Picture yourself spending the night in a traditional hut perched on a rock, with water all around and a basic wooden bridge as your path – and it costs less than a hotel room! New Caledonia is known for being a bit pricey, so I never thought I could afford accommodation over water in New Caledonia. But I was pleasantly surprised. Let me share more about the hidden gem we discovered in Mare and another accommodation over water in Noumea.
Keep in mind, there aren’t many over water accommodations in New Caledonia. Staying on the water is more common (and costly!) in places like French Polynesia, which is farther out in the Pacific Ocean, for example.
Planning a trip to New Caledonia? Check out these travel tips to organise your stay!
New Caledonia: accommodation over water in Mare
Hut on the Rock, Seday Guesthouse
If I had to choose the top place to stay in New Caledonia, this one would immediately come to my mind. I know it might not be what everyone thinks of when they look for accommodations over water. In this hut, the main luxury you’ll enjoy is the view and the sense of being in a unique, private spot.
When you go to New Caledonia, you have options for where to stay. You can go to a hotel or resort, or you can have a more authentic experience by staying at a simpler accommodation in a village where local tribe members live. These “tribe stays” are different from regular hotels. They offer a chance to have a real experience and interact with the local people called Kanaks, if you can speak French. The overwater hut at Seday Guesthouse is the only one like it in the “tribe stay” choices.
The comfort here is quite basic and in keeping with tradition. You’ll find mattresses on the floor and shared bathrooms and toilets just a short walk away. There’s no air conditioning in this hut at Seday Guesthouse, but we had a nice breeze coming in through the window and a slightly open door.
We don’t need much more than cleanliness, so Gite Seday was perfect for us.
Unlike the resorts, there’s no swimming pool, but who needs one when you can cool off in the beautiful lagoon right outside your room? We even saw some cute Nemo-like anemonefish while snorkelling and had a big Napoleon fish come to say hello near the bridge in the morning. Don’t forget to bring your own snorkelling gear since you cannot rent it on the island. You can find more packing tips for your New Caledonia trip in this article.
Jacques, the owner of Gite Seday, was an excellent host. He and his family served us dinner and taught us a lot about Mare and the Kanak culture (in French).
Where: Gite Seday in Roh, north of Mare, one of the Loyalty Islands that you can reach with a domestic flight from Noumea
Price: Less than 50 euros for two people per night and 60 euros for three people (maximum). Click here to book
New Caledonia: accommodation over water in Noumea
DoubleTree by Hilton Noumea Ilot Maitre Resort
In a totally different style, the best place to stay near Noumea with a beach view is the DoubleTree by Hilton Noumea Ilot Maitre Resort*. If you want extra comfort and unbeatable sea views, this is the top choice. It’s one of the most well-known places to stay in New Caledonia.
A quick 20-minute boat ride from Noumea takes you to the little Ilot Maitre, where you’ll find the only hotel on the island. If you choose a bungalow over the water, you’ll enjoy a fantastic view of the lagoon. The hotel has everything you need for a great stay, including a restaurant, a bar, a swimming pool, a massage centre, a water sports centre, and even a chapel if you want to mark a special occasion!
The Ilot Maitre lagoon is famous for its resident turtles, so be on the lookout for them.
I didn’t stay at this hotel personally (we anchored right next to the island on a sailing trip), but my friends had a dreamy last night in New Caledonia at the Double Tree by Hilton* and thought it was reasonably priced compared to other places they visited, like French Polynesia. They shared a couple of photos:
Where: Ilot Maitre, a small island in front of Noumea.
Price: Around 220 euros for two people per night, breakfast included. Click here to book*
Have you stayed in any accommodation over water in New Caledonia? Share your experience in the comments!
If you liked these tips about how to find accommodation over water in New Caledonia, help spread the word and add this to your Pinterest board:
