Fodor's Expert Review Ile Aux Canards

You won't find any ducks on Ile Aux Canards (Duck Island), which is just a few hundred meters off the mainland, but you will encounter fantastic coral and a good underwater snorkeling trail. A yellow taxi boat transports day-trippers from Anse Vata Beach (1,200 CFP round-trip) to the island. There's not much to do apart from snorkel or sit on a deck chair under an umbrella and take it easy (there's a fee for chairs and beach umbrellas). A café serves burgers and other lunch items, but it's best to pack your own picnic lunch—buy a few items from a local grocery store. To get there take a local bus from Noumea to the Anse Vata beach and look for the water taxi. Pack reef shoes as the sand is full of broken coral pieces, and avoid going to the island when a cruise ship is in port, or you'll be invaded by day-tripping passengers.