ROADTRIPS
If you leave on Friday evening, it takes about an hour and a half from the Païta agency to get to the first stop-over. You can park here for the night (either in the campsite or off-site) or go further afield towards the Yaté lake.
This red rock region with its exotic and exuberant vegetation will transport you to another dimension, a million miles from the day-to-day world.
Sounds good ? Contact your agent who will give you plenty of tips on where to park for the night and what to do during the day throughout your island road trip.
270 Kms
3 days
New Caledonia
AGRANDIR LA CARTE
Jour 1 – Païta (Van-Away agency)-Blue river
Depending on the weather and your desires: beautiful hikes, mountain biking, kayaking in the Blue River Park (attention, closed on Mondays).
My favourite: go into the Blue River Park (you have to pay, you can’t stay there with the van, only in bivouac). Hire kayaks with Adventure Pulsion beforehand and do the drowned forest. Or better still, take advantage of certain outings organised on full moon nights!
In the same park, aventure pulsion also rents mountain bikes, possibility to combine the activities, very nice to do, even in family, easy level.
Night in camping or in wilderness, without any service, around the lake, be careful not to slip on the red earth by wet weather, or on the old road cut of the creek pernod (it is a good omen…).
Note: one side is flatter than the other for parking on the river banks, see park4night application.
Jour 2 – Yaté Dam and Madeleine Falls
Example of a hike, 9 KM from the Yaté dam (to be seen), this very well marked loop, of average level, starts on the timetable road which used to link the village of Yaté, magnificent viewpoints, waterfalls and other …. Finish with the Madeleine waterfalls park (beware of opening times) and then spend the night at the Netcha campsite, on the river bank, with a nice and comfortable swimming area, or return to the wild spot.
Or reverse the activities: start with the Madeleine waterfalls in the morning (it opens early) then hike to the dam, to finish the day at the Gite Iya campsite in the Waho tribe, in Yaté. Magnificent PMT site with a drop-off 25m from the shore (wait for high tide because it’s rough otherwise). Ask for information beforehand (rather expensive price to sleep, parking fee for the day otherwise, tendency to want to stay far from the shore…). It is also possible to park in peace at the rest area of the dam.
Head towards Yaté and the Goro road, with its impressive mining landscapes, to land at the bend in the road on the Goro Nickel metallurgical plant, a striking contrast in the middle of these botanical reserves of micro endemism…
Continue to Prony Bay, where during the whale season (mid-July to mid-September), whale watching trips are organised, departing at 8am and returning at 4pm, offering a 4th day of activity…. Or after the 2nd night, if you are at the Netcha campsite, head for the Somme Bay where the boats leave (allow for a 3/4 hour drive and then a track).
Overnight in Prony possible in the wild at the viewpoint (or just after…) or on the boat departure parking. Otherwise return to Païta. For that, plan at least 1h30 the return, (through splendid landscapes still, small very sympathetic fords to cross) as well as the time of the high pressure cleaning because of red tracks… Station of washing present on the road of the return, with the station of the round not of Casino, Mont Dore.
OTHER ROADTRIPS
14 jours en van en Nouvelle Calédonie
Ce périple de 14 jours vous permettra de voir l’essentiel de la Grande Terre Calédonienne.
READ MORE
La Nouvelle Calédonie en une semaine
Partez à la découverte des sites incontournables de la Nouvelle Calédonie, de Païta au nord de la Grande Terre en 7 jours
READ MORE
Week-end sur la Côte Ouest Calédonienne
De Poé à Bourail, en passant par la Roche Percée, ce petit road trip vous permettra de vous évader le temps d’un week-end sur la Côte Ouest Calédonienne !
READ MORE