NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONIA

This comprehensive tour of the picturesque peninsular will give us an easy paced, guided overview of Noumea’s city, hills, bays, beaches and immediate countryside. All in all, ‘the best of Noumea’.

After leaving the passenger terminal, our tour vehicle will drive through the city centre and the beautiful park ‘Place Cocotier’, winding its way up to FOL lookout point for a photo stop. On a clear day we should see the rolling hills of the city, the main harbour, our ship docked at the passenger terminal and distant views of the beautiful bays of Noumea.

Then it is on to the outlying district of Robinson, for a short stop at the Church of La Conception. Built by missionaries in 1874, this little church contains many plaques left to thank the Virgin Mary for miracles. The church and its cemetery remain a popular pilgrimage destination.

We drive back to the city along the picturesque Promenade Vernier, past the Meridien Hotel and up to Ouen Toro Lookout. New Caledonia boasts a barrier reef second only in size to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and the world’s largest lagoon. From this vantagepoint at the tip of the peninsular, which is also home to a World War II memorial, we will have an excellent view of bays and beaches, across the lagoon, to small marine reserve islands fringed by coral reefs.

Our next stop will be at the Aquarium of Noumea. With water pumped from the nearby lagoon and naturally lit tanks housing a variety of marine life – ranging from dainty sea horses, live nautilus shells and colourful tropical fish, to sea turtles, stingrays and reef sharks – the visit to this compact aquarium is well worthwhile. We continue towards Lemon Bay, a favourite beach with the locals, and pass the yacht Marina, Orphelinat Bay and the Southern Province Government House, before we return to our ship.

TOUR NOTES: There is a small amount of walking involved in this tour, including a few steps at the Church and Aquarium. Please note that the Church has recently been closed for renovations, if it is closed we will view it from the outside only. We will have free time at the Aquarium (which is usually closed on Mondays but will be opened especially for our group).

TEXT IS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING