Streets squares and districts to visit New Caledonia

Reaching Thio from Canala is almost an adventure. The road, then the track, is so narrow and winding that timetables have been set up for 13 km. From Nakety to Thio, you pass at even hours and, in the other direction, at odd hours. Be careful, the route is not paved everywhere, and some people try to force their way through. Be sure to check the condition of the road before you go, and make sure that the weather is good and that your vehicle is able to drive on the track. At night, it is open on both sides.

The military had established their vegetable garden here, whose contours they delimited with coconut trees, replaced today by flamboyant trees. The statue (the beautiful Celeste) of the 8-meter fountain designed in 1893 by the sculptor Mahoux was inspired by a woman from Nouméa. The bandstand, located nearby and built by the convicts in 1878, sometimes hosts concerts. It is pleasant to sit on the steps of the small amphitheater. During the day, the square is always crowded with people on the terraces, benches and lawns.

This is a great idea for a walk that is accessible to all. Just south of the city center, from its marina of Port Moselle and its market, you can then climb the hill of Artillery before going down to the bay of the Orphanage, which owes its name to a reception center created by Brother Antoni. It is surmounted by a Lorraine cross, on Mount Coffyn, in memory of the rallying of New Caledonia to Free France in June 1940. At the level of Port Plaisance, follow the seaside towards the bay of the Fishermen and the nautical circle.

Impossible to miss the square and its works of art. Several monumental sculptures have been created by artists from all over the territory on this square in the center of La Foa. Various events are also organized under the bandstand and two creations complete the ensemble: the Gally-Passebosc monument, named after the colonel who died during the Kanak insurrection of 1878, and the Pioneers monument, dedicated to the free settlers and penal concessionaires who participated in the construction of the country.

This road runs along cliffs with many caves, where the inhabitants found refuge during tribal wars. About 3 km north of Tadine, red handprints are engraved in the rock. We then pass in front of the tribes of Mébuet and Nécé, where the former great chief of Maré, Naisseline, one of the most influential in New Caledonia, resided. The road goes up and through the tribes of Padawa and Wakuarori to reach a viewpoint from which the island of Tiga can be seen in the distance. Roh is at the end of the road in a preserved site.

To understand the history of this peninsula, let's look back at the history of New Caledonia. James Paddon, a British sandalwood merchant from the neighboring New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), settled on Nou Island in 1851. He built a slipway for schooners, a forge and stores. A very enterprising man, he was also responsible for introducing cattle to the territory. In the end, France bought the land from him for the construction of a penal colony. It was here, in 1864, that the first convicts disembarked on the archipelago aboard the Iphigénie. Numerous buildings still bear witness to this penitentiary past, grouped together under the name Site historique de l'Île Nou, which can be visited.

Anse Kuendu is a small beach located on what is now the Nouville peninsula, since the island was attached to Nouméa by a dike in 1972. The sunsets here are breathtaking. You can also go for a walk or mountain bike ride on the track that surrounds the peninsula. From Kuendu Beach, you can drive up to the hill on the right to enjoy the panoramic views. You can use the orientation table to find your way around. At the top of the hill are the ruins of Fort Tereka, built at the end of the ^20th century and restored in 1984. The cannon battery and underground passage can be visited (it's best not to go on foot, as there are many stray dogs).