Things to see and do Loyalty Islands Province

No sign will show you the way to this lovingly planted Garden of Eden. It is here that Felix and Janine welcome travelers every day to the heart of their vanilla plantation. More than 1,000 plants have been planted on the trunks of local species and are kept at man's height to be able to fertilize the beautiful ephemeral orchid and pick the pods without too much difficulty. It is Felix Bolé who has revived the activity on the island. Fascinating.

This bay is very famous for the quality of its anchorage and literally means "arrival of the boats". It is here that the sandalwood trade began in 1842. Today, times have changed. The latter has given way to cruise ships that unload their stream of Australian tourists in stopover. The site extends to the cliffs of Easo Point and its white chapel. From the wooden pontoon, it is easy to observe sea turtles at sunset. Don't miss the opportunity to visit early or late in the day.

The name of the Qanopeu cave literally means "bowels of the earth where spirits are born". It consists of three rooms: the first one would correspond to the place from which the men came out, the second one is used as a shelter for the bats, and the third one turns out to be the Devil's room... According to the legend, the Devil would go out during the day to join his wife in Wanaham and would return to sleep here. So it is strictly forbidden to go there at night... To come and discover the place, you have to contact Albert Trohmaé, at least 24 hours in advance.

Built in 1984, the bridge that separates Lékine from Mouli Island is not to be missed. The view of the cliffs and the blue sea of the lagoon is simply grandiose. Every hour, the water seems to change color! You can see the island of Fayawa and a great diversity of aquatic fauna: schools of fish, turtles, rays, even sharks, if you are lucky. Continuing south, the 8 km long peninsula offers an exceptional white beach on its western side and beautiful coral cliffs on its eastern coast.

The Turtle Hole is not easy to find, the entrance to the trail is marked by an iron bar topped by a balloon. Ask the locals to guide you if you have trouble. It is of course possible to swim, but be careful, it is difficult to go up the wall. If the children of the tribe are not there and there is nobody in the water, you can also see turtles coming to the surface to breathe, with a little patience. A small path goes around and offers beautiful views. We love it.

Peng beach is perceived by some as the cutest beach on the island. Recently opened to the public, like everywhere else, be careful not to deface anything. It is a small corner of paradise that is particularly appreciated in the morning, when you can enjoy it alone in the world. This beach is also a famous (because ideal) place to admire the sunset. White sand, clear water, an enchanting setting that amazes as soon as you put your feet in the sand. On the right side of the beach, small caves are to be done in snorkeling.

Marianna and Bossie Ijezie offer several nature tours of half a day, one day, two days or even more. The two-day hike in Zimetrötr country is particularly unforgettable. On the first day (5 hours), hikers progress through the undergrowth to the traditional camp in the Zimetrötr coconut grove. After lunch, swimming, and even exploring the sea bed with fins, mask and snorkel, everyone boards the boat to reach the bivouac set up on the beach of Ngöni. A unique experience in Lifou.

12.5 km north of Xépénéhé, these high cliffs are absolutely admirable. 40 meters high, they plunge into the clear and fishy waters of the north of the island. When arriving at Jokin, you should be careful to respect the chieftaincy and to go around the courtyard and its stone barrier to take the path that leads to the sea, behind the temple. Once there, a columnar pine tree marks the entrance to a staircase of 210 steps that descends to the foot of the colossi. At sunset, the site borders on perfection: incredible colors and guaranteed emotions.

Don't hesitate to push open the heavy doors of the large church of St. Joseph to admire the interior. Dating from 1912, it has a beautiful vaulted wooden ceiling, a kohu pulpit and a black kaori carved Christ draped with a manou. On the edge of the pretty bay of the same name stands the monument to the centenary of the Catholic mission that arrived in 1857. The chieftaincy is next door. A visit certainly attractive for the believers, but one admires just as much the architecture of this small church so atypical. Sale of artisanal products on the spot.

Classified as a historical monument, this beautiful chapel dates from 1898. The sunsets on the bay of Santal are magnificent and the procession of Our Lady of Lourdes takes place there every year on December 8. It was in Easo that the whalers butchered their catch between 1860 and 1870 and burned the fat to extract the oil.In front of the building, a large banyan tree plunges its roots into the heart of a cave. Ask politely for permission to enter.

This circular pool of 30 m in diameter is the narrowest part of the isthmus north of Wadrilla. Here, salt and fresh waters do not mix and their deep blue color is hypnotic. A team of Captain Cousteau explored it, but never reached the bottom. Many multicolored fish stay in this natural aquarium. If you continue along the trail, you will find a path a few meters further that leads you to a second water hole. Also located nearby, the turtle hole.

This trail starts from the village of Nanal passing by the cape Taetawanod. It is a long trail but of medium difficulty. Traced by the ancients, it connects all the beaches and coconut groves of the west coast. The transparent sea licks the golden sands. It then reaches the spectacular Taetawanod Cape, then Nanal, on the south coast. It is also the access to several caves or viewpoints hidden in the vegetation. An acrobatic passage spices up the exit of the Malou cave.

It takes about 7 km round trip (about 3 hours) of an easy and pleasant level. The itinerary alternates between sand and coral rocks and is not very well indicated, but remains accessible to all. We discover the beaches of the hotel, Shini and Pédé, which is the most beautiful of all. The latter is also accessible by road: coming from Tadine, park before Cape Wabao and cross the white barrier freely. It is an ideal place for snorkeling, with superb coral reefs.

The Anubet cave, dug in the heart of the forest in the south of Ouvéa, can be visited in the company of Dominique Tanghmelen, who guides visitors. It is necessary to bring walking shoes, but also a swimsuit, with mask and snorkel. This is a must-see visit, as much for the beauty of the place as for Dominique's explanations. He will explain with passion and pedagogy all you need to know about the fauna and flora of the area. At the end, a tasting of freshly picked and cut coconut is held. Go for it without hesitation.

This large building contains paintings and sculptures of Kanak art. It is named after a pro-independence leader from Maré who was assassinated with Jean-Marie Tjibaou by Djubelly Wéa, a pro-independence extremist, in 1989. Temporary exhibitions are also organized every six months, as well as several cultural events. Sophie, surrounded by her team, will also be able to inform you about the activities to do on the island. A visit that is worth it!

Located in the heart of the Tenane tribe in the north of the island, this famous and beautiful vanilla plantation organizes tours upon request and sells beans and local handicrafts in its store. The host, Pa Kaloi Cawidrone, has been passionate about vanilla and its exploitation for decades, and his vanilla plantation is ideally located in a region and forest known for its many tales and legends. An excellent visit.

Tataio and Taniela were the first Polynesian Protestant catechists who came to evangelize the island in 1841. Anchored in front of Ténane, they reached the shore on board their pirogue. To reach the site, cross the village, pass in front of the church, turn left and walk 200 meters, without forgetting to ask for authorization beforehand. Following Melanesian custom, the bones of the two missionaries were placed in their pirogue and hoisted up the side of the cliff.

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.

Bring your fins, mask and snorkel! An ideal place for snorkeling. Below, the coral bottom is superb. The lucky ones might come across white tip sharks, turtles or rays... A bit difficult to find due to a lack of signposts, Pédé Beach is located between the natural aquarium and the Nengone Village hotel. Access is through a bend in the road, 50 m from the road. Difficult to find, but this white sand beach and its blue-green lagoon are enchanting and worth exploring.

The road leading to Cengeïté is one of the most beautiful of the island with its creeks only frequented by fishermen. On the same road, after 10 km, there is a small fork in the road on the right. Take it to follow the coast and cross the Cengeïté tribe, grouped near the beaches and around its temple. Leaving Wabao, you find the main road again. One kilometer before arriving at Eni, on the left, you will see on the road the trace of a parking lot. Take the path through the tall grass to bathe at the Eni waterhole.