Streets squares and districts to visit Noumea

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.

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).