Have had a few people asking about New Caledonia, so have posted some photos & this info. Hope it assists your holidays. ps (i'm no expert) & these are off season rates.
NC is one of our closest foreign neighbours. Under 2 hr direct flight from brissy or sydney (no visa req for aussies). It's the 3rd largest island in the south pacific after PNG & NZ. Surprisingly little english is spoken being a french overseas country (POM) which gives it an expensive reputation as its currency, the pacific franc is linked to the $euro. $1aud= 72xpf or 1,000 pacific francs = $14aud. Most importantly it has wind!
International airport (la tontouta) is located 50km from capital Noumea. I hired car for 7 days (new small renault left hand drive manual) for $350, as transport to and from airport can cost $40pp, & it gives you the freedom to have a look around. Stayed at NC Nouvata $900 for 2 including full buffet brekky & free parking. A standard pool view room is fine. It has kitchenette and a/c. You can see & walk to kite pointe magnin from the hotel. If your prepared to fork out the dosh, the Meridian hotel is right at the pump up point. You can kite both sides of the helipad there, high tide is better, but check with the locals as there is a restriction on kiting towards Anse Vata beach. You must be able to kite upwind. You can also water taxi or kite out to an island llot Maitre. Antoine from noumea kite school is a good bloke & contact- I hitched a ride for 1500 francs out to an uninhabited island (only in winter when birds are not nesting) that has a huge knee deep sand area. Would suit the not so experienced there. He picks up in his boat when the wind is up, in front of the meridien at 12. There are other flat water kite spots; poe lagoon, port bois but noumea always seemed to have better wind. To access the surf you need to get to the outer reef in a boat. There are surf camps (nekweta & ouano) that can get you there or you need a local contact. A yacht trip there would be sensational.
Noumea has great walking trails and the topography of the surrounds and islands are stunning. A drive away from the capital shows amazing diversity. The french food is worth the visit alone (get out of the tourist eats though) $80-$100 for 2 for a nice dinner with wine. Like any pacific island it has its tacky tourist ripoffs, but hey that helps alot of natives survive. Bon voyage!