Not to miss

Bourail

Grotte de la Reine Hortense

Grotte de la Reine Hortense is one of New Caledonia's most impressive and well visited caves. A path leads through a beautiful wild tropical garden to the wide entrance where stalactites hang from the roof. This cave was where Queen Hortense, wife of a local chief, is believed to have taken refuge for several months during intertribal conflict in 1855.

The friendly local woman who maintains the cave and its surroundings can inform you about the history of the cave and the island in general. The cave is found just north of the airport road turning and bring your torch.

Parc Provincial de la Rivière Bleue

At the western end of the artificial Lac de Yaté, a hydroelectric dam, is this recreational park. It's a protected reserve ideal for nature lovers and is home to many bird species, including New Caledonia's national bird, the cagou. One of its famous features is a drowned forest where skeletons of old trees protrude tragically from the water.

There is a visitor information centre by the entrance gate which has good displays on the park's flora and fauna in both English and French. At the entrance you will also find free maps which outline the park's many walks.

Lindéralique Rocks

The Lindéralique rocks are towering black limestone rocks that start south of Hienghène and continue to the bay of Hienghène. Rising abruptly, they stretch to 60m (196ft)in places and are topped by jagged, sharp edges. At Lindéralique, you can kayak beneath the rocks and also visit a large cave, the Grotte de Lindéralique.

The most famous of the rock formations is the Poule Couveuse, or the Brooding Hen which sits on one side of the entrance to Baie de Hienghène.