PRONY BAY

The beauty of this immense bay, protected from all winds, will never cease to amaze you. Called the "cyclone hole", its typical southern landscape is dry, arid and absolutely spectacular. Rich in iron ore and chromium, the earth here is saturated with red amidst the green of the vegetation and the blue of the Pacific. At the mouth of the Blue River, hot springs have been developed for bathing and can be an interesting stop. The best place to see the beauty of the area is undoubtedly the Cape N'Dua Nature Reserve. Created in 1972, it was reopened in 2002 and is located on the border of the Great South Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From mid-July to mid-September, you can observe whales passing by, especially from the top of the observatory, where you can see the mining maquis and the 1892 lighthouse. For divers, the bay is also a renowned site, thanks to its famous needle, a coral concretion of 38 meters. You have to imagine a mineral cathedral coming from the depths, whose calcification results from the action between fresh water, coming from lakes and rivers, and salt water from the ocean. But the jewel of Prony is also the islet Casy. An extension of Grande Terre from which it was separated a million years ago, it covers 40 hectares and is mainly composed of peridotite, a geological material that is the source of the nickel richness of New Caledonian soils. Named in 1854 in honor of Admiral Casy, it is in the heart of a splendid marine reserve. In 1870, two gardeners from the penitentiary settled there to supply the Prony camp with fresh vegetables. Today, it has nothing to do with purgatory and is more like a little paradise. Seven varieties of orchids and nearly 65 species of wood, some of which are endemic, have been listed. Marked trails allow you to learn more about its flora and Casy Express taxi-boats provide transfers for those who wish to go there. You should visit the old cemetery. As far as hiking is concerned, you should also know that the wonderful GR1 trail starts at the level of the Somme bay, before going through the whole Grand Sud until Dumbéa. In short, the only concern in the area is the huge Valé Goro nickel factory, which you should not look at too much... We can also blame the local authorities for not maintaining the bay well enough, but this does not spoil the pleasure of the visit.