Tall pines above white-sand bays
The Isle of Pines, a short flight or ferry from Nouméa, is one of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific. Its bays, such as Kuto and Kanumera, are lined with fine white sand and fringed by tall columnar Araucaria pines found nowhere else. At Oro Bay, a natural pool of clear, calm water is sheltered from the sea by rocks, perfect for snorkelling among fish. Traditional outrigger pirogues sail across Upi Bay, and the island's Kunié people still hold customary ownership of the land.