Guided City Orientation Tour of Noumea

Ouen-Toro hill rises up opposite this rocky point. A road runs the length of the municipal park and leads to the 128 metre-high summit overlooking the lagoon. It is topped with two superb cannons, installed by the Australian army in 1940. From up there you can take in an unparalleled view of Noumea and its surrounding region.

Coming back down, the road around the hill frequently offers many very interesting views over the various sides of the city. To the South, you will see just below you the Méridien and Château Royal hotels, bordered by Château Royal beach, as well as Anse Vata beach and, further in the distance, the islands, Île aux Canards and Îlot Maître. Continuing westwards, the two bays, Baie des Citrons and Baie de l’Orphelinat stretch out. To the North can be seen the residential districts, such as Val Plaisance, Motor Pool, Receiving and N’Géa. Lastly, to the East lie Sainte-Marie bay and its little islands. The mountains of Mont-Dore and the hills of New Caledonia's Great South, the Grand Sud, can be seen rising in the distance.

Between two large rocks, the Rocher César towards the pointe Magnin and the famous Rocher à la voile, on the Lemon Bay side, Anse Vata is one of the main tourist spots in Nouméa. On the east side, a pedestrian pathway runs along the long beach, the Roger-Laroque promenade, with many hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and night clubs.

Located less than 10 minutes from the city center, Baie des Citrons is today the most connected seaside spot in the Caledonian "capital". Stores, bars, restaurants and night clubs follow one another along the promenade, much to the delight of tourists and Nouméans…

Formerly home to several industrial activities including smelting of nickel in Chaleix workshops, “Orphelinat” Bay is now mainly a very nice residential area that also includes South Port Marina. The waterfront has been recently converted to a pedestrian and bicycle path lined with palm trees for athletes and families to tour the bays.
Another memory of the Second World War is an anchor that belonged to the US military installed in the country in this period. It now sits in the middle of the main roundabout in the neighbourhood, bay front, and took the name of “crossroads of marine anchor”.

The Place des Cocotiers (Coconut Tree Square) is, since the end of the 19th century, the heart of the city of Nouméa. Over a surface of almost 4 hectares (and 400 meters long from east to west), its vast esplanade with a slight slope is a place of meetings, tranquility and festivities all year long.