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The GRNC1 is a walking trail that will, someday, go from one end of Grande Terre, New Caledonia to the other; winding through the mountainous wilderness for over 400 kilometers. The trail is now walkable from it's start in Baie de la Somme to Dumbea; a 123 km trek. It is normally done in 8 legs, each leg requiring from 5 to 8 hours of hard up and down hill walking.
There are lots of interesting things to see along the trail including rivers, waterfalls, ruins of the old prison colony and mines, magnificent vistas from mountain tops, wildflowers, forests with huge trees, and little special places like this fern glen about 2 hours from the start of the trail.
Freddy and I have walked this part of the GRNC1 many times yet I always feel good when I come to this little glen. The trail goes through a forest with the tree canopy closed overhead so it's kind of dark. I walk out of the dark tunnel into the brilliant green glade and just have to smile; it is a happy place.
I have often wanted to photograph that happy feeling but somehow the results never gave the same uplift. So this time I put my SuperHero GoPro nest of 7 cameras on the end of a telescopic pole to get a view from 5 meters off the ground (you know, uplifted).
The results are much better than when photographed form eye-height. Maybe the uplifted feeling I get when I emerge from the forest tunnel into the light really does somehow elevate my spirit.
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.
