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Ilot Kouare is one of the better anchorages in New Caledonia's great southern lagoon. You can anchor in nice deep, good holding sand, 6 to 8 meters deep, on either side of the island and reef to get protection from most wind directions.
There tends to be a swell coming over the barrier reef at high tide that makes the western side of Kouare a bit rolly polly but then you are way out there in the wilderness part of the lagoon and the water is very clear and the corals live and bushy, so a little gentle rocking isn't a big trade-off.
The reef extends a long way NW and SE of Ilot Kouare but there is a shallow sandy pass that cuts across the northern reef making it a lot shorter to go from one side to the other with the dinghy or even a small outboard. At high tide there is two meters depth in the shallowest part of the pass. Which means you can go back and forth until the tide starts getting really low - then you need to kick up the outboard into shallow running position or go lie on the beach and snooze until the tide comes in again.
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New Caledonia is the closest South Pacific Island to Australia and New Zealand. It is a French Territory and although the official language is French the culture is a blend of Melanesian, European, Polynesian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian, and more. There is one large mountainous island called Grande Terre and 6 smaller islands - the three Loyalty Islands, Belep and the Isle of Pines.The islands are remarkably unpopulated and there are vast areas of wilderness. There are hundreds of kilometers of walking treks, camp grounds, more than 42 parks and reserves, and crystal clear rivers with sparkling waterfalls. Almost one third of the population is located in the capital city of Noumea. Nickel mining is the primary industry and is the major contributor to the high standard of living in the country. Grande Terre is surrounded by the second largest barrier reef in the world and the protected lagoon created by this barrier reef is the largest in the world. Listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, the lagoon is 24,000 square kilometers and supports a diverse and luxuriant fauna of fish and invertebrates.The vibrant, clear and rich colors are one of the first things that visitors notice when they arrive. Noumea has a complete range of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and activities to welcome visitors.
