Things to see and do Noumea

Once arrived, we are on a hill overlooking Noumea, we discover the superb panorama on the lagoon, the Tjibaou Cultural Center and the Mont-Dore. Below the hill, Notre-Dame-du-Pacifique watches over Nouméa. One of the last dry forests still preserved in the vicinity of Nouméa can be found on 36 hectares. In the Valley of the Endemics, many unique animals in the world are a real showcase of New Caledonian fauna!

Ideally located on the Ferry quay, the tourist office is very well documented. You will find all the information you need to organize your stay in New Caledonia. In touch with all the actors of tourism. Friendly welcome. This tourist office is very recent, it opened its doors in August 2022, and benefits from all the comfort and information possible. It is THE first essential step for any visitor to the island.

This is THE visit not to be missed during your stay in New Caledonia. A masterpiece of the architect Renzo Piano, the Tjibaou Cultural Center is the result of the Agency for the Development of Kanak Culture (ACDK) founded following the Matignon Agreement. Inaugurated in 1998, this center aims to promote Melanesian culture.
Built on the very spot where the Melanesia 2000 festival was held in 1975 by Jean-Marie Tjibaou (the independence leader assassinated in 1989, in whose honor a statue erected on the heights of a hill overlooks the site), it celebrates France's recognition of the traditions and history of the Kanak people.
It was a long and arduous task for Renzo Piano, an internationally renowned architect (Osaka-Kansai airport, Georges Pompidou center), who undertook this ambitious project. It is a contemporary interpretation of the island's architectural heritage where the combination of steel and wood bridges modern and traditional styles.
The building, organized around a central alley flanked by columnar pines, links the ten large stylized huts that reflect the ten customary areas of New Caledonia.
The latter house numerous exhibition rooms evoking the culture, history and customs of the Kanak civilization, one of which is dedicated to the life of Jean-Marie Tjibaou.
The center also hosts various artistic events, temporary exhibitions, festivals, conferences and screenings. The Bérétara room honors contemporary Kanak and Oceanian art. The two media libraries (Ngan Vhalik for multimedia and Mwà Véé for books) have many interesting works on Melanesian and Oceanian cultures as well as many books on the theme of Kanak identity.
Outside, the Kanak Way, an initiatory plant walk that retraces in five stages (the origin of beings, the nourishing earth, the land of the ancestors, the land of the spirits and rebirth) the legend of the creation of the first man, the founding hero Téâ Kanaké, allows one to grasp the strength of the link with nature in Kanak society and the very great importance it gives to plants.
In this landscaped park, one discovers the symbolic vegetation of Melanesia, as well as the three traditional huts of the Mwakaa customary area, one for each of the New Caledonian provinces (North, South and the Loyalty Islands).
A dance show representing the creation myth is held every Tuesday at 2:30 pm in the gardens.

In the blue-roofed halls overlooking the marina of Port Moselle, the archipelago's largest marina, flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, meat (deer sausage!), pastries and souvenirs are displayed. While tourists and locals mingle every day, the market is a big hit on weekends! You can have breakfast at the kiosk inside the halls. You can go there from 6am to have your coffee or to find a snack to take away for lunch. Be careful, Caledonians are early risers and from 11am the stalls are empty.

It was a convict who drew the plans for this cathedral, built in 1888 on the heights. If you look up at the façade, you will see a two-meter statue of Notre-Dame-des-Flots, donated by the sailors of the Caledonian Merchant Navy. The two 25-meter towers are equipped with two-meter diameter clocks and were not yet completed at the time of its consecration in June 1894. Once inside, it is necessary to examine the large fonts inserted in the narthex. Don't miss the nickel leaf chandelier on the ceiling.

This museum invites visitors to discover the maritime history of New Caledonia. The discovery is articulated around four themes: the sails of trade, maritime migrations, maritime links and the marking of the country and the voyage of La Pérouse during the Age of Enlightenment. Temporary exhibitions allow visitors to learn more about various themes related to the sea throughout the year.

Lucien Bernheim, a mining owner, donated money to the colonial administration in 1901 for the construction of a library. Built on the colonial model of the time, in the image of the pavilions of the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900, the building is one of the most eloquent architectural testimonies of Nouméa. Within its walls are grouped 700,000 volumes, a large part of which deals with New Caledonia and the Pacific. Researchers also have at their disposal the collection of all the public newspapers of the territory.

It is a recommended stop on your arrival on the Pebble! In this beautiful colonial house, you will discover the history of New Caledonia, its mixed populations, the major political decisions from 1853 to 1939, as well as the participation of Kanak infantrymen and Caledonian soldiers in the First World War and the historical turning points that the territory experienced, such as the nickel boom between 1966 and 1971. Once the visit is over, you can take a break in the museum gardens, located behind the veranda.

Opened in 1971, the Museum of New Caledonia is entirely devoted to Oceanian and Melanesian traditions. The first floor is dedicated to the Kanaks and one can discover sculptures of the Grande Case. Puzzles made of gaïac wood, totems and masks are also on display. The mezzanine is generally turned towards the South Pacific and covers, for example, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, etc.

Located to the east of the city, beyond the Magenta district, and outside the city center, the Ouémo peninsula is home to beautiful houses with flowery gardens overlooking the sea. The place is surrounded by the mangrove visible on both sides of the peninsula. The hotel Le Stanley is located at the point of Longs Cous. From there, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Sainte-Marie islet, Magenta Bay, the Tjibaou Cultural Center and the surrounding mountains facing the city...

Known as the "Tina Loops", this bike path is open to the public every day of the week from 6am to 6pm. To reach the starting point, follow the direction of the Tina Golf Course to Lasalle Point. The trail passes through beautiful landscapes that are recognized for their ecological value and are a classified and protected natural site. Count on 30 to 45 minutes to cover this 7.5 km paved loop. You will walk along the seashore and enjoy beautiful views of the lagoon. The circuit also crosses the mangrove and the dry forest.

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.

If you leave the Ouémo peninsula on your right and the Magenta bay a little further north. At the junction, not far from the former University of the Pacific and the airfield, you will be able to admire the small strip of fine sand bordered by superb columnar pines. There are tables and benches for picnics. A playground is also available for children. It is the ideal place to start windsurfing from the beach when you are a beginner. Beware of swimmers and webbed hikers though!

South of the Rocher à la Voile, you approach Anse Vata (stone in the local language), closed off to the south by Point Magnin. Formerly marshy, it was called the Bay of Ducks, the cove is now one of the most popular tourist spots in New Caledonia. Don't worry, the number of visitors in high season is equivalent to that of the Côte d'Azur in winter... Exposed to the prevailing winds, it is also a very famous windsurfing site. The nautical structures abound in the area, as do the hotels and restaurants.

The Bay of Lemons, or "BD" as it is known locally, is sheltered from the wind and is lined with numerous snack bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels. Some say that a boat full of lemons once ran aground here, releasing its cargo, hence the name. Others say that the bay was once lined with lemon trees. With its sea of oil, its trees and its fine sand, it is the family beach par excellence. The Cap du Rocher à la Voile in the south was the place where Nouméans would gather for a last farewell when the sailing ships left for France.

This monument, erected in 1992, commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the first 20,000 American soldiers in Nouméa on March 12, 1942. Nearly a million of their compatriots followed them and transited on the Rock, so that New Caledonia constituted one of the strategic bases of the American army during the Pacific War against Japan, particularly during the Battle of the Coral Sea. It can be found near the market and Port-Moselle. A solemn pause during your visit, but unfortunately not very well highlighted.

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).