Tour Code: NCG01

 

New Caledonia, a French island in the pacific, a long main land of 500 Km long; New Caledonia is a diverse and unique destination. Bathed by clear waters at the heart of the Pacific Ocean, lulled year round by gentle trade winds, le Caillou (the Pebble) has more to offer than just its heavenly beaches and brilliant sunshine, a lot of hidden or “hard to find” treasures.

 

This is a guided tour with an English/French speaking guide, departing with a minimum of 2 persons.

 

This fully escorted tour will drive you along New Caledonian main island roads. You will visit regions often unknown, sometimes even by local people. The North Province stands out for the diversity of its scenery: each region has unique geography, and there are particularities specific to each area, thus creating micro regions that are remarkable for their cultural or economic specialities. You will probably be surprised by the passion and the warm welcome the inhabitants reserve to you.

 

This tour is the only guided circle main island tour in New Caledonia with fixed departure dates! A must do if you are interested in the pacific culture!



Day 1 - Sunday: Noumea 

 

At the Beaurivage hotel, the check-in starts at 2pm. A welcome drink will be offered upon your arrival.

 

Facing the beautifull bay of « Baie des Citrons », the Beaurivage hotel , recently refurbished, offers several room categories, modern and charming, with welcoming staff. The property is easily accessible to the various restaurants, bars and stores located on the bay.

 

Dinner and night at the Beaurivage hotel. For the late check-in, light dinner box will be delivered in the room.

Night at the hotel Beaurivage in a Standard Room.

 

 

Day 2 - Monday: Visit of a cattle property in Bourail

                            Noumea / Kone (275 km)

 

Buffet Breakfast at the restaurant of your hotel (served from 6 am).

 

8.30 am - Departure of the hotel. Before driving on the territorial road 1 (RT1) which goes along the circle main island tour, make a stop at the top of the Ouen Toro hill to admire the 360° view over Nouméa, the bays and the islets. Your guide will make the first historical point by evoking the presence of the Australian soldiers in New Caledonia for a few months during the Second World War. They installed a coastal battery artillery and these cannons are still at the same place in Nouméa (Ouen Toro, Nouville and Ouémo).

Crossing of the Suburb Faubourg Blanchot, you will see that this district has preserved several colonial houses (ex: the famous house Célières, recently restored and welcoming temporary exhibitions).

 

Getting through the coconut palms square, in the city center, you will pass the roman catholic cathedral St Joseph, the protesting temple, the bandstand, the Céleste fountain … These few monuments will tell you more about the history of Nouméa, the New Caledonian capital.

 

Heading North, destination Koné ! Going as far as Bourail, It’s the real "Caledonian Far West" which you will discover on the West coast going up to the North : Big Landscaps, lots of breeding domains, hills covered of niaoulis as far as the eye can see, dry forest… You will see that panorama only on the west coast thanks to particular weather conditions.

At the end of morning, you will arrive on Cindy BARONNET’s property, owner of a 140 hectar station, a place of breeding, about 40 cows “Limousines” and “Brahmousin”, well adapted to the New Caledonian climate and to the surroundings.

You will be welcomed on this property with the nature and the simplicity of your hosts who consider all their visitors as friends.

According to the activity of the property, you will assist the cattle fooding, the cowboy’s ride on their horseback managing the herd towards the stock yard. We could imagine us in Texas!

After a presentation of the property and the agricultural activity, you will taste an assortment of New Caledonian dishes prepared carefully by Cindy and her family. “Bushman” lunch (1 green coconut, start, grills and seasonal vegetables, desert and coffee). The property is also rich in plants and fruit trees; Cindy will indulge to make you taste local seasonal fruits .

 

4.00 pm - driving to the North, untill Koné, administrative capital of the North Province.

 

Arrival at Koniambo hotel. Located as you leave Koné itself, not far from the famous « Heart of Voh » and opposite the imposing Koniambo massif. Comfortable, well-furnished and with an excellent restaurant, the hotel is the ideal place to discover rural activities and the vast landscapes of New Caledonia’s “Cowboy Country”.

 

Welcome drink, buffet dinner and overnight in a Junior Suite at Koniambo Hotel.

 

 

Day 3 - Tuesday: The Heart of Voh and the Village of Thiebaghi

                                Kone / Voh / Poum (155 km)

 

Buffet breakfast at the restaurant of the hotel (from 6.30 am).

Departure of the hotel at 8.30 am.

 

Head north to Voh (30 kms), the road runs along the “Koniambo mountain massif” peaking at a height 950 meters.

 

09.00/10.00 am - Welcoming at the Coffee eco-museum, created by José thanks to his passion of the history of his country and his very good relation ship with the tribes of the surroundings.

 

The visit informs you about the history of the many coffee planters who tried this agricultural experience in New Caledonia. A recommended stop for coffee lovers. Coffee Tasting with possibility of on-the-spot purchase.

 

Then departure by 4WD (chaotic road) with your experienced guide, well known figure of the region, will bring you up to the mount Katépaïck until a 700 meter high, for an awe-inspiring view over the lagoon, reef and mountain chain. Enjoy the view of the natural phenomenon known as the "Heart of Voh", where the various heights within the mangrove have formed the shape of a heart. Your guide will show you the Heart of Voh, its history, its composition, its evolution (mangrove), as well as an historical approach of the region.

 

12.00 am/01.00 pm - Lunch at the coffee eco-museum. Your meal wil be prepared by the Gatope tribe.

 

01.00 pm - Departure to Koumac – Meeting at the Information point of Koumac for Thiébaghi visit.

 

Tiebaghi is a mine and a former village in Kaala-Gomen. It was the largest chromium mine in the world in 1941.

The Association of Saving minning and historical heritage of the Nortern New Caledonia, decided to restore this village. The site was classified in 2001 and important renovation work begun (power station, backery, chapel,etc..).

 

4.00 pm - End of the visit and heading to the North of New Caledonia.

 

Arrival at Malabou Beach hotel in Poum.

 

Enjoy the calm and comfort of the Malabou Beach Hotel's Bungalows, all located along a pure white-sandy beach. Each bungalow has a bathroom and private terrace, air conditioning, ceiling fan, tea/coffee-making facilities, fridge, safe-deposit box, television and complimentary Internet WiFi connection.

All types of water activities are available at the Malabou Beach Hotel, kayaks, snorkelling equipment.

Let them organise an unforgettable trip for you – picnics on a deserted islet, a memorable dive or fishing ! Nature lovers have many options available to explore the dry forest or mangroves. Pool, tennis courts, mini-golf, driving range, beach games, table tennis, mountain bikes and snooker are available at the hotel.

 

Welcome drink, buffet dinner and overnight in a Bungalow at Malabou Beach Hotel.

 

 

Day 4 - Wednesday: Visit of Boat Pass & Poingam 

 

Buffet breakfast at the restaurant of your hotel (from 6.30 am).

 

The road which leads to Poingam is magnificent! Dry and lunar Earth, all the tints turns from the orangy color to the pure white, free wild horses and at the end of the way, the quiet absolute.

From the Relais de Poingam, you will have the possibility to walk on the botanical path which will lead you up to the salan swamp.

 

On the spot according to the activity, you could visit Mr Broudissou’s Niaouli distillery.

 

Lunch at the Relais de Poingam (2 course lunch - drinks not included)

 

Buffet Diner and night in a Bungalow at Malabou Beach Hotel.

 

 

Day 5 - Thursday: Heading toward Hienghene

                                Poum / Hienghene (184 km)

 

Buffet breakfast at the restaurant of your hotel (from 6.30 am).

 

Departure from the hotel at 9.00 am. Head toward Hienghène by crossing the chain to join the East coast.

At the beginning of the crossroads, you will have a stop at Nicole’s place, on the side of “Haute Néhoué”. Nicole will suggest you a 1h30 walk, easy acces, on her property (it can be sleeper depending on the weather conditions). You will pass from creek bank to the karstic massif gobbled up by the vegetation, where ferns overhang you.

If you do not wish to make the walk, you can stay on the property where all the group will savour a typical New Caledonian lunch (starter, main course, dessert, without drinks).

 

In the early afternoon, back on the road to the East coast. You will pass Ouégoa, the Amos pass with magnificent views on the East lagoon, Balade, where James Cook has come to our shores in 1774…

You will be surprised by the contrast of the landscapes: indeed, the littoral is much narrower than on the west coast, the chain comes down directly into the ocean.

 

You arrive at the village of Hienghène by the North and make one stop at the Belvedere, the best point of view to admire the sight on the bay of Hienghène. So you will see as well the "Broudy Hen" as the "Sphinx" in the center of the bay. Hienghène is one of the most beautiful sites of New Caledonia. This village was born in 1887 and counts today 2 200 inhabitants today. Hienghène is part and parcel of the custom area “ Hoot ma waap ". It is the village of Jean-Marie Tjibaou.

 

Arrival at the Koulnoué village in the afternoon.

Welcome drink, buffet dinner and overnight in a Premium Bungalow at Koulnoue Village.

 

Koulnoué hotel :

The Koulnoué Village hotel is 10kms from Hienghène, in a beautiful coconut plantation by the water. The 50 bungalows has a bathroom and private terrace, air conditioning, ceiling fan, tea/coffee-making facilities, fridge, safe-deposit box, television and complimentary Internet WiFi connection.

 

 

Day 6 - Friday: Visit a Melanesian Tribe & Boat Trip 

 

Buffet breakfast at the restaurant of your hotel (from 6.30 am).

 

9.00 am - Departure from the hotel for a cultural experience in a melanesian tribe. Firstly, learn how the kanak money is made and used. Then, follow the Hienghene river to the Tiendanite tribe where Charline and her family will wait for you. After the traditional kanak gesture, let Charline drive you along the tribe and explain you her daily activities (field culture, hunting, fishing, weaving, cooking…).

 

11.30 am - Taste the Bougna in the tribe, the traditional melanesian dish cooked in banana leaves under hot stones.The yam is very important in the melanesian culture. The yam is a basis in the melanesian alimentation but it is also used a lot in customs made for weddings, deaths and local events.

 

01.00 pm - Leave the tribe and return to the village of Hienghene. Possibility to stop for pictures on the road.

 

02.00 pm - Departure for a boat trip of approximately 2 hours, between lagoon and river. Sight on the spectacular limestone rock of Lindéralique and discover the mangrove swamp. You will facing impresive black limeston cliff which could peak about 60 metres high.

 

04.30 pm - Back to the Koulnoué Village hotel.

 

Dinner and overnight in a Premium Bungalow at Koulnoue Village.

 

 

Day 7 - Saturday: Road from Hienghene to Noumea (300 km)

 

Buffet breakfast at the restaurant of the hotel (from 6.30 am).

 

8.30 am - Departure to Bourail. you will get drived alongside East coast, stop at the beautiful Bâ waterfall (cascade de Bâ) at Houailou and its 15m diameter natural water hole, then cross the mountain passing by the “Flying Fox Pass” (col des roussettes) “Houailou – Bourail”.

 

Arival around 11.30 am in Bourail. Lunch will be either in the village of Bourail or at Poé.

 

Back on the road to Nouméa, in the beginning of the afternoon.

 

Stops:

• Visit the rock beach with a view on the "Roche Percée", a spectacular cliff pierced by caves, and the "Bonhomme" rock formation, build by quartz monolith carved by the waves. See the view over the “Turtle Bay”, a pretty beach bordered by pine trees.This Beach is a environmentally protected zone for turtle “caouanes” egg laying.

• La Foa Sculpture Park: The sculpture garden is located behind La Foa Tourism Office and features wonderful sculptures by artists from throughout New Caledonia. The garden is a pleasant place for a walk.

 

Arrival in Nouméa around 17:30.

 

Dinner and overnight in a Standard Room at Beaurivage Hotel.

 

 

Day 8 - Sunday: Noumea

 

Buffet breakfast at the restaurant of your hotel.

 

Possibility to extend your stay in New Caledonia - please consult us.