The most beautiful natural sites to discover Great South

This is one of the must-see activities in New Caledonia. Among the two main activities, we advise you to explore the Blue River Park, its fauna and flora, and to listen for the cry of the cagou, the emblematic bird of New Caledonia. You can walk there or rent a bike to cover a longer distance!

You can also do a kayak trip at full moon on the blue river in the heart of the drowned forest, a really unique experience!

A true showcase of the Deep South, this park is absolutely unmissable for all outdoor enthusiasts. A very good map is provided at the entrance and lists the interesting places to visit. The White River area is accessible to cars while the Blue River area has been limited to hikers, on foot or by bicycle. There are specially designated areas for bivouacking in the Blue River basin, but permission must be sought from the front desk agent. Three colors dominate this unique environment: the green of the vegetation, the blue of the river and sky and the red of the earth. Among the species present in the Grand Sud, not less than 75% are endemic. Among the notable trees, we find the kaori, which can reach 40 meters high; one of them would be 1,000 years old, and its diameter is 2.70 m. Fortunately, its exceptional size has made it unworkable. Thanks to a protection program, the area is still one of the few places on the pebble to shelter a population of cagous. This endangered species is a hidden treasure here and everyone is looking for a glimpse. To meet it, you need a lot of luck and a bit of tactics. Theoretically, you have better luck early in the morning and by remaining discreet. One of the highlights of the exploration is undoubtedly the mysterious Drowned Forest, with its naked and white trunks that emerge from the lake.

Hiking: Blue River Provincial Park is home to numerous trails with routes ranging from 30 minutes to 7 hours. Signs indicate the characteristics of each trail and provide information on the animal and plant species that you may see. There are brochures presenting the different routes. Here is the description of some of them:

The Palmetum trail (1 hour - 1 km - very easy). A short botanical and educational trail created on the site of a former mining camp. Discovery of the mining maquis and a dense humid forest.

Le sentier du Houp géant (30 minutes - 1 km - very easy).This short walk follows an old track that was used to extract the trees cut in the forest. A magnificent houp (tree) with extraordinary dimensions watches over the place.

Le sentier de la Source (1 hour - 3.8 km - easy). This is a peaceful loop through the scrubland and around magnificent kaoris and araucarias.

The Three Forests Trail (1 hour - 1.3 km - easy). It starts near the ford of the Pourina. It is necessary to follow a short ascent through humid and dense forests, before entering the mining scrubland.

The Grande Cascade trail (5 hours - 15.7 km - difficult). Located at the end of the main valley trail, this is a long walk to the upper Blue River.

Kaori Trail (3 hours - 8.5 km - medium). Also located at the end of the valley trail, this is a somewhat physical walk among the giants of the forest.

The Koureu Deni trail (2 hours - 4.6 km - medium).This pretty botanical trail starts near the Bon Secours development. Slightly strenuous, it takes you to the giant houp through different types of environments.

The Renaissance Mine Trail (3 hours - 8.3 km - medium). This is a varied loop that leads you on the steps of an old mule track leading to the Renaissance mine prospecting site. The landscapes dominate the valley of the Blanche River and offer a beautiful spectacle.

The GR1 trail. It allows walkers to evolve on paths leading from Prony to the Dumbéa dam and to cross the Blue River Park on foot. By following this fabulous path, you will explore the Great South in all its richness, along ancient paths traced by the Kanaks. Beware, it requires a thorough preparation and a good knowledge of the terrain. You need to be in excellent physical shape and have adequate equipment, as well as enough food because no refreshments are available.

Several service providers also offer various activities in the park and you can contact them beforehand to find what you are looking for: Sud Loisirs (kayaking, mountain biking and hiking - ✆ +687 77 81 43 - www.sudloisirs.nc), H2O Odyssée (kayaking - ✆ +687 91 10 03 - www.h2o-odyssee.com), Aventure Pulsion (kayaking - +687 26 27 48 - aventure-pulsion.nc), Escal'aventure (rock climbing - ✆ +687 74 78 37 - www.escalaventure.com) and Loisirs Concept (rock climbing - ✆ +687 43 90 13 - loisirsconcept.nc).

The Deep South is full of secrets and superb spots where being guided can be very enjoyable, especially if you do not have your own vehicle and rental 4x4s are rare (book in advance). Toutazimut offers various excursions from Noumea.

Built in the 19th century to supply Nouméa with wood, it is now invaded by lush vegetation. Huge banyan trees cover the buildings with their bewitching roots. In the last quarter of the 19th century, a village was grafted onto the site where the exploitation of the wood lasted until 1911. An association of restoration enthusiasts has rehabilitated the powder magazine built in 1884 and a path has been laid out to fully enjoy the remains. Wet forest and mining scrubland follow one another as you enter the heart of the penitentiary's history.

At the mouth of the Blue River, three hot springs offer 43 degrees water! Only one of the sources is on earth and suitable for swimming.

The great curiosity of Prony Bay is of course the needle, which has nothing to do with a coral formation, but which results from a freshwater resurgence. This gigantic chimney takes root at a depth of 38 meters and rises 2 meters below the surface of the water. Imagine a mineral cathedral coming from the depths. Calcification is the result of the action between fresh water, coming from lakes and rivers, and salt water from the lagoon. The fresh water infiltrates, heats up and rises... Needles rise from an arm of the cathedral, forming several bell towers at the top, below which a hole, from which fresh water gushes out, has been dug. This water, mixing with salt water, gives the impression of a turbid mixture with two compounds of different density. The Aiguille was officially discovered in 1873 when the cargo ship La Somme, passing through Prony to load wood for the prison, ran aground there. The ship was stranded there for about 50 hours, and it was an aviso that relieved her of her heavy cargo, thus putting an end to her stranding.

Today,it is a diving spot: the heat of the cavity is not to the displeasure of the fishes that come here in great numbers. The needle never stops growing, making its own limestone gangue. Corals and fish are present. A real kingdom for bivalves, the site is also a spawning ground for loaches in November. You might as well say that it is a wonder for all those who can come and dive here...

This route goes along the seaside until the mouth of the small river. It leads the walkers on an old path opened and fitted out by the convicts at the beginning of the century. Remains of the convicts' work and the life of these men who exploited the wood are still visible. We wind under the shade of the big trees of the forest, crossing the mining maquis and its bushy plants before skirting the mangroves. You may be able to observe the largest tree-dwelling pigeon in the world: a unique species, endemic to New Caledonia, called notou.

This beautiful hike makes a slightly physical but breathtaking loop. You will cross real oasis of primary forest and enjoy beautiful panoramas on the lagoon and the valley. The trail follows a part of the "time road" closed to traffic. The return journey is done by the old "time road", a beautiful route in cornice which allows to admire magnificent turquoise water holes and numerous waterfalls on the other side of the valley.