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The New Caledonia Grand Route 1 (NC-GR1) is a walking trail that goes from Baie de la Somme in the south of the big island of Grande Terre all the way to Dumbea River, just west of Noumea. Much of the track follows old mining and logging roads and you can find ruins along the way.
This sphere image shows where an old mining rail road once cut through. There are still traces of the railroad track in the bush. Today the river and bush has mostly recovered and wilderness has returned - with a few scars. Notice the tree barely hanging on to the upper edge of the eroded slope. It looks precarious but I saw that same tree looking just like it does now over 25 years ago and it will probably be there if you decide to make this trek yourself one day.
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.
