Alright, finally sitting down to put together my thoughts and what I actually did during my time in Noumea. It’s been on my to-do list to share this. Wasn’t one of those trips planned down to the minute, more like I showed up and figured it out day by day, which is sometimes the best way, you know?
First off, getting there. Flew into the main international airport, La Tontouta. Just a heads up, it’s a fair drive from Noumea itself, maybe 45 minutes to an hour. I just hopped on one of the shuttle buses, pretty straightforward. Found my accommodation, I stayed somewhere not too far from Anse Vata beach. Dropped my bags and, honestly, the first thing I did was walk straight down to the water. Needed to see it.
Hitting the Beaches
Spent a good chunk of that first day just exploring the main beach areas. Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons are right next to each other, easy to walk between them. Anse Vata had a lot going on, especially with windsurfers and kitesurfers – the wind really picks up there. It was pretty cool just watching them for a while.
Baie des Citrons felt a bit calmer, more sheltered maybe? Lined with restaurants and cafes. I grabbed some lunch there, just picked a place that looked busy. Had some fish, it was simple but fresh. Honestly, just walking along the promenade, feeling the sun, that was a big part of the activity. Didn’t feel the need to rush around.
Culture and City Stroll
Next day, I decided I should see something beyond the sand. Made my way to the Tjibaou Cultural Centre. Heard it was worth seeing, and yeah, it really was. The building itself is striking, blends right into the landscape. Spent a couple of hours there, learning about Kanak culture and history. It felt good to connect with that aspect of New Caledonia.
Later, I headed into the main city area. Walked around Place des Cocotiers, the central square. It’s got that sort of French colonial feel, lots of people milling about. Found the local market nearby, the Port Moselle Market. That was great. Always like checking out local markets. Grabbed some tropical fruit I hadn’t tried before, looked at the fresh fish, just soaked in the atmosphere. Lots of local produce and crafts.
A Quick Island Hop
I kept seeing these little islands just off the coast from Anse Vata. Looked easy enough to get to. So, one afternoon, I took a water taxi over to Duck Island (Île aux Canards). It’s literally like a 5-minute boat ride. Rented some snorkel gear right there on the island. The snorkeling was decent – saw some colourful fish, bits of coral. Nothing epic, but for how easy it was to get there, it was a really pleasant way to spend a few hours. Just swam around, lay on the beach. Very low effort, high reward kind of thing.
Food Thoughts
Can’t forget the food. Definitely a strong French influence everywhere. Found some great bakeries for morning croissants and coffee – that was a daily ritual. Seafood was generally excellent. Had some amazing prawns and fresh tuna. Tried to find some local specialties too. Didn’t manage the full traditional underground ‘bougna’ experience, but had a restaurant version which was interesting. It’s like a mix of root vegetables, maybe chicken or fish, cooked in coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaves. Worth trying if you see it.
Wrapping Up
So, Noumea. What did I actually do? I walked a lot. I swam. I ate well. I saw some culture. I relaxed. It wasn’t about ticking off a giant list. It was more about settling into the place’s rhythm. Beaches are obviously a highlight, especially Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons. The cultural centre gave some important context. The market was lively. And that quick trip to Duck Island was super easy and fun.
My approach was just to explore casually. If you go, I’d say don’t overschedule. Give yourself time to just wander along the waterfront or sit at a cafe. That’s where I found the real feel of the place. That was my Noumea practice run, anyway. Just took it as it came.