Noumea, Paris Of The Pacific
In Noumea, you must visit the popular Baie des Citrons beaches, Anse Vata. Swim, relax, and have a drink in front of the sunset.
February 7, 2014
Noumea, Grand Terre, New Caledonia
This was our first time in Noumea, New Caledonia and I didn't know what to expect. I got up early to watch our sail in. From the ships railing, I saw a few smaller islands with pine trees and goats grazing. It looked more like I was in the Mediterranean, and not in the Pacific; until we saw the welcome dancers and drummers. There were six huge dark skinned men all barefooted, and wearing grass skirts. Six women were wearing their traditional bright orange loose clothes. They kept dancing until our ship was perfectly aligned and completely docked.
The view of the waterfront was ho-hum with just a few industrial buildings. But once we got into the terminal building, we were once again greeted by the friendly Kanaks, (locals), who were willing to pose for photographs. A group of tourist guides had congregated, touting their city tours, ranging from a half day- to full day tours. On the second floor of the terminal were another group of Kanak singers serenading the incoming passengers. A few souvenir stalls were set up and there was a variety of pricey wood carvings, shell products, sarongs, paintings and pottery. Outside the terminal was the“Yellow Tchou Tchou Train” which was a guided orientation tour. It passed the local market, the colonial residential district of Fauborg Blanchot, Quen Toro lookout point, Anse Vata beach, and LemonBay to Coconut Square.
We met our guide, Fernando and eight (8) of us jumped into his van. We agreed to pay US$20 per person for a three hour Island tour. Fernando drove us from the expansive waterfront that changed considerably after a ten minute drive. With a string of bays and beaches stretching along a peninsula protected by coral reefs, Noumea is a slice of the French Riviera in the South Pacific. It is the capital of New Calendonia, a territory of France, and is a perfect destination for gastronomes and cultural connoisseurs.
``We have two beaches here, the Anse Vata and Cote Blanche. Today is Friday that`s why there`s a lot of people on the beach,” Fernando explained.
Its expansive waterfront is a sports playground for windsurfers and kite boarders, joggers, and sun-worshipers. Water sports enthusiasts, and nature devotees alike can find plenty of diversion in and around this "Provencal" city.
``Noumea is the center of New Caledonia's epicurean and cultural scene, with restaurants serving French, Asian, and brousse (bush) cuisine; and museums exhibiting art and Melanesian artifacts. “ That restaurant is very good, but oh, very very expensive,” he said pointing to a restaurant from across the beach. ``This department store is for Japanese shoppers who fly here and buy top wines, and other goods imported from France,” Fernando said while pointing to a Department store close to the beach area.
``Look at those boats, there`s too many of these boats. The French people buy them and use them for only a few days, and then they anchor it here. The French people are show offs. If they see that you have a boat, they will buy a bigger boat even if they don`t use it that much!`` he continued.
It's the perfect place to visit for those who want tropical island getaway with a little Parisian panache.
Fernando continued driving, following the main road that winds around the mountains and valleys. We stopped at Quen Toro Park for the best look-out over the city. From there we could see the Anse Vata beach below us. There was a big gun emplacement that was used during the WW II. New Caledonia was the primary Allied military base and naval center in the Pacific. We also stopped to look at a giant Kauri tree that stood about 120 feet high, and was about 1,000 years old. There was also a natural spring fed fountain and we all filled our water bottles with the freshwater. The route winds through the hills above the city, then down to a yacht marina and tree-lined beaches of the resort area. Noumea's waterfront is a series of bays with beaches. You could walk for hours. One interesting stop was the Tjibaou Cultural center which was designed by architect Renzo Piano. He explored and promoted Kanak, an indigenous culture of the South Pacific. Here, stories are told through exhibits and collections of ritual masks and costumes, totem poles and sculptures. A pathway lined with Melenesian huts from three different regions were on display, but we didn’t have time to enter and see them. Instead, Fernando took us to the Miracle Church of Concepcion and also to his home area where we met his wife Soana. We also stopped at a nearby bakery and Cynthia bought us freshly-baked French Baguette to try.
Our last stop was the Coconut Square which is a series of four squares with a park in the middle. It was a good meeting place for locals, with benches for resting, shops, cafes and free internet access. With Fernando, we had fun touring the island dubbed the Paris of the Pacific. It was beautiful but expensive and for once we were proud that we didn’t spend a dime on souvenirs items.
Comments
Another gem of the Pacific paradise, I wonder if Kanaks speak French. Thanks for a marvelous virtual tour. From Kim L., on Feb 15, 2014 at 10:07 p.m.
I am amazed at your energy levels. Could it partly be because of your journey to those exotic and wonderful? Thanks for sharing. From Freedom, on Feb 20, 2014 at 12:34 a.m