Noumea Tourism
Where the French Riviera meets the South Pacific
There is so much to see and do in Noumea, the possibilities are virtually endless.
A good way for your group to get to know the city is to take a short city tour – either by coach or the famous Le Petit Train to get your bearings. This will show you the highlights of what the city has to offer and you will immediately notice the close proximity and easy access to many of the places and activities.
The famous “Place des Cocotiers” is an attractive gardened square at the centre of the city and shaded by magnificent flame trees. Surrounding this are numerous streets full of interesting shops.
Discover the market by the Bay de la Moselle, which is open every day. Here, you can taste local fruits and vegetables and buy fresh fish as well as arts and crafts.
The Territorial Museum houses some superb examples of Melanesian architecture, as well as an excellent collection of utensils and artefacts from all over the Pacific. The City of Noumea Museum, housed in a building dating back to 1864, retraces the history of the city and the country from 1854 to 1954. Or the historic Bernheim Library is a must see for those interested in literature.
The Tjibaou Cultural Centre, designed by famous architect Renzo Piano, is just 10 minutes from the city centre. It is the cultural reference point for the entire South Pacific and offers the visitor a unique collection of contemporary art from the region.
The "Parc Forestier" nature reserve offers both botanical and zoological treats. Especially worth viewing is the Cagou - New Caledonia's flightless national symbol bird, plus parrots, bats and deer.
One of the best views of the city, and the Pacific Ocean, can be seen from St Joseph’s beautiful gothic cathedral, which was built by convicts in 1887.
Explore downtown, do the shops and check out the wide variety of European products available, have lunch in an outdoor café and watch the sights, sounds and people as they pass by. Or enjoy a Noumea historic site tour with the Guide du Patrimoine association.
The beaches at Anse Vata, Baie des Citrons and at Pointe Magnin are focal points for a lot of activities.
Certain hotels offer free activities for guests at Anse Vata through the "Plages Loisirs" centre. These activities include windsurfing, snorkelling and pedal boats, plus deck chairs to assist with sunbathing.
Go walking or jogging along the beautiful Pierre Vernier promenade. Enjoy an ice cream from the mobile vendor.
There's so much to do day by day... and at night.
