Isle of Pines factsheet

 TRAVEL WITH CHRIS AND MIGUEL
P&O ISLE OF PINES
1200 kilometres east of Australia in the archipelago of New Caledonia, Chris and Miguel
discover an island of giants! More commonly known as the Isle of Pines, this stunning pacific
paradise is home to stunning beaches, a spectacular reef and some of the world biggest
wildlife. Thanks to a natural phenomenon called insular gigantism, this island with is lack of
predators has become home to the world’s largest living land crab, lobsters that could feed a
family and the world’s largest gecko. It’s a stop on Chris and Miguel’s P&O cruise that they
will never forget.
P&O CRUISES
P & O developed their cruise company in 1837. Their main focus
was mail delivery until passengers from England began travelling
on board these voyages. It soon became clear that there was
more to life at sea and so leisure cruising was born. The first P &
O cruise departed London bound for the Mediterranean in 1844.
P & O pioneered cruising from Australia in 1932 and sold out it’s first voyage in one day to
1,100 paying guests. Today P&O Cruises is Australia and New Zealand’s leading cruise
line to destinations in the Pacific Islands, Australia, New Zealand and Asia departing from
Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland. Their local fleet includes three ships, which
carry up to 2000 passengers at one time. The P&O Cruise line ships offer various eating
venues throughout each of their fleets.
During your time on any P&O Cruise you will find non-stop entertainment available through
out the duration, From dramatic acrobatic performances to vision laser light shows. There
are themed nights available for the whole family and various game nights in their many bars.
Each ship is not with out it’s beauty salon, where total relaxation can be reached. Fitness
and health are also not to be forgotten while away on the ship, with many offering daily boot
camp and yoga classes.
P & O vessels offer several restaurants on board and with the ships 93 chefs, cooks and
bakers, freshness is first. All the fantastic food offered is prepared from scratch and made,
baked and served daily. P&O hosts Australia’s only celebrity chef restaurant at sea, Salt
Grill by Luke Mangan. Although all meals are covered in your ticket Salt Grill does require a
small cover charge but at a fraction of the price you would pay on land.
http://www.pocruises.com.au
P&O ISLE OF PINES ISLAND TOURS
During your cruise P&O offer many day trips during their port stopovers hosted by an
experienced local guide from each destination. P&O offer two Island tours on the Isle of
Pine, you can take an Island Discovery tour and visit the many landmarks and essential sites
or a tour of the Islands beautiful white sandy beaches and unique traditional fish reserve the
‘Piscine Naturelle’ and participate in snorkeling and feeding the abundance fish in the
turquoise waters or just relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. The shore tours
are not included in your cruise package. For price information go to the website.
http://www.pocruises.com.au/FindACruise/ShoreTours/Pages/ShoreToursFinder.aspx?Show
Results=true&CruiseCode=P402
ISLE OF PINES – NEW CALEDONIA
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of
France who took possession in 1853 with the
aim of reserving the territory as a possible site
for a penal colony. Originally discovered by
James Cook 1774 and named after his father’s
native Scotland, Cook was followed there by
the French navigator Anotoine de Bruni,
chevalier d’Entrecasteaux, in 1793. Located in
the southwest Pacific Ocean, 1210 kilometres east of Australia and 16,136 kilometres of
France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia sub-region, includes the main island of
Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Chesterfield Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of
Pines and a few remote islets. The Kanak people are indigenous to New Caledonia. The
capital of the territory is Nouméa.
Isle of Pines: Is commonly referred to as the Jewel of the Pacific. Formed by volcanic
eruptions millions of years ago, the island is now surrounded by a reef teeming with life and
colour. Discovered by Captain James Cook on his second voyage to New Zealand he gave
the Island it’s name after seeing the tall native pines for which the Island is famous. Aside
from beautiful beaches, the Isle of Pines has a number of limestone caves to explore.
Paradise Cave contains a lake where you can swim, while the Oumagne Caves swallow an
underground stream. Hikers can get a view of the entire island from Pic Nga. The Kuniés,
as the island's inhabitants are known, have kept alive the tradition of sailing pirogues
(outrigger canoes), and you'll see these ancient craft gliding across the calm lagoon.
FAST FACTS:
• POPULATION : 2,000 (2006 estimate)
• LANGUAGE: French and Kanak dialects
• TYPE OF GOVERNMENT : French overseas territory and
local government.
• CURRENCY: French Pacific Franc
• The island is rich with animal life and is home to unusual creatures such as the
Crested Gecko Rhacodactylus ciliatus and the world's largest gecko Rhacodactylus
leachianus.
• The pic Nga is the island's highest point, at 262 metres (860 ft) elevation.
• It takes an average 40 mins to drive around the whole Island.
• Captain Cook named the isle of Pines without ever stepping foot on it’s shore.
• The pine trees are Araucaria trees.
• The most important event in the Kunie calendar, the yam harvest which takes place
at Isle of Pines on March 18th & 19th .