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During the Avocado Festival - "Fete de l'Avocat" at Nece (pronounced Netchay) all the villagers show up and there are often visitors from the other Loyalty Islands - Lifou and Ouvea - that take the opportunity to visit friends and relatives here.
The youth race about and when they get bored with it, all they wander off to sit together and talk. As the festival music fills the air this quiet scene is just a few steps away, the Bay looking like it always looks, the palms and an old ruin standing watch on the point.
You can get the latest information on the festivals of the Loyalty Islands from the official Destination Loyalty Islands Tourism website
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Mare Island is the southernmost of the four Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia. It is an uplifted coral atoll with jagged cliffs on the southern shores 130 metres high. The center of the island, the ancient lagoon, is flat and there are several caves and sink-holes - some with salt water and others with fresh water. Air Caledonie offers two flights a day to Mare - a 40 minute flight. There is also a 3.5 hour high speed ocean going catamaran Betico II. There is just one Mare hotel, the Nengone Village Hotel, one Gite, two tribal stays, and one camping ground. The primary attraction for visitors are the wilderness walks, the snorkelling, the lovely beaches, and the festivals. There is no public transport on Mare but there are small tour buses, taxis, and rental car agencies. The island is small enough that you can also rent a bicycle and visit many of the main tourism destinations. As in all the Loyalty Islands the people speak their own local Melanesian language plus French.
