See photos (5)

Pedestrian Path of the Giants

Sport, Pedestrian sports, Hiking itinerary in Bourail
5.2 km
Loop
Hiking
2h
Very easy

  • Lurking between the sea and some hills, under the foliage of one of the last dry forests of New-Caledonia, the Fournier marsh of Poé conceals uncommon natural spectacles. A completely flat walking trail

  • COURSE DESCRIPTION

    D Starting point (GPS : 535 454 - 7 613 455 ; alt. 9 m / 29 ft) : leave the car park and go down to the gate. Walk through it and follow the track southward.

    1 Fork (GPS : 535 448 - 7 613 363) (signpost) : turn left. The path peacefully wanders towards the east amongst scarse niaoulis, until it reaches the observatory.

    2 Crossroads (GPS : 535 849 - 7 613 133) (signpost) : take a right southwards to get to the observatory access decking.

    3 Ornithological...
    COURSE DESCRIPTION

    D Starting point (GPS : 535 454 - 7 613 455 ; alt. 9 m / 29 ft) : leave the car park and go down to the gate. Walk through it and follow the track southward.

    1 Fork (GPS : 535 448 - 7 613 363) (signpost) : turn left. The path peacefully wanders towards the east amongst scarse niaoulis, until it reaches the observatory.

    2 Crossroads (GPS : 535 849 - 7 613 133) (signpost) : take a right southwards to get to the observatory access decking.

    3 Ornithological observatory (GPS : 535 782 - 7 613 024) (built in 2016) : get back to point . Turn right (east). Pass the signpost « Les Forêts sèches du domaine » (« Deva’s dry forests ») and keep on walking eastwards. The path strolls amongst niaoulis and dry forest shreds, before getting out on open terrain.

    4 « La lisière de la forêt » signpost (« Edge of the forest »)(GPS : 536 442 - 7 612 768) : the track inclines towards south-southeast in the direction of the No Bouaou creek, invisible and discreetly meandering into the vegetation.

    5 Crossroads (GPS : 536 485 - 7 612 471) (signpost - location signboard) : take a right westwards ( the track that goes eastwards to the left is a link to the « Forest of the Origins » trail). Then, the track continues its course in the direction of the west.

    6 « Le bosquet des Bancouliers » signpost (« Bancouliers’ grove ») (GPS : 536 247 - 7 612 548) : keep on strolling westwards in the sweltering undergrowth.

    7 Intersection (GPS : 536 102 - 7 612 470) (location signboard the left track (south) joins the « Forest of the Origins » trail thanks to a footbridge over the No Bouaou) : To stay on the « Giants trail », continue straight ahead.

    8 Fork (GPS : 536 017 - 7 612 494) : take a right to the north. Pass

    9 « Le Niaouli Géant » signpost (« The Giant Niaouli ») (GPS : 536 027 - 7 612 565) : get back to point and take a right. Go beyond the « Les stratégies » signpost and then pass « Les plantes » signpost.

    10 Crossroads (GPS : 535 652 - 7 612 694) : keep walking straight ahead towards northwest (an unmarked track goes left, to the south ; it leads to a Cook pine grove, delimiting a former mound).

    11 Creek (GPS : 535 196 - 7 613 071) : it is often dry. Walk westwards, and then northwards. Get out of the woods.

    12 Crossing with a MTB trail (GPS : 535 076 - 7 613 329) : the pathway slightly curves to the north-northeast and then gets back to point where it goes up to the car park.

    © Text Explorenc (Jean Francis et Delphine Clair)

    FFrandonnée® rating : Effort IBP 16 Easy • Technicity 2 Quite easy • Risk 1 Low.
  • Departure
    Bourail
  • Location : Bourail, 165km/102miles from Nouméa (2-hour drive), via the territorial road RT 1. After the bridge on the Nera river, head to « Roche Percée » (« pierced stone »). At the first fork, take a right towards « Domaine de Deva » (Deva natural area). At the next intersection (Gouaro), turn left and drive to the entrance of the site, which is on your right.

    Car park : second seaside roundabout (toilets,table)
  • Plain text period
    All year round between 6.30 am and 7 pm.

    Subject to favorable weather.
  • Environment
    • Forest location
    • Beach within 300 m
    • Coastal
  • Spoken languages
    • English
    • French
  • Documentation
    GPX / KML files allow you to export the trail of your hike to your GPS (or other navigation tool)
  • See all reviews
Services
  • Equipment
    • Public WC
    • Car park
    • Sustainable development
    • Outhouse
    • Free car park
  • Services
    • Pets welcome
      • Animals permitted but only on a lead.
On the premises
Close