Noumea and our fun ride on the 'Tchou Tchou train" Part 1

The next port we visited was at Noumea, the capital city of the main island and of the entire archipelago of New Caledonia. Often these two names are mixed up by visitors. In fact the main island is called Grande Terre.

Like the Isle of Pines, Grande Terre is a very multicultural society, including Kanaks and native people from other Pacific nations, people of French origin and people from many other nations, including Australia. But of course the population is much larger. 

This island has a large nickel mining operation, which has played a significant role in its economy and is one reason why it has a large and very busy port. So we did not have to use tender boats as we did at the Isle of Pines. 

The shore excursion we chose was to go for a ride on one of the famous and very cute ‘Tchou Tchou trains’. This first took us through parts of the city, which was quite intriguing, then up onto a hill overlooking the city. 

We alighted at a lookout area dominated by the rather unique ‘Our Lady of the Pacific’ statue, a very large and impressive statue that reflects the Roman Catholic traditions established by the first French settlers. Interestingly, before they arrived, Captain Cook stopped at the island on one of his voyages. I can only gather the British monarchy decided that Australia was a better location for a settlement.  

From this site we were able to view the city and its port operations. We were then given a superb morning tea of locally made apple cider and home-made French pastries. We had been warned on the ship not to eat or drink anything on this island or the Isle of Pines, even an ice cream, because of concerns about contaminated water used in their manufacture, but as our guide was French and assured us this was all from French sources, we decided there was no risk. And none of us had any problems.  (On the Isle of Pines we only had a can of drink at a hotel, and again suffered no consequences. The local food was very tempting though, and smelled delicious, especially the food cooked in banana leaves in a fire pit. I must admit I cannot see how that would have been dangerous.)  

We then went on a journey along one of the beaches and up to a spot where old cannons still stood guard, but I will talk about that and the role they played in WW2 next time. 

The photos below show our view of sunrise on the ship, the port and views from the early stages of our very fun ride on the ‘train’. 

Even more of the Isle of Pines

I am horrified to discover that it is two months since my last post.

What with Christmas and all the celebrations and catching up with family and friends in that special season, including writing two newsletters, I have been flat out. I am now in our state of New South Wales visiting my son and grandsons, but making use of the break whilst they are off swimming. It is very hot here! (As you know, we have opposite seasons to those of you in the Northern Hemisphere who read my blog.) 

In my last post I promised to show you a little more of the Isle of Pines, which I visited again on another South Pacific cruise in 2016. 

Our tour guide this time was a delightful Kanak who spoke fluent French and English as well as his own language. He had us all greeting each other and him in his language, and told us so many interesting tales. We visited some of the same places as I had done previously, but this time we spent more time in the forest hearing the story of Queen Hortense, the first Queen of the local Kanak people. Traditionally they only ever had a king, but at that time she was the only direct descendant of the King. Giving her this role angered many of the men, and so poor Hortense was spirited away by some loyal subjects to a cave in the middle of the forest. There she lived in hiding for many months until things calmed down and she could take her rightful place. Sadly, of course, over the history of humankind she was not the only woman subjected to male prejudice . . .  but apparently she carried out her role with great wisdom and now things are very different. One of the photos below was taken at a memorial to the Queen at the entrance to the forest. 

The forest was just beautiful, I thought, though we had to watch our step. I loved some off the tropical flowering plants we saw growing there. 

Later on that trip we also visited a beautiful beach where women were sitting in the shade weaving and we saw some outrigger canoes - now with motors! It was just so picturesque and peaceful! 

In my next post I will show you something of the main island in the archipelago, and its capital city Noumea. It was worth visiting too, but I must confess I preferred the Isle of Pines, with its much smaller population and simplicity and charm.

A cruise to Noumea and the Isle of Pines Part 2 - more of the Isle of Pines

The native people of New Caledonia are called ‘Kanaks’. Our next stop was at Saint Maurice Bay, where we saw traditional Kanak wood carvings that were placed around a religious memorial that was established to commemorate the arrival of the first Marist Brothers on the island in 1861. The bay was very picturesque and I loved the flowers that grew near this site. 

Next we saw some old convict ruins that once held both French and Arab prisoners, who has been transported there from France and were forced to build their prison from local stone. If I remember the guide’s talk correctly, some prisoners were even marched to a guillotine. So the English were not the only ones who used one of their colonies as a penal settlement! 

Finally we stopped at a beautiful white-sanded beach, at the back of which was a blue lagoon. It had been very hot and humid, so we were very glad to be able to step into some shade and find a place where we could buy a drink and use the bathroom.  

A couple of years later, I visited this lovely tropical island again on a different cruise, so in my next post I will tell you about that experience, so you can have a fuller picture of the Isle of Pines.

The memorial and surrounds at Saint Maurice Bay 

 The ruins of the penal colony

 The lagoon

The bay from where you can see our ship anchored offshore

A cruise to Noumea and the Isle of Pines Part 1 - Sydney, the ship and the start of our tour

The Kimberley Adventure that culminated in my trip to Kangaroo Island, about which I have regaled my readers over a number of months now, took place in 2013. I was to go back to the ‘Top End’ via the coast of Western Australia in 2015, but I will talk about that later. 

This time I am taking you on a cruise with me. This was a most wonderful, unforgettable experience in a very different way.  

In Spring 2014, a friend and I went on a ‘Bravo’ cruise on the Royal Caribbean ship ‘Radiance of the Seas’. I had been on this ship once before, on a fantastic cruise to New Zealand. But unfortunately I did not have a good camera then, so did not get very many photos that are worthy of publication. I will talk about that trip another time. 

This cruise was extra special because it featured top stars from opera and musical theatre. and an orchestra  They included the famous Elaine Paige! We had beautiful music all around the ship day and night and spectacular concerts at night, hence the name ‘Bravo’.  

The cruise did a circle from Sydney to two South Pacific islands that are part of the archipelago of New Caledonia: the Isle of Pines and Noumea, then back to Sydney. This was the first time we had seen either island, and we just loved them.

I caught the train to Sydney while my friend flew there. The hotel we stayed in was right at the foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  It was just a couple of hundred metres from the ship, which was berthed at Circular Quay opposite the Sydney Opera House. I did an early morning walk from the hotel to look at the ship, so took some photos on the walk as well as later ones from the ship. 

So the first photos in the following batch of photos are of Sydney Harbour Bridge, the ship and the part of Sydney around Circular Quay where all the ferries dock. Next there are some views from the ship whilst in Sydney Harbour, and some photos taken inside the ship. Finally you can see some of our very first sights on the fascinating coach tour we did of the Isle of Pines. Enjoy! 

A view of Sydney Harbour Bridge from our hotel.

Another view of the bridge from the start of the walk. 

Our ship.

The Sydney Opera House in shadow. taken with a zoom lens from the walking path.

One view of the covered pool on the ship, seen as we toured the ship.

Another view at the pool. There were outdoor pools as well.  

View from the portside.

View from the other side, with the sun now shining on the opera house.

Another view - this time looking at Circular Quay. 

The atrium - the central part of the ship.

Another view of the very colourful atrium.

A typical house and garden on the Isle of Pines, taken from the coach.

Lovely historic (1861) Catholic church: Notre Dame de l'Assomption. The main language spoken here is French. 

A view from the steps in front of the church.

Inside the church.

Some lovely local flowers near the altar. 

Another view inside the church.

Kangaroo Island Part 2 - 'Remarkable Rocks', rugged coastlines and kangaroos

After our very enjoyable visits to the Hanson Bay Koala Walk and the Flinders Chase National Park, where we saw some typical Australian eucalyptus scrub, fascinating plants that are unique to this region and wonderful coastal scenery, we then drove to a place that was very aptly called ‘Remarkable Rocks’. This is a group of granite boulders that have been sculpted into the most amazing, artistic  shapes over time by the wind and water.

From there we saw more spectacular coastline and the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and Admirals Arch. Walking down then back up the walkways here was very invigorating, to say the least! The sea air was very fresh and the sound of the ocean pounding against the rocks was almost deafening. I just loved it!

And on the way back we finally saw a small mob of the kangaroos after which the island is named. (‘Mob’ is the collective noun for kangaroos.)

I certainly can recommend visiting this great island with its wild landscapes and unique flora and fauna. I Visited it in August, which was a great time to visit, though I was lucky the ferry was able to go back and forth when there had been rough seas around that time. As I said in my last post, I was advised that summer is not a good time because it can be extremely hot, even though it is surrounded by ocean. You also can fly there.   

The next morning I boarded the ferry back to the mainland and the coach back to Adelaide, ready for my train trip back to Melbourne. I had been away several weeks and was glad to be home again, though I had enjoyed every moment of my long trip to the ‘Top end’, as it is often called, and  back down south. With Kangaroo Island added in to make the most of the time I waited for the ‘Overlander’ to take me home from Adelaide to Melbourne after arriving in Adelaide on the Ghan, I had literally travelled between the Kimberley coastline on the  ‘top’ of of Australia to the southern coastline of the mainland.

This is the end of my long set of stories about this wonderful, magical trip. 

Next time I will talk about my next adventure after that. 

Meanwhile, I do hope you enjoy the following large number of photos from Kangaroo Island. The last photo is of the ferry I boarded to return to the mainland. 

Early in the morning, after a stormy night. The ferry can take vehicles as well, hence the space down the middle.