New Caledonia
Must-see birds such as Kagu, Cloven-feathered Dove, Horned Parakeet, and Red-throated Parrotfinch. This short and easy tour aims to record all of the possible endemics and some top Melanesian specialties in just a week of birding! We have included an extended time at Rivière Bleue Reserve to make sure we are able to find Crow Honeyeater, which is becoming harder every year.
Next Dates
13 September - 20 September 2025 (8 days)
Leaders:
Joshua Bergmark
Group Size Limit:
6
Single Room Supplement: $
400 USD
Deposit: $
750 USD
Price: $
4200 USD
Add a Title
Leaders:
Joshua Bergmark
Group Size Limit:
Add a Title
Single Room Supplement: $
TBD
Deposit: $
TBD
Price: $
TBD
Add a Title
Accommodation:
All comfortable hotels.
Walking difficulty:
Mostly easy, but there are a few moderate-grade walks, especially trying to track down Crow Honeyeater.
Tour cost includes:
All accommodation, main meals, drinking water, all internal flights (as stated in itinerary), overland transport, tips to local drivers and guides, travel permits, entrance fees, and guide fees.
Tour cost excludes:
Flights before and after the tour start/end, visa, travel insurance, tips to tour leaders, laundry, drinks, and other items of a personal nature.
In 2025, this tour can be combined with the preceeding Vanuatu: Highland Expedition.
Day 1: Arrivals into Nouméa International Airport (NOU) in New Caledonia, where we will stay for five nights.
Days 2-3-4: Most of our birding time on New Caledonia will be spent in the incredible forest of the Rivière Bleue Reserve. This refuge preserves the best remaining forests in New Caledonia and is home to the incomparable Kagu, which is endemic to New Caledonia. The Kagu is the island’s national bird, but because of deforestation and predation, the species is now seriously endangered, with fewer than 2000 birds surviving. There are lots of exceptional things about this iconic bird: it looks prehistoric and seems to belong to another age, having evolved in isolation over millions of years, it is a little larger than a chicken and it is flightless, being the only member of the family Rhynochetidae.
We will also be searching for two other main targets: the Critically Endangered giant Crow Honeyeater and the beautiful Horned Parakeet. Other specialities we can see here include White-bellied Goshawk, Goliath Imperial Pigeon, New Caledonian Parakeet, New Caledonian Myzomela, Barred Honeyeater, New Caledonian Friarbird, New Caledonian Cuckooshrike, Striated Starling, New Caledonian Whistler, Green-backed White-eye, and Red-throated Parrotfinch. Nights in Nouméa.
Day 5: Today we will take an early flight to Ouvéa Island, and return in the afternoon. This remote island hosts the beautiful Ouvea Parakeet, which should give good views. Seabirds such as Tahiti Petrel and Wedge-tailed Shearwater are also possible. Night in Nouméa.
Day 6: Today we will take a short flight over to the island of Lifou, the largest of the Loyalty Islands. Here we will search for the very common Small Lifou White-eye and the uncommon Large Lifou White-eye. Red-bellied Fruit Dove and Cardinal Myzomela are also possible here. After returning to Nouméa airport we will go to La Foa, where we will stay for two nights.
Day 7: The forests of Farino area will be our destination today. Amongst our targets here are the stunning Cloven-feathered Dove, the shy New Caledonian Thicketbird, and the famous tool-using New Caledonian Crow. Other more widespread species, such as Rufous Whistler, Southern Shrikebill and South Melanesian Cuckooshrike are also possible. Night in La Foa.
Day 8: After some final birding in the Farino area, we will drive back to Nouméa, where the tour ends this afternoon. International departures from Nouméa International Airport (NOU) in the evening.