ABOUT RIVLAND PAITA
Nestled on the heights of a magnificent property offering breathtaking views, in a green setting halfway between the capital Noumea (15 minutes) and La Tontouta international airport (15 minutes), the Rivland Resort Hotel welcomes you 7 days a week.
The Rivland is a family hotel with a restaurant, two bars, a swimming pool and many activities that you can discover here, which will make your stay an unforgettable one.
In the middle of a 12-hectare park, exotic and heavenly, the Hotel stands out for its free-roaming animals, the local spirit of its cuisine, the quality of its service, the comfort of its facilities and the serenity of the place.
OUR STORY
At the dawn of the third millennium, a bold idea sparked between a woman and a man: to create a hotel complex at the “Portes de la Brousse.”
Audacious? At that time, the commune of Paita had fewer than 8,000 inhabitants, tourism was not in full swing and the various institutions rejected the project, which they considered unviable.
The 2000s
Despite the challenges, the large-scale project began to take form. With building permits secured, construction teams worked tirelessly on a hill overlooking the Katiramona River—a natural inspiration for the name of the future hotel, Le Rivland.
Built on the family’s Propriété Paddon, the site replaced the iconic Caves Perrin. By 2003, the property boasted 31 bungalows and rooms designed to welcome guests. The dream was finally realised: the Quality Rivland Resort was born.
Today
Now, more than 20 years later, Le Rivland stands as a cornerstone of the Caledonian hospitality landscape. Generations of the founding family have carried the torch, transforming the establishment into a beloved institution.
Currently Owned by the Martin Family, Descendants of James Paddon
In 1857, James Paddon, one of the first European settlers in New Caledonia, ceded his property on the isle of Nou to the government’s Domain Service for the establishment of a penal colony depot. In return, as part of settlement agreements, he was granted a vast 4,000-hectare concession in Paita, previously known as Paddonville. He settled there in 1859 with his employees and brought 18 immigrant families from Australia to join him.
On February 13, 1861, during a visit to the isle of Nou, James Paddon passed away. His funeral was held in Noumea, but five years later, on April 9th, 1866, his remains were exhumed and ceremoniously transferred to Paita. There, they were interred under a funerary column erected by his nephews on the estate. His tomb is located in a small cemetery at the entrance of the Martin family property.
James Paddon is remembered as a pioneering settler who arrived before the state-led colonisation of the Caledonian archipelago. His funerary monument, inscribed with “IN MEMORY OF JAMES PADDON WHO DIED AT THE ISLE OF NOU FEBRUARY 13TH 1861 AGED 49 YEARS,” stands as a testament to the significant role he played in the region’s history.
