Photo of the Day – Ile des Pins, New Caledonia
Children playing on the totem poles of Bay St. Maurice, Ile des Pins
More tribal village than tourist destination, this tranquil paradise is still home to the indigenous Kuniés. The island is famous for its ancient Melanesian pirogues and the local tribes still sail these wooden watercraft with their triangular sails though the crystalline bays each day. A pirogue excursion to one of the many nearby atolls will make you feel like you’ve been lost at sea. Around the island you’ll find an abundance of picture perfect white-sand coves shaded by the towering pines that lend Île des Pins (Isle of Pines) its name. Take the ferry over from more accessible Noumea and spend the day exploring this little-known South Pacific treasure or, for a real indulgence, spend a few nights at Le Méridien Île des Pins, the island’s only luxury resort.
