Numea is the capital and the main port of New Caledonia. It lies in the extreme south of the main island. It is the largest French-speaking town in the Pacific Ocean and has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. There are numerous tourist hotels on a peninsula south of the centre of the city, while in the northern zone one finds the foundries that produce New Caledonia’s nickel.

Numea can offer various sporting activities, which the tourist accesses by means of a special permit. There are excellent French, Vietnamese and Polynesian restaurants. Noumea has many picturesque nightclubs, which offer cabaret shows, as well asPolynesian attractions (tahitian tamuré, wallisiano sword dance, and Melanesian pilu-rilu).

The climate is tropical, tempered by the hot, wet southwest winds. Her waters are crystalline and perfect for navigation.