\n\tThe islands claim a wealth of French restaurants and boulangeries<\/em>, many of which feature regional French-style cuisine with a New Caledonian twist. Supermarket shelves are stacked with cheese, wine and charcuterie aplenty while bakeries are
\n\tNo visit to New Caledonia is complete without a taste of Les Escargots de I\u2019lle<\/em> des Pins, forest-dwelling snails harvested by local farmers. Oooh la la. <\/p>\n\n
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New Caledonia sits mighty pretty within the largest lagoon in the world, 60% of which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crystal blue waters house the second-largest barrier reef and a diverse range of marine wildlife \u2013 a diver\u2019s paradise. In fact, 76% of the country\u2019s plant and wildlife species are only found in New Caledonia.
\n\tSwimmers can say \u201csalut\u201d to colourful parrotfish, mackerel, sea dragons and if you\u2019re lucky, an ancient sea turtle. Ambitious divers can explore the wreckage of La Dieppoise, the last wooden patrol boat of France\u2019s Royal Navy which was deliberately sunk off Amedee Island in 1988.
\n\tYou\u2019ll struggle to keep water sports off the agenda. Windsurfing, kitesurfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, canoeing\u2026 or just floating across the still and pristine waters.<\/p>\n