On Ouvéa Island you'll often have the beach all to yourselves

Top 7 things to do on Ouvéa Island

Ouvéa Island has everything you could want from a tropical island getaway: powder-fine white sands, an azure UNESCO-listed lagoon, swaying palm trees, and hardly any other tourists. Make the most of your time there by following Chris Shorrock’s top seven things to do on Ouvéa Island.

1. Spot sea turtles at Ouvéa’s Trou aux Tortues

In Ouvéa’s north, the Trou aux Tortues – or turtle hole in English – is a great place to spot sea turtles. A circular pool punched out of the surrounding forest, the turtle hole is connected to the sea by an underground tunnel. Turtles come here to feed; with patience, you’re almost guaranteed to see them. There’s a handy vantage point a short walk from the parking area, and if you bring reef shoes, you can climb down to the water for a snorkel.

Ouvéa's Trou aux Tortues is a great place to spot sea turtles

2. Go snorkelling at Plage de Tiberia

Also in the north, snorkelling at Plage de Tiberia is one of the best things to do on Ouvéa Island. Above the surface, it’s a picture-perfect sliver of white sand backed by tropical forest. And below, kaleidoscopic corals teeming with shimmering reef fish. It’s relatively sheltered and has a healthy reef, a great place to cool off snorkelling between spells on the beach.

Some of the best snorkelling on Ouvéa is at Plage de Tiberia, in the island's north

3. Eat at Snack O’Kafika

This simple beachfront eatery overlooking Ouvéa’s lagoon is one of the top places to eat on the island. It’s nothing fancy, a few tables and chairs under an awning between the road and the sea. But the locally caught seafood is divine, and the views across the lagoon at sunset are unbeatable.

Snack O'Kafika is right on Ouvéa's lagoon and serves delicious seafood

4. Visit Ouvéa’s shark nursery

Starting from the village of St Joseph in the island’s north, Antoine Omei runs tours to Ouvéa’s shark nursery. Sharks – lemon, white-tip and black-tip reef sharks – lay their eggs in the inlet at the northern end of the beach here. During our visit, large lemon sharks cruised in the shallows, and a constant procession of smaller baby sharks drifted past in the inlet.

Ouvéa's resident lemon sharks cruise in the shallows as we watch from a safe distance

5. Explore Ouvéa’s UNESCO-listed lagoon

Ouvéa’s lagoon is a UNESCO World Heritage site. With deserted tropical islets, gliding manta rays, green turtles, and more, the best way to experience this watery wonderland is to get out on one of Ouvéa’s boat tours. These usually include a stop on an island, a picnic lunch and plenty of time for snorkelling. Unfortunately, our boat tour was cancelled due to the weather. Hopefully, you have more luck!

Getting out on the water is a great way to experience Ouvéa's UNESCO-listed lagoon

6. Ogle Ouvéa’s azure waters at Pont de Mouli

Towards Ouvéa’s southern tip, Pont de Mouli is a road bridge linking Mouli Island to the rest of Ouvéa. It’s a great spot to soak up views of the island’s infinite shades of blue, white sands, and tropical-green forests. You might even spot a shark or turtle gliding effortlessly below.

Ouvéa's lagoon is every shade of turquoise, seen here from the Pont de Mouli

7. Laze on Fayaoué Beach

Stretching along Ouvéa’s western shoreline, Fayaoué Beach is the longest in New Caledonia. It is a picture of tropical bliss, a ribbon of pearl-white sand flanked by tropical forest and turquoise lagoon waters. And at 22 kilometres end-to-end, there’s always an empty stretch on which to lay down your towel.

Live your desert island dreams on Ouvéa's deserted Fayaoué Beach

Accommodation options on Ouvéa Island are limited. We stayed at Beauvoisin, a tribal homestay in the north of the island.

We have lots more practical suggestions for travel in Oceania HERE.

Visited: October 2022