Noumea, New Caledonia, is beautiful. From Ouen Toro, the lookout point where cannons from World War II still point over the harbor, the turquoise blue Pacific Ocean flows past green islands beneath an endless blue sky. We visited this French island on March 12, 2026. It was modern, peaceful, and quiet, although a civil war had raged just months before. The citizens of New Caledonia are split on whether to remain part of France or gain their independence. There is a valuable nickel mine on New Caledonia, and so the French are holding on.
Noumea was a rest and recreation area for Allied troops stationed in the South Pacific during World War II, and the cannons pointed over the bay still remain.
Another picturesque lookout spot above Noumea is the Notre Dame d'Ocean Pacifique open air church.
The church included a huge statue of the Madonna overlooking one of Noumea's elegant beaches.
The stations of the cross surrounded the Madonna, including tiled shelters with figures of Jesus during his last procession from Pontius Pilate's palace to Golgotha. It was a sort of park combined with a church.
When we stopped at Noumea on a previous cruise, we visited its excellent museums displaying Melanesian art, maritime voyages and ships, and its experience as a troop paradise during World War II. On this trip, we visited an excellent small aquarium.
And, everywhere we went, we appreciated Noumea's tropical flowers.
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