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The GR1 trek extends from Baie du Prony in the South of New Caledonia's Grande Terre to the Dumbea River just NW of Noumea. That's about a six day wilderness walk and most people do it in stages. This sphere image is on the third leg of the GR-1, between the camping area Bois du Sud and the camping area at Netcha. It is about 15km long, and crosses two moderate mountain ridges. It took us 5 hours and by the end of the trek my legs felt like overdone spagettii. The trick is to go with a group of people, park one set of cars at one end of the trek then everyone piles into the other set of cars and drives to the other end. That way, when you come wobbling in to the end of the treck you can drive back to the start and pick up the cars.
I should mention that not everyone finds a 5 hour trek over the mountains exceptionally tiring. The morning that we did this leg of the GR1 there was a 30 km race (called a Raid, here) from Yate to Bois du Sud. There were hundreds of participants and by the time we started walking the winners had almost completed the raid.
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New Caledonia is the closest South Pacific Island to Australia and New Zealand. It is a French Territory and although the official language is French the culture is a blend of Melanesian, European, Polynesian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian, and more. There is one large mountainous island called Grande Terre and 6 smaller islands - the three Loyalty Islands, Belep and the Isle of Pines.The islands are remarkably unpopulated and there are vast areas of wilderness. There are hundreds of kilometers of walking treks, camp grounds, more than 42 parks and reserves, and crystal clear rivers with sparkling waterfalls. Almost one third of the population is located in the capital city of Noumea. Nickel mining is the primary industry and is the major contributor to the high standard of living in the country. Grande Terre is surrounded by the second largest barrier reef in the world and the protected lagoon created by this barrier reef is the largest in the world. Listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, the lagoon is 24,000 square kilometers and supports a diverse and luxuriant fauna of fish and invertebrates.The vibrant, clear and rich colors are one of the first things that visitors notice when they arrive. Noumea has a complete range of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and activities to welcome visitors.
