty minutes by shuttle, or the Natural Aquarium some two kilometres south of Tadine. The village itself takes under an hour on foot.
A turquoise pool set into the coral, connected to the ocean by underground fissures. A few metres deep, it holds brightly coloured fish and sometimes turtles; you look down into it from the rock rim as if through glass.
By cruise line shuttle, about twenty minutes from the Tadine jetty. White sand, translucent water, snorkelling over coral heads close to shore, and thatched huts serving cold drinks and grilled food on ship days.
Not much — the coconut shade is limited. A sun umbrella or hat is welcome, and shaded spots are taken early in the day.
Because the whole island is a raised atoll: the limestone walls of the old reef drop straight into the ocean, crowned with forest. The sight is worth being on deck for before you even land.
Pacific francs, in cash and small denominations. Card terminals remain rare on the island; do not count on plastic.
Very few, and it is worth knowing before going ashore: Maré is the wildest of the Loyalty Islands, with no traffic lights and no large stores. The market sells avocados, yams, taro and lagoon fish depending on the season.
Yes, on guided circuits of two to four hours led by guides from the tribes: freshwater pools set in fossil coral, caves hung with banyan roots, lookouts above the ocean. Places are limited, so book early.
It commemorates the loss of the Monique, a coastal trader that vanished with all hands in 1953. The tragedy remains vivid in island memory — worth knowing before you walk past it.
