1. Arrival in New Caledonia
After a short two-and-a-half-hour flight, you’ll touch down on the tarmac at La Tontouta. On the drive into Nouméa, the coastal road gives you your first taste of New Caledonia’s landscapes.
Tontouta Airport Nct
A race with a view: palm trees, sea breeze, and a marathon route tracing the lagoon’s edge.
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4 days in Nouméa for the New Caledonia Marathon
Day 1
First glimpse of Nouméa
In Nouméa, just a short climb—and the lagoon opens up as far as the eye can see.
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Canons of Ouen Toro, Noumea
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2. Ouen Toro lookout
Once you’ve checked in and settled into your hotel, head up to the Ouen Toro lookout for your first New Caledonian sunset. From this natural vantage point, the lagoon stretches as far as the eye can see, glowing in shades of orange and gold. You may even come across a few local runners training along the trails — a first taste of the atmosphere waiting for you over the coming days.
3. Anse Vata & Baie des Citrons
Then make your way back down towards the bays for dinner on a terrace overlooking the lagoon. Tomorrow, things start to get serious.
Anse Vata Kenzo Tanaka
Kitesurf & stand-up paddle at Anse Vata, Noumea
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Promenade de la Baie des Citrons, Noumea
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Marvel at the sunset on Baie des Citrons
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Day 2
Race preparation & island calm1. Check the race course
The morning is all about picking up your race bib and doing one last check of the course along Nouméa’s bays. One final time, you take in the route, memorise the key sections and visualise your race.
The Ouen Toro in Noumea
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Duck Island (Ilot Canard)
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Beach of the Canard island in Noumea
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Îlot Canard, Noumea
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2. Relax on Îlot Canard
In the afternoon, slow things right down. Hop aboard a taxi boat from Anse Vata Beach and make your way to Îlot Canard. Crystal-clear water, coral reefs, mask and snorkel — it’s a gentle, low-effort activity, perfect for clearing your head without tiring your legs.
Enjoy a lunch on the islet, feet in the sand, facing the lagoon. It’s exactly the kind of break a runner needs on the day before a race.
As evening settles in, it’s time for the final preparations: kit laid out, alarm set, light dinner and a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow at 7:00 am, the starting gun goes off.
Day 3
New Caledonia Marathon Day1. Race start
As the sun rises over Nouméa’s turquoise lagoon, runners gather at Henry Milliard Racecourse, in a mix of excitement and adrenaline. The warm Pacific air, cheering crowds, and stunning ocean views create a start line unlike anywhere else — the perfect beginning to an unforgettable island marathon.
One surge, one start line: feel the pulse of Nouméa’s International Marathon.
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A marathon with the lagoon as your backdrop… Nouméa hits different.
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2. Race in progress
Stride after stride, the course unfolds along Nouméa’s stunning bays, palm-lined roads, and cheering locals carrying you forward. Between effort and emotion, every kilometre feels like part race, part island escape.
3. Post-race
Crossing the finish line in Nouméa feels unforgettable. Exhausted but euphoric, you arrive surrounded by cheers, ocean breeze, and the pride of completing a marathon in one of the most beautiful settings in the Pacific. Every step, every bay, every sunrise moment suddenly feels worth it.
Marathon International Mobil De Nouvelle Caledonie 2023 Florian Braure3
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Marathon International Mobil De Nouvelle Caledonie 2023 Florian Braure2
Marathon International Mobil De Nouvelle Caledonie 2023 Florian Braure
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And enjoy the friendly atmosphere with fellow runners during the prize-giving ceremony.
Day 4
Recovery & one last taste of NouméaWith race day behind you, this morning is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Whether you ran the marathon, the half-marathon or joined the event in your own way, everyone has their own way of saying goodbye to New Caledonia.
1. For thrill-seekers
Book a microlight flight over the lagoon. Then head to the airfield. The flight lasts around 30 minutes, giving you the feeling of being suspended between sky and sea as you look down on the landscapes you ran through the day before.
The walk at Anse-Vata Nouméa
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Lemon Bay -Marine Reveilhac-2030-04-23
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2. For easy wanderers
For those who prefer to wander, Nouméa is just as enjoyable on foot: its streets, shops, cafés and waterfront terraces. One last coffee facing the lagoon, a few souvenirs in your bag, and memories of the race still fresh in your mind.
3. For a well-earned recovery
Nouméa also offers plenty of wellness spaces where you can look after yourself after the effort: a recovery massage, a treatment for heavy legs or a relaxing hammam session.
