Exploring Bourail and the Sheraton Deva with Kids

The last couple of months have been pretty busy, so we thought we’d spend some time relaxing at the beach. And with a wiggly toddler, the short 3-hour flight to Noumea seemed like a great option.

We picked up our rental car from the airport and drove for about 1.5h to the Sheraton Deva.

We met a lot of locals in Bourail, where we spent part of our holiday but to our surprise, we didn’t see too many tourists! Here are some of our favourite things to do whether you travel with kids or not. If you follow us, you know that we still do a lot of hikes and enjoy activities that we did before becoming a family. It just requires more planning nowadays 🙂

Hikes in the Deva Domaine

The Deva Domain (Domaine de Deva) stretches over 8000 hectares of preserved nature, offering incredible views on the lagoon and the UNESCO World Heritage barrier reef. People come for hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, as well as bird watching… And also maybe because it’s one of the most beautiful spots in New Caledonia.

The entrance to the Deva Domain is free, and you can get a map at the gate or from the Sheraton Deva.

4 hiking trails cover 23km. We chose to hike Boé Arérédi as it offers some of the best views in the area. It’s a 4.5km, +317m elevation loop that takes about 1.5/2hrs.

It can get really hot so make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen and water. We used an umbrella to protect Elias from the sun too. Pretty handy option when you hike with a baby or a toddler in a carrier.

The path starts with majestic banyan trees and ends with stunning views of the lagoon, the shark pass (Faille aux requins), as well as the stunning barrier reef.

We also wanted to hike Oua Koue on our last day in Bourail, but the Deva Domain was closed due to high-risk fire conditions. Not that surprising as it was scorching and dry on that day. We heard great things about that hike, so give it a go if you get the chance.

There are 2 easy alternative walks that you can look into: the Giant Trail and Lagoon Origins Trail. More info on the Deva Domaine (Domaine de Deva) site.

The Sheraton Deva Golf and Spa Resort

Planted in the middle of the Deva Domain, you’ll find the Sheraton Deva Golf & Spa Resort, the first 5-star resort in New Caledonia. It’s located right on the world’s largest UNESCO world heritage listed lagoon.

They offer several accommodation options. We had a one-bedroom suite, which gave us enough space as a family of 3. Karim and I had plenty of space to relax when Elias was asleep in the bedroom.

Here are a few things we loved about the Sheraton Deva:

• I have to start with the kitchen!! We love to cook but that’s not why it’s on this list. A kitchen makes everything easier when you’re travelling with a toddler, and with kids in general. It also helped us prepare food in advance for day outings.
  It’s also is a definite plus in New Caledonia as food can get pretty expensive.
• The suite was very spacious and had gorgeous views.
• Rafika, rarely spends time in the swimming pool… but that changed with Elias. It’s now her go-to place to relax while Elias is having fun.
• Don’t get us started on the breakfast buffet. It was one of the best we ever had… Lots to choose from, and the croissants, chocolate croissants, madeleines were terrific. And the caramel au beurre salé… Simply delicious! Elias discovered new fruits and flavours. He was the happiest bub.
• After most of the day out visiting, it was such a pleasure to relax on the beach before heading home.
• We rarely use hotel products but “Le Grand Bain” shampoo, conditioners were fabulous.
• We had access to paddleboards, snorkelling gear, kayaks… lots of activities to choose from.
• There’s a complimentary Kids Club for kids from 1 to 12 year-olds. They couldn’t take Elias as it’s only for walkers, but we did a tour and had a chat with the Kids Club Manager, Alida. They truly made us want to come back when our little one starts walking!

There’s a major downside when staying at the Sheraton Deva though: the comfort makes it hard to leave your suite to visit Bourail!! We usually barely spend time in our room and focus on exploring the area, but this time we had to force ourselves out haha.

Check out our Instagram story highlight for more about our time in New Caledonia: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17907445396408487/

Take a scenic flight over New Caledonia’s lagoon

You can’t visit Bourail and not book a scenic flight by seaplane. It’s simply incredible. The seaplane flies over the largest lagoon & the second-largest barrier reef in the world!

I flew with Air Paradise. They are a lovely bunch and will take great care of you. You can fly solo (with an instructor, of course) or tandem (2 planes with 1 person in each). It was one of my favourite things in Bourail. Young kids can’t fly but can stay with one of the parents or go to the Sheraton Kids Club while you enjoy some delightful time in the air.

Check out some photos and videos here:

or here 🙂

The superb Poe Beach

The 13km stretch of white sand of Poe beach is stunning. You can walk along the beach on a partly shady trail. Great with kids and perfect for anyone looking to cool down. Elias loved napping in the carrier to the sound of the waves and wind, while daddy and mummy enjoyed a lovely, relaxing walk.

Other activities in the Deva Domain

• Glass bottom boat tour (Bateau a fond de verre)

This is an excellent option if you want to observe turtles and sea life from the comfort of a boat. You can also hop on a snorkelling tour. We thought it would be an excellent idea with Elias, but our trip got cancelled because of the strong winds. I guess we’ll have to come back 🙂

• You can go swimming, snorkelling or paddleboarding from Poe Beach.

Poe beach is also famous for its kitesurfing conditions and settings. What’s better than kitesurfing on crystal clear waters? (well… if you can kite surf!)

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