When to go
The best time to visit New Caledonia is the austral spring, ie
October and November: the temperature is pleasant, the sun shines, the rains are generally not excessive, especially on the southwest side of the main island and on the smaller islands.
On the southwest side of the main island, the rains are acceptable even in April and May; in April, however, there's still some chance of cyclones or tropical storms, but this happens also in November (even though they are statistically rare). So, all in all, the best month is probably October.
From
June to September, in the austral winter, the weather can be nice, but it can sometimes be a bit cool for swimming and sunbathing, especially for those who are sensitive to cold: in these cases, you can opt for an excursion.
What to pack
In
winter (June to August): bring light clothes for the day, a scarf for the breeze, a sweatshirt and possibly a light jacket for the evening; a light raincoat or an umbrella. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes. For Mont Panié, bring hiking boots, a sweatshirt, and a raincoat.
In
summer (December to February): bring tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing, a sun hat, a scarf for the breeze, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a light raincoat or umbrella.
Back to the climate of
New Caledonia