The central mountain range of the Mainland (Grande Terre) is a natural boundary, overlooking the very different faces of the East and West Coasts. Exposed to strong winds and therefore more humid, the eastern coast offers scenery with sumptuous flora. With a population of largely Melanesian origin, the East Coast has also retained a particularly charming flavour of authenticity.
From Pouebo to Ponerihouen, the East Coast unfolds along a narrow coastal strip set between the central mountain range and the ocean, a spectacular panorama. Communes located along this magnificent road, Hienghène, Touho, Pondimié, are real tropical gems, whose highlights are Hienghène’s ‘La Poule’ and the Tao waterfall.
From Hienghène to Poindimié via Touho: extraordinary underwater variety.
The seabed in this region is one of the richest and most beautiful in New Caledonia. From the pygmy seahorse to the stunning orang-utan spider, the cohorts of manta-rays to the extraordinary variety of the corals and anemones, it is a real marvel to behold! And whether you want to scuba dive or are happy with a palm-lined walk around the little island of Tibarama at Poindimié…
Mining is also a very real presence on the East Coast. When it began, this profoundly influenced the destiny of the commune of Ouégoa, at the north-eastern tip of the Grande Terre.
For several decades, gold and leather fever raged in this commune, which today is peaceful, but preserves an interesting mining heritage.
Thio: where New Caledonia’s nickel mining adventure began...
Further south, from Houaïlou to Thio, it was the nickel business which remodelled the mountain slopes, leaving its red imprint. In Thio, where the Caledonian nickel adventure began, you can visit the oldest working open-pit mine in the world. It has been in constant operation since 1880. At the heart of the village, a lovely and newly renovated museum about the mine gives prominence to the men who took part in this saga.
While Mount Panié, to the north of Hienghène, is the highest point in New Caledonia (1629 m), it is the whole mountain range which grabs the attention of biologists and entomologists from across the world. The island’s largest forested area and wild nature reserve are home to exceptionally biodiverse wildlife. The importance and originality of New Caledonia’s flora and fauna in fact put the archipelago at third in the world in terms of the rate of native wildlife. 76% of species living in the country cannot be found anywhere else in the world! Mount Panié and its almost virgin rainforest are the best terrestrial representation of New Caledonia’s biodiversity‘hot spot’.
Discover the must sees in the East coast
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Tao waterfall
Coming from the south, a few minutes after the ferry crossing from Ouaième, after the umpteenth little bridge spanning one of the countless rivers hurtling down the abrupt sides of the mountain, ...
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Balade Memorial
The bay of Balade, located at the city of Pouebo, at the extreme north-east of New Caledonia, is historic in many respects. From James Cook to Admiral Despointes through that of Catholic missiona...
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Serpentine
Mined locally since 1888, nickel is intrinsically linked to the Kouaoua mountains. Although an initial air transporter was set up in 1902 covering a 6 km stretch, it is the 12 km serpentine conve...
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Museum of Mining
If there’s a town in New Caledonia that deserves to have a museum dedicated to its mining industry, it is certainly Thio. The municipality is a worldwide historical cradle of nickel mining, and m...
Read moreThe wild beauty
The region has nevertheless retained its authenticity and wild beauty, offering a true festival of colours. Sumptuous bays, abundant waterfalls (including Bâ at Houaïlou), legendary roads (the famous timetable road linking Canala to Thio) - everything is an invitation to discovery.
