Just a short hop from Nouméa, Sainte-Marie Island (also known as Uéré) features a marked walking track that takes you through the remains of a former silica quarry, to a handful of scenic lookouts and the island’s beaches.
Start (652 231 -7 532 308; elev. 1 m): From the old wharf (ruins visible on the beach), head east. The route follows the former haul road once used to transport silica from the quarry to the wharf.
1 – Junction (652 550 -7 532 048; elev. 22 m): The unmarked track descending to the right can return to the old wharf along the shoreline at low tide (not waymarked, not developed). Turn left and head north. Pass a picnic table beside the track and continue to the former silica quarry site. The track swings north-west, then south-west. After a few steps cut into the ground, it skirts the base of a small white cliff (extraction area, information sign). Following a wide switchback, continue south-west to reach the upper rim of the old quarry. Head north to the next point.
2 – Junction (652 599 -7 532 295; elev. 55 m): Straight ahead, the track leads to the island’s highest point (elev. 62 m), though a clearing at the top limits views. Return to Point 2, then descend east-north-east through open woodland to the sea. Near the end, steps cut into the ground help you cross the bank and reach the beach.
3 – Beach (652 807 -7 532 381; elev. 3 m): Follow the beach south for 250 m.
4 – Beach (652 898 -7 532 587; elev. 2 m): Turn left to leave the beach and climb towards a small saddle in the dry forest.
5 – Junction (652 717 -7 532 672; elev. 24 m):
Turn right to reach the shoreline (Db – 652 698 -7 532 759; elev. 1 m) and the waterski area, 100 m return (information sign).
Turn left to return to the start (Da).
6 – Banyan trees (652 314 -7 532 439; elev. 8 m): The track descends gently towards the sea (several impressive banyans grow in this forest). Reach the seaside faré. (By walking along the beach north-north-west for 150 m, you can reach a nice viewpoint.) Follow the beach south for around 100 m to return to the old wharf (Da).
© Text: Delphine & Jean Francis Clair
FFRandonnée® rating:
Effort (22): 1 — Easy
Technical difficulty: 1 — Easy
Risk: 1 — Low
1 – Junction (652 550 -7 532 048; elev. 22 m): The unmarked track descending to the right can return to the old wharf along the shoreline at low tide (not waymarked, not developed). Turn left and head north. Pass a picnic table beside the track and continue to the former silica quarry site. The track swings north-west, then south-west. After a few steps cut into the ground, it skirts the base of a small white cliff (extraction area, information sign). Following a wide switchback, continue south-west to reach the upper rim of the old quarry. Head north to the next point.
2 – Junction (652 599 -7 532 295; elev. 55 m): Straight ahead, the track leads to the island’s highest point (elev. 62 m), though a clearing at the top limits views. Return to Point 2, then descend east-north-east through open woodland to the sea. Near the end, steps cut into the ground help you cross the bank and reach the beach.
3 – Beach (652 807 -7 532 381; elev. 3 m): Follow the beach south for 250 m.
4 – Beach (652 898 -7 532 587; elev. 2 m): Turn left to leave the beach and climb towards a small saddle in the dry forest.
5 – Junction (652 717 -7 532 672; elev. 24 m):
Turn right to reach the shoreline (Db – 652 698 -7 532 759; elev. 1 m) and the waterski area, 100 m return (information sign).
Turn left to return to the start (Da).
6 – Banyan trees (652 314 -7 532 439; elev. 8 m): The track descends gently towards the sea (several impressive banyans grow in this forest). Reach the seaside faré. (By walking along the beach north-north-west for 150 m, you can reach a nice viewpoint.) Follow the beach south for around 100 m to return to the old wharf (Da).
© Text: Delphine & Jean Francis Clair
FFRandonnée® rating:
Effort (22): 1 — Easy
Technical difficulty: 1 — Easy
Risk: 1 — Low
Plain text period
All year round daily.Subject to favorable weather.
Services
Picnic area
Environment
- Sea view
- Coastal