Best time to go to New Caledonia for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 27/05/2024When is the best time to go to New Caledonia?
When to go to New Caledonia? Good news: all year round! Depending on your desires and the experiences you wish to have, a trip to New Caledonia is possible regardless of the season. Indeed, this overseas territory only has about twenty days a year without sunshine. Welcome to paradise!
With its tropical oceanic climate, New Caledonia has two main seasons:
- the hot season: also known as the austral summer, it extends from mid-November to mid-April.
- the dry season: it starts in May and ends in September, sometimes even in October.
If we were to define the best time to visit New Caledonia, we would also take into account the busiest months. If you don't like crowds, it is advisable to avoid local school holidays (in December and January), as well as July and August. During these periods, airfare prices soar and tourists abound.
But if you are a fan of cultural events, then the whale season is the one to favor. In July and August, New Caledonia hosts numerous festivals and shows: music, street arts, theater... you will have plenty of choices to better understand the local culture!
If you are on a tight budget, traveling in the low season can be interesting, either in February or June. Despite a few short rainy episodes, you can fully enjoy the lagoon, as the sea water temperature is pleasant all year round. Moreover, airfare prices are more reasonable, as well as the rates of hotels and guesthouses on site.
Regarding the wind, New Caledonia benefits from constant trade winds throughout the year. Blowing mostly from the Southeast and East, they bring a breeze that refreshes the atmosphere and delights water sports enthusiasts.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Loyalty Islands Province
Lifou island, Maré, Ouvéa...
North Province
Koumac, Koné, Poingam...
South Province
Noumea, île des Pins, Poé...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in New Calendonia for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
New Caledonia in january New Caledonia in february New Caledonia in march New Caledonia in april New Caledonia in may New Caledonia in june New Caledonia in july New Caledonia in august New Caledonia in september New Caledonia in october New Caledonia in november New Caledonia in december
Best time to travel to New Caledonia by cities
Climate and Weather in New Calendonia
Located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, New Caledonia is nicknamed "the island of eternal spring". Like its neighbors Vanuatu and Fiji, the climate in New Caledonia is temperate and very pleasant, allowing visitors to enjoy the pleasures of this tropical island all year round.
Due to its position south of the equator, New Caledonia experiences reversed seasons compared to Europe:
The hot season
It corresponds to the austral summer and lasts from November to April. As the name suggests, it is the hottest season of the year, but also the wettest. Torrential rains can fall throughout this period, but it is rare for them to last all day. It is most often short-lived tropical showers, usually in the late afternoon. Note that it rains more on the east coast of the island (especially in Lifou) than on the west coast.
In terms of temperature, the thermometer often reaches 30°C in Nouméa in February, the hottest month.
During this season, the weather in New Caledonia is also marked by the passage of cyclones. The phenomenon is rare but can occur between February and April. If you are traveling to the island during this period, pay attention to alerts given by the authorities: water sports activities may be discouraged or even prohibited, depending on the severity of the weather event.
The cool season
Much drier than its counterpart, this is the austral winter which extends from May to September. With average temperatures ranging between 20 and 25°C, these are the coolest months. In August, it is not uncommon for the thermometer to drop below 20°C in Nouméa, so remember to bring something to cover yourself, especially for the evenings, if you plan to visit New Caledonia during this period.
Rain is, however, very rare and the humidity in the air is lower than in summer. The feeling is therefore more pleasant!
This is the ideal season for water sports:
- The trade winds are ideal for water sports, with kite surfing and windsurfing in the lead.
- Enthusiasts of diving and snorkeling will have a great time, especially in July and August, during the whale season.
- In case of moderate winds, aerial activities offer breathtaking panoramas: paragliding, microlight, skydiving, or helicopter tours.
The intermediate seasons
Between these two very distinct periods, there are two transitional seasons:
- New Caledonian spring: between September and November, this is one of the most beautiful periods in New Caledonia. Rainfall is at its annual minimum, and temperatures gradually rise. Very pleasant, this in-between period is the perfect time to enjoy all the wonders of the island, especially for hiking.
- New Caledonian autumn: in April and May, this transitional season is also very pleasant. At this time of year, disturbances from the tropics are rare, and temperatures gradually decrease towards the cool season. You will therefore have beautiful sunny days to discover the "Caillou"!
Temperatures and rainfall in New Calendonia
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of New Caledonia and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Noumea, île des Pins, Lifou island, Koné and Koumac, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in New Calendonia
Find out when New Caledonia has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in New Calendonia
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April and May. The number of visitors to New Caledonia is high in: June, July, August, September, October, November and December.
- Very low season in New Calendonia: January, February, March, April and May.
- High season in New Calendonia: June, August and September.
- Peak season in New Calendonia: July, October, November and December.
Figure: Visitor index for New Caledonia month by month
Average price for flights to New Caledonia
A return flight between Sydney and Noumea is generally cheaper if you go in march ($ 441 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 98 more for your airline ticket to Noumea if you go in december.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to New Caledonia
Where to go in New Calendonia?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Noumea | 26°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 22°C | 21°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| île des Pins | 27°C | 27°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C | 26°C |
| Lifou island | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 27°C |
| Koné | 27°C | 28°C | 27°C | 26°C | 24°C | 23°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| Koumac | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 24°C | 26°C | 27°C | 28°C |
| Maré | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 27°C |
| Ouvéa | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 27°C |
| Poé | 28°C | 29°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 27°C |
| Poingam | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 24°C | 26°C | 27°C | 28°C |
| Bourail | 28°C | 29°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 27°C |
| Canala | 28°C | 29°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 27°C |
| Chutes de la Madeleine | 26°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 22°C | 21°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| Farino | 28°C | 29°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 27°C |
| Île Ouen | 26°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 22°C | 21°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| Moindou | 28°C | 29°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 27°C |
| Népoui | 27°C | 28°C | 27°C | 26°C | 24°C | 23°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| Ouégoa | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 24°C | 26°C | 27°C | 28°C |
| Poindimié | 27°C | 28°C | 27°C | 26°C | 24°C | 23°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| Ponérihouen | 27°C | 28°C | 27°C | 26°C | 24°C | 23°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| Pouébo | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 24°C | 26°C | 27°C | 28°C |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
About New Caledonia
What can I do in New Calendonia?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for New Caledonia reliable?
Climate data for New Caledonia has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for New Caledonia allows us to determine the average for each month in Noumea, île des Pins, Lifou island, Koné, Koumac, Maré, Ouvéa, Poé, and 24 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.