Luengoni Caves

Freshwater cave pools hidden in limestone behind the beach

Behind Luengoni Beach, the limestone opens into a network of underground caves with clear freshwater pools inside. The caves are hidden in thick vegetation and require a local guide to visit — arrangements can usually be made through accommodation or in the village. The combination of swimming in dark, cool cave water and then emerging onto one of Lifou's best beaches is hard to beat.

Bring a torch and shoes you don't mind getting wet. Trips typically last an hour or two and finish on the beach.

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Lifou has no rivers — rain drains straight through the porous limestone into a hidden water table — and the Luengoni caves are one of the few places where the islanders' underground freshwater meets the surface. The pools sit in semi-dark chambers reached by ducking through low passages, the water cool and so clear you can see the cave floor metres below. The land is customary, owned by the Luengoni tribe, so a guide and a fee are both required.