My second day in New Caledonia was spent with one of the islands most popular and knowledgeable guides, Francois Tran from Caledonia Tour Company. We were picked up at our Hotel around 8am and started our trip by taking a short tour through the city of Noumea. After a short drive we were brought to a viewpoint that looked over the city and market of Noumea. It was at that point that we were given a bit of a history lesson on New Caledonia from ancient times to when Captain Cook first saw the island to the days of the United States protecting this strategic location during the Second World War.
After our 20 minute lesson in the sun we headed down the hill to the market for a short stop to look at the fish market, vegetable and fruit stands as well as souvenir stands. It was a great gathering place of locals. The market however is only open until about 1pm so it was the best time to stop by and get a few souvenirs.
After visiting the market we headed South-East to the Blue River Park. This protected parkland is a treasure on the south part of the island. It is home to endemic plants, many of which are not found anywhere else in the world. We learned about these plants as well as the hostile red soil that would kill traditional plants but not the ones that have adapted to this region. As we drove up the side of the mountain we could see the red soil covered with trees and other shrubs. It is a unique landscape, not what one would picture when thinking of a South Pacific Island.
Francois stopped halfway up the mountain to give us a geology lesson on the formation of New Caledonia. He explained why this country is so rich in Nickel and Iron and why it is so close to the surface of the land. He also had many samples of the types of rock and minerals found in the area.
As we entered the Blue River Park we stopped an an interpretive centre which showcased many of the plants and animals found in this region. One of the most interesting displays were the photos and sounds of the various birds. We were busy listening to the various birds displayed to see what they sounded like.
We continued our drive through the park before we arrived at an old bridge that crossed a narrow point in the lake. At this point we had to park our vehicle and Francois carried our lunch across the bridge as we walked along to the other side. It was here that we all hopped into a 4×4 truck that would take us further into this unique park.
Not far into this new section of the park we stopped to look at trees that were dead and standing up in the lake. It is this picture that the park came up with its logo. A dam was created over 50 years ago which flooded a sizable forest. Although most of the trees have disappeared, many are still standing dead in the water. It is an eerie sight.
As we continued on to our final picnic site we were distracted by some flightless Kagu (Cagou) Birds that were walking by the road. These birds are fairly rare on this island and there were two walking along the road. They are however not scared of people or vehicles and so we were able to get close to them and take some close up photos.
A bit late in the afternoon we finally arrived at a picnic spot by a river. While Francois was busy preparing a barbecue lunch we wandered around enjoying the warm spring air. New Caledonia is different than many other pacific islands not only because it is among the largest, but also because it has distinct seasons each year. I found that their 20 to 25C weather in their Fall (May) was perfect for me as I am not fond of extreme heat.
We enjoyed a great meal of couscous, vegetables, prawns, sausages and local deer venison. It was a hearty meal and one that filled us up after a long day of traveling. Following our meal we started heading back on the route we came on. This time however we stopped at a viewpoint where we saw a 1000 year old Kaori tree. It was an enormous tree that towered over all of the other ones around it. Not only was the trunk of the tree amazing but also the size of the tree canopy as it spread out its branches above us.
We didn’t return back to our hotel until about 6pm. Our 10 hour tour was extremely informative and an enjoyable way to see the South side of New Caledonia.