Agriculture and viticulture New Caledonia

No sign will show you the way to this lovingly planted Garden of Eden. It is here that Felix and Janine welcome travelers every day to the heart of their vanilla plantation. More than 1,000 plants have been planted on the trunks of local species and are kept at man's height to be able to fertilize the beautiful ephemeral orchid and pick the pods without too much difficulty. It is Felix Bolé who has revived the activity on the island. Fascinating.

The visit of this small traditional distillery is free, but it is better to call in advance to make sure it will be open. If you arrive around 9.30 am on the first Sunday of the month, you can attend with Didier, a distillation of niaouli leaves and see the essence coming out of the still. On the spot, the shop offers you essential oils. Stock up on niaouli oil, vanilla essence, by-products and local crafts. It is possible to eat at the table d'hôtes, upon reservation

Vanilla is an institution in New Caledonia, and the locals are always keen to produce the tastiest vanilla possible. And La Vanille Joyeuse is no exception to this rule. The friendly Lues offers to discover his vanilla plantation for a 1.5 hour visit, and you can feel the passion in the heart and eyes of this charming man as he explains how vanilla is grown according to processes full of ancient tradition. He also sells pods and artisanal products. A good time to spend and to enjoy.

Located in the heart of the Tenane tribe in the north of the island, this famous and beautiful vanilla plantation organizes tours upon request and sells beans and local handicrafts in its store. The host, Pa Kaloi Cawidrone, has been passionate about vanilla and its exploitation for decades, and his vanilla plantation is ideally located in a region and forest known for its many tales and legends. An excellent visit.

Weniko shows his vanilla plantations. To extend the stroll, he leads a path that passes in front of a viewpoint before arriving at a water hole (2 hours and a half round trip). Every morning, during the flowering period (from September to December), the white flowers are fertilized one by one, by hand. A few months later, the pods will appear and it will then be necessary to wait for their maturity to pick them carefully, to scald them then to make them dry in the sun.