Our story

In the peaceful municipality of Ouégoa lies an unusual story. Richard Martin, known as Ricky, promises you a memorable escape.

It all began in 2014, when Ricky, then a gendarme, welcomed Nicole BAUSCH and her children into his home free of charge while they were visiting the north of the island.
Ricky threw himself into this new adventure, embraced the experience and proved to be a natural host. He created a unique, personalised experience for the family: a boat tour on the Diahot, a picnic on Pam Island, a 4WD tour around his large property and more.
In the evening, they all came together to share a simple meal.

Little by little, as word of mouth spread, Ricky welcomed more and more guests seeking peace and tranquillity in a natural, authentic setting. This led to the creation of TARAP ASSOCIATION.

A well-deserved success

Ricky watches his life’s project take shape before his eyes. In 2016, he decides to leave the gendarmerie and find a civilian job, which later enables him to buy a boat for his tourism activities.
He continues welcoming guests in his time off. Bookings keep coming in, and Ricky soon loses count of the number of visitors.



On 1 January 2021, he becomes the manager of TARAP DESTINATION and devotes himself to it full-time. He takes the time to refine and structure his services, improve the accommodation and plan ahead for future bookings. As the business grows in popularity, he sometimes even has to turn guests away.
Since then, TARAP DESTINATION has continued to grow, with Ricky and his daughter founding TARAP ÉVASION. They now offer personalised activities in a setting perfect for a complete change of scenery.

This family took on a bold challenge: to become a recognised tourism destination in a place that had previously attracted few visitors. In Ouégoa, in New Caledonia’s Northern Province, you’ll find a haven in an authentic setting, with breathtaking views.

The greatest successes often begin with chance encounters. Perhaps that is the philosophy behind Tarap Destination.

Acknowledgements to Julia from motsdesiles for her kind contribution.