An Isle of Pines Experience

The beautiful Isle of Pines

Paula Kunac, her husband and their two teenage daughters visited the Isle of Pines on an 8 day Pacific Island cruise that also went to Noumea and Lifou. She shared her impressions of the island with me.
W:  Paula, why did you describe the Isle of Pines as your favourite port of call?
P:   It epitomised the idea of a tropical paradise, a real picture-postcard place. It was like stepping into a travel brochure. I didn't want to leave!
W:  Is the sand really as white as it appears in all the tourist brochures?
P:   Definitely. It's so beautiful there; the white sand against the blue sea and the green of the pine trees and palms.
W:  What did you and the family do while ashore for the day?
P:   We spent most of the time at the beach. From where the tender brings passengers ashore, we walked around the bay, past some buildings, and across a narrow neck of land to another beach. It's not a long walk. We went snorkelling there.
W:  What was the snorkelling like?
P:   It was great. The water was very clear and the bottom was sandy. We saw lots of bright tropical fish and corals. There's a huge rock in the middle of the bay that you're not allowed to climb on as it's sacred, but you can snorkel and swim all around it.
W:  Did you eat some of the local food, the bougna?
P:   Yes, we tried it. Paul thought it was all right, but I wasn't so keen.
W:  With a whole ship-load of passengers going ashore, did the beaches feel crowded?
P:   Not at all. We found a spot where it felt like there was nothing else in the world there. We all had a great day!