Vanuatu vs New Caledonia… I’ve travelled to both places a few times, and people often ask me which destination I recommend. These beautiful South Pacific archipelagos are neighbours, yet very different. And honestly, it’s impossible to give you a straight answer about which one is best. But this Vanuatu vs New Caledonia comparison will help you choose based on what matters most to you.
I based this article on our visits to:
- Espiritu Santo, Efate and Tanna in Vanuatu
- The main island, the Isle of Pines, Lifou, Maré and Ouvea in New Caledonia
Vanuatu vs New Caledonia: Should you visit both?
It is possible to visit both archipelagos on the same trip thanks to direct flights (check Aircalin or AirVanuatu) But I don’t recommend trying to fit too much in.
Spending a few days in Noumea and Port Vila, the two capitals, won’t give you the best the destinations have to offer. Many cruises do a one-day stop in each port, but I see that more as an appetiser that makes you want to come back.
If your time is limited, don’t waste it on international travel and only seeing capitals. Pick one destination and explore it properly. Then plan a second trip for the other.
Languages in Vanuatu and New Caledonia
Winner: Vanuatu (unless you speak French)
Language is a quick way to understand the difference between Vanuatu and New Caledonia, and for some travellers it’s a real deal-breaker.
They speak French in New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a French territory, so French is the official language. English is taught at school, but like most French people, many locals are not very confident speaking it. In hotels and tourist services, you’ll find English speakers, and you can absolutely travel around New Caledonia without speaking French. My friends did and had a great time. But if you don’t enjoy trying to communicate in a foreign language, you’ll have fewer interactions with locals.
They speak English and/or French in Vanuatu
Vanuatu became independent in 1980 after a century of joint Anglo-French rule. This history gave Vanuatu three official languages: English, French and Bislama (a pidgin English). Plus many local languages.
Some locals went to French schools, others to English schools, and not everyone went to school at all. So you may meet people who don’t speak your language, especially in remote areas. But on the main tourist islands, most people speak at least English or French.
Budget
Winner: New Caledonia
Both archipelagos are expensive, with prices often comparable to Australia. But for budget travellers, I found New Caledonia slightly cheaper:
- Accommodation: we could easily share traditional houses for four or six people, which brought the cost down.
- Transport: hiring a car was easy and affordable, so we weren’t dependent on private drivers or tours.
- Food: similar cost in both destinations.
Accommodations
Winner: New Caledonia
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know I don’t need much to be happy accommodation-wise. I’m even happy sleeping outside when it’s safe. But for this comparison, I put myself in the shoes of travellers with higher expectations. Note that we travelled to Vanuatu in 2018, so things may have changed since.
New Caledonia stands out for two reasons:
- A broader range of accommodation options
- Hot showers
Hot showers aren’t essential for me, especially in warm countries, but they matter for many travellers. In New Caledonia we had hot showers everywhere except once when we camped on a remote beach. In Vanuatu, a hot shower felt like a luxury, since we didn’t stay in the big resorts.
In New Caledonia we could choose between:
- Resorts
- Hotels
- Cosy or budget bungalows
- Traditional houses
- Camping
Vanuatu’s accommodation range was often narrower, usually between expensive resorts and basic bungalows that weren’t actually cheap. We still found beautiful stays in both destinations, but New Caledonia offered more choice.
Food
Winner: New Caledonia
The restaurant scene in New Caledonia was a highlight. It mixes Pacific Island flavours with a French touch, and many places use their locally produced vanilla. French expats also love the bakeries, crêperies and French-style cafés sprinkled around the islands. Just make sure you book in advance.
In Vanuatu, most restaurants served western-style dishes made with local ingredients. They were more flexible though, open for longer hours and not requiring bookings. I almost gave them a draw for that.
What I really loved in Vanuatu were the markets. We tasted fruits we had never heard of and found cheap, delicious local food near the markets or on the roadside. Based on how surprised locals were, I don’t think many tourists buy from them. Their loss!
Transport
Draw!
Transport is one of the biggest differences between Vanuatu and New Caledonia, and it really depends on whether you like hiring a car or prefer using drivers.
New Caledonia
Roads are much better, and renting a car on the main island is easy. It was great to explore at our own pace. Public transport in Noumea is very good, but not as reliable elsewhere. Hiring a driver is possible but expensive.
Vanuatu
We rented a car in Port Vila and on Santo, but the Santo car was limited to the main road, which felt restrictive. In Port Vila, public transport was cheap and easy. On Tanna, travelling from one side of the island to the other is difficult, and hiring a private driver is the only option for visitors. We met many travellers frustrated by the cost and lack of flexibility.
Activities
I compared the activities we’ve done in both destinations and it was hard to choose. You can read more in my guides:
Snorkelling and diving
Winner: Vanuatu
New Caledonia has the world’s largest lagoon and one of the best snorkelling spots I’ve ever experienced: Jinek on Lifou. We also loved snorkelling and scuba diving in New Caledonia:
- Mare had a bay full of turtles,
- The Isle of Pines had a natural aquarium with visibility that cannot be beaten for snorkelling, and it’s where we saw our first (and only) pygmy seahorse while scuba diving,
- You can book snorkelling trips from Poindimie and Hienghene, and we particularly love the architecture (canyons, arches) when scuba diving in Hienghene and the giant gorgonians when scuba diving in Poindimie,
- Ouvea gives easy access to a pass with rays and sharks, and
- You’ll find beautiful corals in front of Noumea’s main beach (Duck Island) or a little bit further (Signal Island, Amedee Island…).
So why does Vanuatu win?
Because I find the underwater experiences more diverse.
The coral reefs around Vanuatu are beautiful and full of life. I’ve never seen so many clownfish in one trip. I loved the blue holes on Tanna and the reef near Port Olry on Santo.
But the real difference is that diving in Vanuatu is not only about coral reefs. The military activity during WWII has created special underwater sites. On Santo, you can explore wrecks like Million Dollar Point and the famous SS Coolidge. We even snorkelled over a few plane wrecks we found while canoeing.
Beach
Winner: New Caledonia
Don’t get me wrong: you’ll find exceptional beaches in Vanuatu. On Santo, we spent four nights on the stunning Port Olry beach, wondering why the next-door Champagne Beach got ranked in the World’s most beautiful beaches instead. And we understood when we finally checked out Champagne Beach.
But I have never seen a more stunning beach than the one I saw in Ouvea in New Caledonia. They call it “the closest island to Heaven”. Imagine an atoll with a lagoon and a 25-kilometre beach of pure white sand. The view as you arrive by plane is incredible. And it only gets better when you stand on the small bridge linking the two parts of the atoll, with stunning beaches in front of you and beautiful schools of fish and a few rays swimming just below you. And that’s only one of the beaches on one of the islands of New Caledonia. The Isle of Pines is nearly as beautiful, and the rest of the coast is full of great surprises too.
Hiking
Winner: Vanuatu
We did a few lovely hikes in the forests and along the coasts of New Caledonia. But they cannot compete with the diversity of landscapes we saw in Vanuatu.
Tanna Volcano was one of the best places I explored in my life. You don’t often get the chance to stand in an ash plain next to an active volcano. Millennium Cave hike on Santo was also amazing in a completely different way. We did a lot in just a few hours with a mix of jungle trekking, caving, canyoning and swimming.
Culture
Draw!
Both destinations have preserved strong Melanesian cultures, and locals in both places were generous in sharing stories and traditions.
In Vanuatu, the Europeans were sent away when the country became independent. And although they share the same base, each island in the archipelago seems to have its own identity and traditions.
In the south of the main island of New Caledonia, there is a mixed population of Kanaks (with Melanesian origins) and Caldoches (those who’ve been in New Caledonia for many generations but whose ancestors were Europeans). When you travel to the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia, the lands are still owned by the Kanak tribes and their culture has been protected.
The ni-Van culture and the Kanak culture are different, but they also have many similarities. And that’s not surprising considering how close geographically they are to each other. Both managed to preserve kastom traditions, dialects and strong links and knowledge of the surrounding nature. What I love the most is how much they were willing to share with visitors. We had great exchanges with locals in both countries, talking about many different topics.
Welcoming
Winner: Vanuatu
We felt very welcome at both destinations. As long as you show respect and interest, Ni-Vans and Kanaks make excellent hosts. Locals invited us into their homes, to church and even to celebrations afterwards.
I nearly gave them a draw again. But I remembered a few places in New Caledonia where the service wasn’t very enthusiastic. Not rude, just not very engaged. In Vanuatu, we always felt people went the extra mile and often offered help without expecting anything in return.
Vanuatu vs New Caledonia: the winner is…
A draw! I loved both trips and they offer very different experiences. The best destination for you depends on your travel priorities.
Make a list of what matters most (language, transport, accommodation, activities…) and see which one wins. And if it’s a draw again, give them coefficients, or maybe it’s time to visit both.
Summary of the scores Vanuatu vs New Caledonia
- Language: Vanuatu (they speak English, French and Bislama)
- Budget: New Caledonia (both destinations are expensive, but budget options in New Caledonia are easier to find)
- Accommodations: New Caledonia (the accommodation offer is broader in New Caledonia)
- Food: New Caledonia (easier to find local cuisine, and we loved the French touch)
- Transport: Draw (New Caledonia wins if you can drive, Vanuatu is better if you need a driver)
- Diving/Snorkelling: Vanuatu (both destinations have amazing coral reefs, but Vanuatu also has incredible wrecks)
- Beach: New Caledonia (both destinations have amazing beaches, but those in New Caledonia were our favourite)
- Hiking: Vanuatu (mostly for the unique views of Tanna volcano and the Millennium Cave adventure)
- Culture: Draw (both destinations have preserved Melanesian culture, and locals are happy to share about it)
- Welcoming: Vanuatu (ni-Van people often went the extra step to enhance visitor experience)
Vanuatu vs New Caledonia: which destination wins according to you? Share your feedback in the comments below!
No matter which destination you end up choosing, I personally wouldn’t travel to Vanuatu or New Caledonia without travel insurance. If something serious happens, medical evacuation costs can add up quickly, especially when staying on an island. Based on my experience, some providers like Covermore make it easy to include adventurous activities in your policy. This is not financial advice – always check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand what’s covered.
Where are Vanuatu and New Caledonia?
Vanuatu and New Caledonia are archipelagos in the South Pacific, not far from the East Coast of Australia and the North of New Zealand.
