Which tour fits your trip
Most tours in New Caledonia fall into a few types. The one that most visitors book is the day cruise from Nouméa to the lighthouse island of Amédée. Others take you onto the water at Upi on the Isle of Pines or at Hienghène on the east coast. A few are only possible with a local guide, such as the terraces of Shabadran on Maré.
Operators publish their own prices and dates, and these change. The figures below are the ones published for 2026 at the time of writing. Where the table shows a dash, ask the operator for the current price before you book.
New Caledonia tour types compared
What each type gives you and what to check.
| Type | Starts from | Price in 2026 | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amédée day cruise | Nouméa | 17,950 XPF adult, plus 250 XPF fuel | Set dates, not daily |
| Upi pirogue | Baie Saint-Joseph, Isle of Pines | – | Agree the return in advance |
| Hienghène boat or kayak | Village marina or Koulnoué | – | Boat and kayak are separate |
| Shabadran hike | Tribu Kurine, Maré | – | Guide only, whole day, cash |
| Introductory diving and snorkeling | Nouméa, toward Amédée | – | Ask for price, age and availability |
| Whale watching | Southern Province | – | June to September, fixed rules |
If you want one outing from Nouméa and little planning, take the Amédée cruise. If you are on the Isle of Pines, the pirogue ride is the traditional way into the Oro area. For the east coast, plan a day by car and book the boat or kayak locally. Read the lagoon page for the rules that apply on the water.
Our picks: tours compared
Three boat trips from Nouméa onto the lagoon, with different inclusions.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Pontoon day with seafood and snorkeling
Bus to the Côte Blanche pier, a taxi boat to the pontoon, seafood and dessert, sun loungers, kayaks, paddle boards and snorkeling gear are included. Entry fees are not covered.
Check availability →Amédée Island by water taxi with a swim
A return water taxi from the ship terminal and a captain are included, and a mask is available from the skipper on request. Lighthouse entry is not included.
Check availability →
Laregnere Island by water taxi with snorkeling
Water taxi, mask, snorkel and pool noodle are included. There is no professional snorkeling guide.
Check availability →New Caledonia tours and day trips
Lagoon cruises, island days, snorkeling and city tours around Nouméa, with live prices and availability.
The tour types in detail
Prices and times are the published ones for 2026 and can change.
Amédée day cruise
The package includes the crossing, a glass-bottom boat, lunch, a welcome drink, beer or wine with the meal, and a show. Adults pay 17,950 XPF plus 250 XPF fuel surcharge, which adds up to 18,200 XPF. Teenagers aged 13 to 17 pay 10,950 XPF, children aged 5 to 12 pay 7,450 XPF and children aged 1 to 4 pay 3,950 XPF, each plus the same fuel surcharge. Snorkeling gear, kayaks and paddle boards are rented extra. The booking calendar showed set dates in October 2026, among them 21 and 25 October.
Amédée guide →Upi pirogue
Traditional outrigger pirogues leave from Baie Saint-Joseph and cross the Baie d'Upi with a local boatman. You can continue toward Oro, or arrange for the pirogue to bring you back. Agree the return before you set off, as no fixed daily schedule is published.
Isle of Pines guide →Hienghène boat and kayak
Boat trips leave from the village marina, opposite Ka Waboana Lodge, or from Koulnoué. Kayak and paddle trips start from the local water sports base. The Poule and the Lindéralique, two black limestone formations, are the goal. Rock sites around Hienghène have cultural significance, so follow your guide.
Things to do →Shabadran on Maré
The terraces of Shabadran can only be visited with a guide from the Tribu Kurine. You register in advance and pay the tour in cash. It takes a whole day, there is little shade, and one section is technically harder. The first rest stop is about 2.5 hours on foot from the start. This is not a day trip from Nouméa, and Maré flights were canceled on 19 October 2026.
Loyalty Islands →Diving and snorkeling
The operator Blue C offers introductory dives and snorkeling trips toward Amédée. No current prices, minimum ages or availability are published, so send a message before you plan around it. Equipment for the Amédée cruise can be rented from the cruise operator.
The lagoon →Isle of Pines as a day trip
It works, with limits. The flight from La Tontouta takes about 40 minutes, for example on a listed 7:50 to 8:30 am flight that does not run every day, but you need to reach the airport first and fit your return flight. The ferry takes about 2 hours 30 minutes in normal operation, and it has been running a reduced schedule. Confirm the return time before you book.
Whale watching: season and rules
The Southern Province sets rules for boats. A good operator follows them.
The season
Humpback whales pass between June and September. For Shabadran on Maré a window from mid-July to mid-September is given for watching. No sighting is guaranteed.
Distance and behavior
Stay at least 100 m from the animals. Do not chase them, do not approach from directly in front or behind, do not block their path and do not approach calves or groups with a calf.
Limits per sighting
No more than 4 boats at a time, all on the same side. Each boat may stay with a group for up to 1 hour in a row and 3 hours in total.
Fines and land viewing
The province lists a fine of 90,000 XPF, doubled in a marine protected area. Cap N'Dua has a viewing area on land if you prefer to watch from the shore.
What to check before you book
The descriptions differ more than the prices do.
Dates, not days
Cruises run on set dates. A date in a list is not a confirmed seat, so book a day with some slack if you have a flight to catch.
How you get to the start
Check whether a transfer from your hotel is included, and whether it costs extra. Do not assume it is free.
Ferry and flight status
Ferry service was reduced in late summer 2026, and flights to Maré were canceled on 19 October. Choose a tour with a clear cancellation policy if your plan depends on a crossing.
What is extra
On the Amédée cruise, gear rental and the fuel surcharge are not in the base price. Ask what else is billed on board.
Customary land
If a tour crosses customary land, your host or guide will explain the local custom. Ask before you take photos of people or places.
Closed attractions
The Île aux Canards islet is closed for renovation, and so is the Musée de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Ignore older tour listings that still offer them.
Plan the rest of your trip
Tours work best when they fit the season and your base.
New Caledonia tours: frequently asked questions
How much is the Amédée day cruise?
For 1 October to 31 December 2026 the operator lists 17,950 XPF for adults plus 250 XPF fuel surcharge. Teenagers from 13 to 17 pay 10,950 XPF, children from 5 to 12 pay 7,450 XPF and children from 1 to 4 pay 3,950 XPF, each plus the surcharge.
What is included in the Amédée cruise?
The crossing of about 45 minutes, a glass-bottom boat ride of about 30 minutes, lunch, a welcome drink, beer or wine with the meal and a show. Snorkeling gear, kayaks and paddle boards can be rented on top.
Are tours available every day?
No. Cruise dates are set, and the calendar showed specific dates in October 2026. Do not assume a daily departure, and book early if your dates are fixed.
Can I join a whale-watching tour in October?
The passage of humpback whales is described as June to September, so October is outside the season. Ask the operator what they offer in your travel month.
Can I visit Shabadran without a guide?
No. Access is only with a guide from the Tribu Kurine, with advance registration, and the tour is paid in cash. It is a whole-day outing with little shade and a harder section.