Ile des Pins island of the Pines

Click on the island circle for a map.

The island of the Pines is a detached piece of the main land and not a coral island like are the other islands of New Caledonia. The top of N'gé reach a mere metre 262..

 calendar photo

The "île des pins" is located at approximately 120 km from Nouméa-center. One can reach it by plane or by boat. The boat is the cheaper way and makes it possible to better see bays and small islands, but the plane offers an extraordinary scenery on the bed sea of the lagoon.

The boat takes nearly 2 hours and half and it should be known that part of the passengers is always sick on this way. Suitable small pockets are available on board. One can go outside to take some fresh air, but it very is very windy, at 60 km/h or more.

Quay of the island. We are right now in another world/

Emotion .. by plane, sand and coral reefs pass under our eyes. hibis

Peace is ensured on this small island, property of the kanaks, true miracle of a nature up to date preserved,

Hôtels are scarcely scattered, of them a high ranked one. one can find more simple, cheaper and more friendlyl. Or simply stay there only a day.

Arrival scenery : its column-like pines are single. They can top at 50 meters. hibis

In a few areas, boats or dugouts of ancestors have been reintroduced to fulfil the needs of tourists. Calendar 2005 picture.

Naval arcjitecture partially inspired from the polynesian style which was known in the past.

      hibiscustour
Kanumera bay. In front of you, a "corbeille" sort of "coral basket ". All around, a diving would reveal - one says - a setting full of fish.

The sand of the "île des Pins" is very very fine, almost too much because it rises very quickly in water simply while steping into.

Two gorgeous bays stretch along each side of the Kuto headland, whose names are Kuto and Kanuméra beach.
 

Bay of Kuto        hibiscustour
The ground of this page is a close up of the Kuto bay.sand (less white).

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One can verify there the the thinness  of the sand wich these little boys sprinkle themselves with. They roll sometimes totally into it (this one, to the left).

Image NC tourisme

Kanaks adore to be coated with sand and you will see the children smearing themselves with after having been in water; they roll sometimes straightforwardly inside.

As a matter of fact, Kanaks keep their clothes bathing and do not have any bath suit (for what ? one dries quickly).

 
  Do come here, in the water. hibiscustour
  Kuto beach seen from the sea.
Gorgeous settings with large shadded under trees spaces. Même à Nouméa. L'appropriation sans limite de la nature a fait ses ravages un peu partout.

On the way, a very typical small Anglican church in its simplicity, framed by a superb setting of hill and pines tree. hibis

near to the plate, along the red ground road, watch carefully the slopes ; you will see small wild orchids. hibis

If you go and visit the island, you will be possibly passing through from meagre coverage areas to tropical luxuriant others.

 
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Oro beach; one of the most beautiful spots of the island; the red circle delimits the following sight, on the right hand.

Detail of the left hand sight : cross the bridge to reach an islet where is established a very good hotel. Apart from the bridge, the landscape is completely natural and has been preserved.

The cave of the Hortense Queen.

 

Here we are (but it was a tenth of years ago..) : in the red circle, tiny tourists - ourselves - refer to the scale of the giant tree ferns, on the left and until the top !

 hibis

"bye bye"...we would like to !