L'Île des Pins

The Isle of Pines is another of the islands in the New Caledonia archipelago. It is located southeast of Noumea (see another post).
The 1st picture is taken from the plane on the approach to the small airport. Much of the island's coast is similar, and most of the island is wooded.
The next 3 pictures are at the Hotel Kou Bugny where I stayed. The 2nd picture is of part of the buildings; the 3rd looks along the beach here; and the 4th looks out across Kuto Bay where the hotel is located. To the left you can make out the pier where the ferry and small ships dock. The Kou Bugny is a good place to stay.
Across a narrow peninsula from Kuto Bay is Kanuméra Bay in the 5th picture. The coral rock island to the left is a sacred island to the native people here.
The 6th picture is a small road intersection with a number of local carvings. I saw several similar sites in my limited tour. There are a few in the picture of the hotel, too.
The 7th picture is just a road through the local vegetation. It is typical of the south part of the island where I stayed.
The 8th and 9th pictures are of an interesting feature. This is the piscine naturelle or natural swimming pool. The pool is salt water cut off from the ocean by a barrier of coral rock. The 8th picture looks across the pool. The area toward the other side that is more colored is where the water is deepest. This is an area of crystal clear water with lots of fish and coral. I stood and watched schools of fish swim around me. At one point I got nipped on the leg, probably because I got too close to a nest. The place is spectacular.
The 9th picture is nearby. It is a shallow area that connects back to the ocean. It has a current like a river that I'm guessing relates to tidal action.Read more