The third and final port stop on our December 2016 South Pacific Cruise was Lifou, New Caledonia. I’ve shared about our first stop at Efate, Vanuatu (Port Vila) and second at Mystery Island, Vanuatu. Now a little bit of information about Lifou, New Caledonia and some photo’s for today’s Lovin’ Life linkers.
Lifou is a commune of France in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean. It’s the largest of the four Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia and is also the capital. It’s a popular port for cruises! We arrived by tender boat to the island and set off walking.
Phone Pic: Tender Boat from Legend of the Seas cruise ship (Royal Caribbean) to Lifou.
Oh boy was it hot! We were chatting to a couple from the Gold Coast as we walked. We came to this cute little Catholic church. It was built in 1898 (from memory)!
Just beyond the church was where some guides waited to take those interested to some hidden caves. Both the guys decided to take the tour. It required going into tight spaces and darkness and jumping into a black hole to the water. I decided not to do it because of my little claustrophobia problem. It was lots of fun apparently and not expensive – about $10 and you are taken by some local guides.
After the cave walk was over we walked back a little way and then parted ways with the other couple. We went on to Baie de Jinek for some snorkelling. You need to pay $15 to snorkel here – the money contributes towards the preservation of the reef. There are also signs asking you NOT to wear sunscreen, as it is apparently bad for the coral. So … short snorkelling stints are required if you’re not wearing sunscreen as the sun is very strong. It’s worth it though – just look at how gorgeous it is there!
Phone Pic: Baie de Jinek
Phone Pic: Baie de Jinek
When you’re not snorkelling, this is where you hang out. Grab what shade you can find – you will need it! There are locals selling refreshments here too.
Time to move on! Considering the heat, we were very happy (and lucky) to score a ride with a local, in his car, back down to the markets. I bought a few things for the kidults (my adult kids). There were massages and hair braiding on offer but I didn’t partake.
Phone Pic: Markets at Lifou
We spent some time at the markets and along the beach and slowly made our way back to the tender boat and back to the ship.
Phone Pic: Lifou, New Caledonia
Phone Pic: Lifou, New Caledonia
And as I’ve been known to do … here are a couple of video’s to bring the photographs to life! My heart was in my throat watching the little boy backflip into the water!
Ciao for now,
Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:
Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit, Johanna of Lifestyle Fifty, Lyndall of Seize the Day Project,
Kathy of 50 Shades of Age, and Deb of Debbish
It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all six blogs.
20 Comments
Oh, those colours… Fabulous pics from a fabulous place.
Thanks Jo, the colours of the water have to be seen to be believed … and it’s so clear too. So beautiful! 🙂
That water is SO FREAKING CLEAR. Wow.
I know! Stunning isn’t it?! 🙂
What fabulous photos of an exquisite place, Min!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
#lovinlife
Thanks Jodie – sure was beautiful there. 🙂
How beautiful Lifou is Min! Oh that water looks sooooo inviting on this warm summer afternoon 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
There were lots of ‘WOW’s’ from passengers as we arrived at Lifou. The water looks beautiful in the photographs but it is WAY more beautiful to see in life! 🙂
That church is so quaint. I could see myself snorkelling in that turquoise water. It looks divine! 🙂
The water in Vanuatu and here at Lifou blew my mind. Don’t think I’ve ever seen water like it before! 🙂
The first time I went to Lifou we walked up to that church, then went swimming down at Jinek Bay. Last time I just stayed on the beach near the jetty and went swimming (it was a stinking hot day) and to the markets – it really is a slice of paradise! Coochiemudlo Island reminds me a lot of Lifou and vice versa and Coochie is my happy place 🙂
It was a stinking hot day the day we were there too. Nearly killed me! lol I do not cope well with the heat and humidity. I was so grateful to get a lift from Baie de Jinek back to the beach and markets – saved us a long and hot walk. I’ve been to Coochie and come to think of it you’re right – it’s does remind me of Lifou quite a bit … but the water is no where near as incredible. 🙂
Ahhh, That water. Those trees. That desert island feel. So peaceful.
#TeamLovinLife
Beautiful isn’t it?! 🙂
I LOVE that little church. And I did not know that about sunscreen and coral but it makes sense. I spent years working on protecting the reef from agricultural chemicals. Back then (mid 90s) sunscreen wasn’t even on the agenda but how quickly things change. You piqued my curiosity and so I’ve just read one estimate of between 6000 and 14000 tonnes of the stuff entering the ocean each year causing all manner of problems. Mind blowing!
Shauna, yes the sunscreen thing is very interesting isn’t it?! It never entered my mind what the contents of sunscreen could be doing to life in the ocean! Wondering where you worked? I used to work in Sustainable Agriculture (Govt) and it was some of the most interesting work I’ve ever done. Loved it!
Some gorgeous pics Min – the colour of the water is just divine. We went to New Caledonia (but only Noumea) for part of our honeymoon – the other part was in Vanuatu. We stayed at a Club Med and it was fun although the resort was a bit dated and we preferred Vanuatu. That was 21 years ago!
Sounds like you had a fabulous honeymoon Kathy! I didn’t see any resorts at either Vanuatu or Loufou – just locals and where they live etc. I’m sure Noumea and Vanuatu would have changed quite a bit in 21 years! 🙂
Hello, Do you remember if the Catholic church is still in use? Did they have Sunday Mass?
Hi Philomena – I’m really not sure if mass is held at this church. It seemed to me to be more of a chapel/shrine situation. I’ve Googled to see if I could find out for sure but can’t seem to find any information on mass sessions held at this church. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful!