Plum brings together two distinct themes: the beach at Baie de Plum and the Chapelle de Plum, one of the last historic reminders of the Pacific War in New Caledonia. The chapel is currently closed to visitors. Its simple building and historical significance give the area’s cultural heritage its own distinctive focus.

Beach and chapel in Plum

The beach at Baie de Plum stretches for 800 metres. Its sand is brown, and the beach faces the bay. The Chapelle de Plum is built from lightweight materials, including wood; it has no bells or ornamentation. In Plum, a distinct coastal landscape and a simply designed historical landmark stand side by side as separate themes. Visitors choosing the area for a stay can distinguish between these two aspects: the beach describes the landscape, while the closed chapel represents the history of the Pacific War in New Caledonia.

Plum as a stop on a cultural route

The Circuit des Eglises du Grand Sud is a cultural route to be explored independently by car or motorcycle. It extends beyond Plum; the Chapelle Américaine de Plum (Jeanne d’Arc) is listed as one of its stops. The circuit is therefore a regional option, not one focused solely on Plum. The route can help orient those who would like to place their interest in the chapel within a broader cultural context. Its inclusion as a stop does not change the fact that the Chapelle de Plum is currently closed to visitors.

History in the wider destination of Le Mont-Dore

In the wider destination of Le Mont-Dore, the Village de Prony bears witness to the history of New Caledonia’s penal colony. The former bread oven, powder magazine, timber transport sled and officers’ quarters of the former Camp Sébert have been preserved there. Guided tours with a cultural heritage guide are organised regularly; check the current arrangements before travelling. The Sentier de la Pénitentiaire leads to the Village de Prony and to historical remains from the penal colony era at the beginning of the 20th century. The Sentier de l’îlot Casy offers another glimpse of the past: its remains include a former cultivation area and a cemetery with a few graves.

Trails and landscapes in Le Mont-Dore

In the wider destination of Le Mont-Dore, the Sentiers du Mont-Dore offer views across the Grand Sud and Nouméa. From the viewpoint by the Cap N’Dua lighthouse, the view extends over the southern lagoon; on a clear day, the Île des Pins can also be seen in the distance. The Crève-Coeur viewpoint at the Col de Prony offers another panoramic view, overlooking the Champ de bataille and the Baie de la Somme. The Sentiers des Bois du Sud, by contrast, pass through a former forestry site with humid forest. Trees found there include Chêne-gomme, Houp and Kaori. Take water for the higher elevations of the Bois du Sud, as there is no water source there.

Seasonal nature experiences

In the wider destination of Le Mont-Dore, humpback whales can be seen near Prony or at Cap N’Dua from mid-July to mid-September; the period may shift from year to year. During this time, the jetty at Baie de la Somme serves as a departure point for whale-watching trips and outings to Îlot Casy. Check the dates and the condition of the jetty before travelling. Creek Pernod is also associated with mountain biking activities and the Boucles de Netcha in Le Mont-Dore.

Discover more destinations: Yate, Vao, Dumbéa, Bourail, Nouméa, La Tontouta, Bouloupari, Sarraméa

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