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In 2008 the Province Sud opened the Parc Provincial des Grandes Fougeres; a 4,550 hectare park in the cloudy mountains near Farino. It is nearly in the middle of New Caledonia's largest island Grande Terre and protects a varied and lush tropical forest with a number of rare species of birds. The Park has a network of forest trails winding through huge trees and giant fern trees.
This huge fallen tree bridges the trail in the Col de Ouano giving you the feeling of being a tiny little elf in a very big forest. When we were there in the early afternoon honey bees were humming in the canopy of the rain forest and the fragrence of the forest flowers enveloped us in an almost mystic experience.
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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.
