Koulnoue Village

Set inside a 38-hectare coconut grove on New Caledonia's east coast, Koulnoue Village faces the sea toward the Lindéraliques Cliffs, the Poule Couveuse rock formation and a scatter of islets. The property counts 50 bungalows, each fitted with air conditioning, a safe, a TV, Wi-Fi, a fridge, a kettle tray and a terrace facing the water. Ten traditional cases stand closer to the shore, built in an ecolodge style with fan-cooled interiors, eight single beds apiece and an outdoor block for showers and toilets. It is a low-rise, low-key layout, more village than resort. Guests can swim in the pool or play tennis and badminton on site, and the restaurant serves meals through the week during school holidays and on weekends the rest of the year. From the terraces you can hear the sea before you see it, screened by coconut palms and the coastal bush typical of the east coast. Waterfalls and lookout points lie within reach of the grounds, and the surrounding lagoon opens onto the islets offshore. The address, at Hienghéne in Province Nord, puts the cliffs and the reef within easy range of a short outing. Rooms range from a premium bungalow with sea views to a bungalow with its own pool, alongside the standard sea-view bungalow and the traditional case. Reception can arrange bookings for breakfast alongside the room.