Chasing the Endless Summer in New Caledonia
Have you ever wished to live somewhere where the summer never ends? Most of us have but never managed to find that mythical place. However, it does exist! It’s comprised of many little islands with white, sandy beaches covered in palms, surrounded by waters full of tropical fish! In the South Pacific, east of Australia, there’s a French territory called New Caledonia, the size of about 18,576 km2 that’s blessed with almost perpetual summer with warm temperatures and plenty of sun all year round! But is New Caledonia really perfect weather-wise? The answer is YES and here’s why!
Perfect temperature
In New Caledonia, you’ll never be too cold or too hot! The average temperature in the shade during the year is 24°C, which is perfect both for chilling at the beach and taking part in sports or enjoying a nice dive. In the winter (which lasts from June to September), temperatures fall between 20-22°C, and they usually rise to 27-28°C in the peak of summer (December, January and February). This means you won’t even need a vest to stay warm in New Caledonia unless you decide to explore the mountain region.
Yes, mountains are known to get pretty chilly! Despite its comfy semi-tropical climate, the central mountain range is known to see temperatures as low as 0°C, but only during the night. However, the winter period is just perfect for hiking and all sorts of exploration trips, so if you’re planning to wander away from the beach, take something warmer with you to stay toasty once the sun goes down.
Still, no matter which activity you choose, the sun in New Caledonia is pretty strong all year round, so make sure to stay hydrated and bring plenty of sunscreen with you!
Sunshine with a chance of rain
New Caledonia almost sets a record when it comes to sunny days! During 345 days of the year, you can see the sun shining confidently in the sky, which means it fails to come out only 20 days a year! So, the odds that you’ll see the sun in New Caledonia are very much in your favor. However, the main island does get plenty of rain. Statistically speaking, it sees about 1,000 mm/year with the North Coast getting twice as much. Still, rainfalls are short and the sun replaces them very quickly. But if you really want to avoid any rain, visit New Caledonia from April to May or September to November, which is when the dry season rules the islands.
Swimmers, rejoice!
If the beach is what you’re living for, then don’t worry! Swimming and diving are available almost every day in New Caledonia and the water is always pleasant. Even in the winter months, the water temperature is somewhere between 21-22°C! That’s why travel agencies offer New Caledonia as their top destination all year round! Feel free to consult with professionals from New Caledonia Travel Connection and you’ll find plenty of great accommodation deals and get to enjoy many outdoor activities from January all the way to December! Take a scuba diving trip or strike a hole-in-one in the middle of winter and you’ll really have something to talk about at your next party!
Wind in your hair
As stated before, you’ll never feel too cold or too hot in New Caledonia. One of the reasons behind their perfect weather is the constant cooling wind from the East and South-East. This means no sweat, no need for fans and no need for air conditioning!
Aside from it being cooling and relaxing, southern hemisphere winds also create the perfect conditions for all sorts of sports! Around 250 days of the year get windy enough for surface water sports like surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, paragliding, hang gliding and others, which makes New Caledonia one huge extreme-sports playground!
Tricky cyclones
No place is completely perfect (even though New Caledonia gets pretty close). These Pacific islands are known to get hit by a tropical storm every once in a while. These weather events are very rare and quite unpredictable, even though they mostly occur between February and April. When a cyclone hits, all water activities are prohibited, but there are plenty of fun indoor activities you can try!
So, basically, you can call off your search for perpetual summer because you’ve found it in New Caledonia! So grab your swimsuit and be ready for beach every day of the year!
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