A happy Réunion

Originally appeared in TravelWeekly Australia 22 August 2008
by Justin Wastnage


Many Australians dream of experiencing a little French culture. As Justin Wastnage writes, you needn't trek to Europe to get a taste of it


The idea of tucking into a pain au chocolat fresh from the oven, washed down with a steaming cup of café au lait appeals to many an Aussie in these cold winter months. But the idea of travelling 17,000km for the pleasure is enough to put many off.

But France is actually closer than you think. Our French neighbours include:

New Caledonia
Only a three hour flight from Sydney and even closer from Brisbane, New Caledonia is right on our doorstep. The capital Nouméa may not be the prettiest city, but the shopping and restaurants are excellent.

New Caledonia's beauty is revealed, however, once outside the capital and onto one of its coral-fringed islands, into its lagoon or into its mountainous interior.

The Isle of Pines produces some of the best edible snails in the world for those wanting to try an authentic French dish with a Pacific twist, or there's always the ever-present deer to provide you with venison for the less adventurous.

French Polynesia
French Polynesia goes by the name of Tahiti and her Islands, but its French flavour is unmistakable. Like Nouméa, its capital Papeete is singularly unremarkable with redeeming features once again in the form of its fantastic restaurants.

Since Tahiti is home to almost 70 per cent of the 35-island territory, you can easily find a quiet spot away from the main island.

The other islands in Tahiti's Society Islands chain are accessible for tourism, with Bora Bora and Moorea very popular.

The signature dish for the islands is poisson cru, a Polynesian version of cerviche, in which raw fish is cured with lemon juice and then served ice cold with coconut milk on top.

Réunion
For those living in Western Australia, there is another French-owned island in the Indian Ocean, closer than the Pacific isles.

Réunion Island lies off the coast of Madagascar and is accessible with Air Mauritius. Tourism on the island is geared around adventure, says Réunion promotions manager Evelyne Coustillat. Mountain biking, hang gliding and bungy jumping with a backdrop of the lush, volcanic hills are what draws people from all over the world, she says.

Since the majority of the population were drawn originally from the Indian sub-continent, the French flavours are enhanced with an exotic twist. Samosas combine Indian tastes with French pastry skills, while cari is a local version of ratatouille with ginger and spices to give it a kick.

But in many ways, Réunion is the most French of all of Australia's French neighbours as it is a full part of France and even uses the euro as its currency