L'Escapade Island Resort Noumeal'Escapade ilot Maitre Nouvelle Caledonie | 逍遥游岛度假酒店（珊瑚棕榈度假酒店）
L'Escapade Island Resort Noumea is the new name for the luxurious Coral Palms Island Resort. It is part of the Groupe La Promenade Hotels Noumea - a consortium of 7 Noumea Hotels in New Caledonia. The resort is on Ilot Maitre, a special marine reserve in the world's largest coral reef lagoon. You arrive at the resort after a comfortable 25 minute boat ride over New Caledonia's protected lagoon aboard the air conditioned 58 passenger navette the "Coral Palms". Ilot Maitre is very close to Noumea - in fact, that's Noumea in the background, behind the Coral Palms.
As the Coral Palms approaches l'Escapade Island Resort the first thing you notice are the overwater bungalows. These are unique to this New Caledonia Resort, and help to minimize the ecological impact of the resort on Ilot Maitre.
The Navette ties up to a pier and an electric golf cart will arrive to carry the baggage to your room. The Reception is right at the end of the long pier. It's open 24 hours a day but the Coral Palms only makes 7 or 8 return trips to Noumea a day. After a welcome drink you will be shown to your room.
l'Escapade Island Resort Overwater BungalowsThe overwater bungalows are accessed by an overwater boardwalk.
Each overwater bungalow is set apart from the others and has a verandah with direct access to the lagoon. In the photo below you'll see a young lady watching the tropical fish in the crystal clear water.
The private entrance opens directly into the lounge.
If you want to see what it's like to stand in the lounge and look all around click and drag on the virtual reality image below. Even better, click on the "full screen" tab to see it full screen (amazing technology it's just like you are there).
Have a look at the bedroom. The window overlooks the fabulous lagoon sunsets. Of course it is air conditioned and there is a direct dial phone, iron, ironing board, etc as you would expect from a 4 star resort.
Right off the bedroom is the bathroom. And this is not your everyday ordinary hotel bathroom. Talk about luxury. As resort and tourism photragraphers my wife and I have seen and photographed a lot of bathrooms in a lot of hotels and resorts. And this is one of the nicest.
And then there's the terrace. This is as close to the lagoon as you can get without being in it - and in fact there is a stairway down into the lagoon in case you want to go out for a little snorkel.
If you DID go for a snorkel and looked back at your bungalow, this is what you'd see.
The Island Bungalows at l'Escapade Island ResortThere are 44 island bungalows scattered through the tropical gardens of Ilot Maitre. These are set up for couples or families (children are not allowed to stay in the overwater bungalows). Some of the island bungalows overlook the lagoon but most of them look out onto the gardens.
The door opens into the bedroom/lounge area and the bungalows have three to 4 beds, Satellite TV, coffee tea making facilities, mini-fridge, ensuite with a separate toilet, direct dial phone, hair dryer, air conditioning plus an overhead fan.
The Ouen Toro RestaurantThe Restaurant has three dining rooms and two bars plus seating around the big swimming pool. There is a big buffet on the weekend that brings Noumea residents out for a day of good food and fun in the sun.
If you wish a romantic setting, the staff with happily set up a table where you can dine in royal luxury in one of the most romantic spots in all of New Caledonia. And the food is amazing - here you will finally learn what the French word Gourmet really means.
If you get really carried away with the romance there is a wedding chapel right at the resort. At the moment, wedding ceremonies in New Caledonia are not legal civil affairs (unless you are a resident of New Caledonia) but many people arrange ceremonies in New Caledonia to reaffirm their wedding vows or to celebrate their wedding after having a quiet civil wedding back home. For more information about New Caledonia weddings click here.
Activities at l'Escapade Island ResortResorts are, after all, about activities and there are plenty of things to do on this special tropical island. You can walk all the way around the island on the white sand beach - for starters. Or simply find a secluded little part of the beach and stretch out for some happy sunning.
Or you can have a drink at the swim up bar at the swimming pool.
Or go for a swim in the pool. Click on the full screen tab below to see the virtual reality sphere image full screen. Click and drag on the image to look all around and up and down.
If you are looking for more action-oriented water sports, visit the Nautical Center where you can sign out snorkelling gear and head out to the astonishing coral reefs of the Ilot Maitre marine reserve.
To see what the coral reef looks like when you are swimming on it, click on the full screen tab below.
You can also ride all around the island on the "banana boat" pulled by a jet ski.
And if you really want some speed, try a jet ski yourself - instruction is available (it doesn't take much instruction).
If you want a little more exercise, try a kayak for two.
Or for some real excitement there is a Kite Surf school most every day. Kite surfing has to be the most thrilling new water sport and the guys who teach it are world champions.
l'Escapade Island Resort Reservations
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