Much closer to Australia, but over 16,000 kilometres from Paris, New Caledonia became a 'special collectivity' of France in 1999. The Isle of Pines, named for the species of Norfolk pine found in New Caledonia, lies to the south-east of the long main island, Grand Terre.

Here too is the mix of cultures encountered throughout the Pacific....

.....and always the aquamarine of the sea and the crystal white beaches.

This is bougna, a fish or chicken stew wrapped elaboratedly in palm or banana leaves and baked in an earth oven for several hours.

The sea is rich with shellfish and seafood and the history of the local Kanak people is fishing, so it goes withot saying that any local feast will feature lobsters like these, cooked to perfection - but this time on a modern barbecue.

Lifou is one of the Loyalty Islands, also part of New Caledonia, and again, to the east of the main island.

It is popular with visitors who want to relax in breathtakingly beautiful surroundings without the hype of too many tourists.

...and...

But of course no visit to New Caledonia would be complete without a visit to the capital, Noumea. Here you'll find hotels and restaurants, shops and even a 'petit train' (aptly nicknamed Tchou Tchou) on which to travel around the city.

But while the town is interesting, sooner or later most people gravitate to the beaches. There are watersports, the fruit and seafood markets closer to town, or else simply the option of sunbathing or swimming. At night there are restaurants and bars where you can relax in the tropical warmth.  

To some Europeans and Australians visiting either Tahiti or New Caledonia the rate of exchange may make the trip seem more expensive than some other destinations, there is a range of accommodation, but even dining need not break the bank. A French-style sandwich filled with French fromage and jambon, and eaten on the beach under tropical palms, becomes a feast.

Redgardless of all the fun things to do and see in Noumea, here is one place you should not miss.

The Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre, opened in 1998 celebrates the indigenous Kanak culture of New Caledonia. It was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and named after Jean-Marie Tjibaou, the leader of the independence movement who was assassinated in 1989, and who had a vision of establishing a cultural centre which blended the linguistic and artistic heritage of the Kanak people.

Ah, France! Your 'empire' spans the globe, and while the essence of Frenchness may be tempered a little by being exposed to the tropics, the joie de vivre remains.

More details about visiting New Caledonia...