The most beautiful natural sites to discover Loyalty Islands Province

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Located between Tadine and Penelo, this site is considered to be one of the largest drowned cavities in the world, with a 40-meter-deep shaft with a 30-meter diameter that leads to a lake of more than 350,000 m³ of fresh water. To find it, a guidebook can be useful but here is a procedure to follow for those who want to explore on their own: take the RP3 road that crosses the island between La Roche and Tadine; take the RM4 that leads north towards the villages of Ténane and Roh; the site is located two kilometers after the crossroad.

Only 10 kilometers from La Roche, you have to take the road north to Tenané. There is little signage other than a small sign before the site and guardrails on the road. One kilometer after the fork in the road, the chasm is hidden in the bushes on the right. Approximately 40 meters deep, one can venture to the edge of the circular cliff, in the middle of a tropical forest, and peek into the void, looking for hidden caves that surround a freshwater lake.

The Warrior's Leap is located east of La Roche, at the Wakone tribe. It is a 5-meter wide crack in the cliff that overlooks the sea by almost 30 meters. Legend has it that a warrior from the Si Hnathege clan, named Hnor, leapt across the hole with the Si Gurework at his heels. Carried away by their momentum, his pursuers fell into the sea. Be careful with children, even if the site is secured by railings. A very nice panorama to admire (and photograph) without moderation!