MV Lounge is located on the sands of Baie des Citrons and has a waterfront deck to enjoy balmy nights seaside

Nouvelle-Calédonie's coral reef is second only to Australia's in size, but the lagoon it creates is the largest in the world

The Best of France 2.5 Hours From Australia and New Zealand

LGBT travellers looking for a bit of French glamour with a tropical twist would do well to consider a visit to Nouvelle-Calédonie, a self-governing territory of France located about 1200 miles east of Australia, on the same latitude as Queensland's Rockhampton.  Nouvelle-Calédonie's capital, Nouméa, is a bustling little city with an alluring array of scenic bays and inlets to rival its pastry-shop displays in the art of seduction of the island's visitors.  Water-sports enthusiasts and epicureans alike are in their element here, but Nouvelle-Calédonie has much more to offer than beaches and éclairs.

First, the water.  Most of the best hotels are located along Anse Vata, including La Promenade, a Best Western Premier property that offers lovely apartment suites of various sizes ranging from huge to enormous and configurations to accommodate couples, families, or groups of friends having a good time on holiday.  Anse Vata is ideal for splashing in the sea, but windsurfing is another popular activity here, with perfect conditions of smooth water and stiff, offshore breezes.  Little Île Aux Canards (Duck Island), is only 1.1 kilometres offshore and is a popular destination for lunch and relaxation.  Some people swim to the island, but a water taxi is available for the short ride over.

Despite the seductive call to far niente on the beach, one excursion not to be missed is a visit to the remarkable Tjibaou Cultural Centre, situated on a promontory jutting into Magenta Bay.  This noteworthy structure, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, was the only grand projet outside mainland France authorised by former French President François Mitterrand in his drive to reshape the country's cultural landscape.  As are the other grands projets, such as the IM Pei's pyramide du Louvre and Dominique Perrault's Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the Tjibaou Cultural Centre makes a formidable architectural statement that matches the importance of the function for which it was created. 

Nouméa La Tontouta International Airport

Not just the nights are hot in Nouméa's clubs

Anse Vata

Thank you, Captain Cook, for finding Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Oral pleasures abound in Nouvelle-Calédonie

Kanaks, the native peoples of Nouvelle-Calédonie, are fiercely proud of their traditional culture, to this day very much a part of their daily life.  To their immense credit in doing battle against the internet and Wii, cultural groups such as the dance troupe We Ce Ca are celebrated for their dedication in maintaining the relevance of traditional art forms to the islands' youth.  We Ce Ca sometimes perform at CREIPAC, which stands for Centre de Rencontres et d'Échanges Internationaux du Pacifique and works to promote the French language in the Pacific region from its home in a collection of historical buildings at the water's edge in Nouville.  CREIPAC is a great place to learn French through one of the courses of various levels and duration offered throughout the year; more than two thousand Australians studied here in 2009—students range from high schoolers to nonagenarians, with many non-native teachers of the French language coming to brush up on their skills.

One of Nouvelle-Calédonie's biggest attractions is Île des Pins.  Isle of Pines is aptly named; its beautifully verdant vegetation draws visitors who seek even more peace and quiet than found in Nouméa.  Isle of Pines is an easy daytrip from the main island of Grande Terre when taking an early morning flight from Nouméa's Magenta Airport, which lasts all of twenty minutes; a ferry ride lasts only two hours.

Nouvelle-Calédonie's proximity to Australia and New Zealand often works against it in its appeal since destinations close to home are sometimes taken for granted by jaded gay travellers who equate distance to quality.  Poor jaded gay travellers.  Others have no such reservations in making reservations for trips to a place where bakers are as delicious as the croissants.  New Caledonia's LGBT association, Homosphère, is a helpful organisation, a wealth of information for locals and visitors alike—and one that has unwavering government support. 

Believe it or not, Nouvelle-Calédonie, per capita, may just be one of the gayest destinations in the world; the French culture exalting sensual pleasures as among Life's greatest thrives in the tropical climate.  Though all clubs and bars in open-minded Nouméa are considered gay-welcoming, several nightspots such as Bodega Bar and MV Lounge are among the most frequented. 

Air Calédonie Internationale, cleverly shortened to Air Calin (câlin means something akin to 'affectionate cuddle' in French), is the territory's airline based in Nouméa.  Air Calin fly to Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, Seoul, Osaka, and Tokyo as well as several destinations on various islands of the South Pacific.  With so many beautiful places to promote, New Caledonia Tourism South has the happy job of letting people know all there is to see and do on Grande Terre, Île des Pins, and beyond.  Once the fun of an itinerary has been decided, gay-welcoming Nouméa Discovery Tours can make your plans a reality. 

Gold Coast-based tour company Rainbow Tourism specialises in lesbian and gay themed visits to Nouvelle-Calédonie.  In conjunction with Nouméa Discovery Tours, Rainbow Tourism has organised an LGBT program for the upcoming Melanesian Arts Festival just a few weeks away, one of many festivals celebrating life in this French paradise.

But why is French territory in the South Pacific named after Scotland?  Seems that Captain Cook found the rugged coastline of Grande Terre reminiscent of Scotland's own shores, so he named the island New Caledonia. 

Tjibaou Cultural Centre is one of the most significant buildings in the South Pacific

Smiles are easy to find in Nouvelle-Calédonie