ABOUT NEW CALEDONIA:

New Caledonia was named by explorer, Captain James Cook in 1774. The mountainous islands reminded him of his homeland in the Scottish highlands - Caledonia being the Roman name for Scotland. In 1853, Napoleon III made moves to annex the territory to set up a prison and in 1860 it became an official French colony.

The main island Grande Terre is cigar shaped and is home to 60% of New Caledonia's population. The outlying islands are the Isle of Pines, Mare, Lifou, Ouvea and Isles Bilep. Noumea, the capital, is based near the southern tip of Grande Terre and blends refined comfort with a choice of high-energy activities. In this small centre there are more than 130 restaurants and plenty of nightlife.

Further north, Hienghene beckons with high mountains that plunge dramatically down to the ocean. Lagoons, valleys, beautiful waterfalls, a cultural centre and Melanesian villages are excellent tourist attractions South of Grande Terre lies the Isle of Pines. Many early explorers were impressed with the pine-studded beaches that remain unspoilt today. An 18th century French prison site on the island provides a strong contrast to the island's otherwise post-card perfection. Then there is the island of Ouvea. Here you'll find the ultimate beach at Fayaoue - 25 km of powder-fine sand and nothing else in sight except coconut trees.

New Caledonia is a land of contrast, grandeur and excitement. In Noumea, nightclubs, casinos, restaurants and shops filled with chic designer labels all boast of its French flair and sophistication.

Outside the capital is a different story. The indigenous people of New Caledonia, the Kanaka, live in sometimes third-world conditions. Traditional houses, dress, cultural practises, customary law, attitudes to land and social organisation are very much a way of life. These they hold on to with pride despite a century and a half of colonial repression. New Caledonia has a simmering political undercurrent fanned by the nationalist aspirations of the Kanaka. The discovery of large mineral resources such as nickel, copper and cobalt in the late 1800s took a devastating toll on traditional landowners. Lucrative mining operations began which brought huge profits for the new settlers, and along with sandalwood and sugarcane traders, managed to dispossess many Kanaka of their lands. This coupled with forced cultural assimilation by the French ignited numerous bloody conflicts over the decades.

After much political unrest an accord was signed in 1998 between pro and anti-independence groups and the French government. This called for a gradual devolution of authority to the territory over a 15 - 20 year period.

Despite it's chequered past, New Caledonia remains one of the top tourist spots in the world. Its combination of French and Melanesian influences tempered with pleasant semi-tropical weather year round makes it an ideal place to visit. The warm season runs from September to March and the cooler season between June and September.