Unique Places in New Caledonia

At 1628 metres the highest mountain in New Caledonia, Mount Panié forms the heart of a lush nature reserve housing some of the richest flora and fauna in the territory.
It's a rather steep and strenous climb to the top, and a permit is required - available from the Hienghéne Tourist Office for free.
Very few people seem to bother with the climb - I even met French living in nearby Hienghéne who go hiking in New Zealand but never climbed this mountain.
Too hard, they say... :-)

Not to be missed if you are a nature lover!

See my separate Mount Panié page for information on the area around the mountain, and the climb up to the peak!

North of Pouebo, the area of Balade is connected with several important events in New Caledonia's early history.
Captain Cook anchored here, the first Catholic mass in land was held under a banyan tree near the beach, and there is a beautiful church commemorating these historic events.
There is also an ugly monument for France's rule over the territory.
The stunning golden beach alone makes a visit worthwhile though!

See my Balade page for more on this remote area.

The northernmost real township on the east coast, Pouébo has an old church and a windswept beach with free camping.
However it is mostly worth visiting for its yearly Mwata Festival, held in honour of a traditional banana cake. It features Kanak and Polynesian dances and a fair of local produce.

7 kms north of the ferry crossing, the highest and most famous waterfall in the territory is actually visible from the road.
It is nevertheless well worth paying up the 200 francs to use the trail up to the falls' base through the jungle.
The track is very slippery so wear proper shoes!

Inland from Hienghéne, there is a string of Kanak tribal villages stretching into the mointainous interior along this valley.
The special thing about them is that they encourage tourism by offering programs like horse-riding and even accomodation in traditional Kanak huts.
This can be a good way to experience everyday life of the Kanaks if you speak French - if not, it's still interesting to go hiking in the surrounding mountains for a day or two.

A small town on a pretty bay with a good beach, Touho also has an old mission attached to it.
For budget travellers, it offers some of the best and cheapest campsites in New Caledonia - a good reason to make it a base for exploring the surrounding countryside.

There are several roads across Grande Terre from the west coast to the east, but the most beautiful yet least known one, not desribed in any guidebooks, is the one that branches off between Poindimié and Touho to go across the mountains to Koné.
It passes beautiful lakes and forested hills with very few signs of human habitation, but has several roadside picnic stops and even a few marked hiking trails along it.

Just north of Poindimié, this small mission settlement is typical of many others up the north-east coast. They are all centred on an old, quiant church and were established to concentrate the surrounding Kanak population who were losing their lands to French settlers in the 19th century.