What to do in Noumea? Something different we were thinking.

Our ship was quite a long way from the city centre at a commercial wharf, and, for safety reasons, we had to be bussed into the centre. As we were dropped off at the main tour office we went into this crazily busy place and had a look at what was on offer for ideas.

The answer came in the form of the Parc Zoologique et Forestier.This is the only place you can be guaranteed to see the National Bird of New Caledonia the Kagu (or Cagou). The bird is ONLY found in New Caledonia.

We organised transport there and back to the wonderful 36-hectare dry forest park full of birds animals and plants.

The Kagu is a fascinating bird. It is flightless and it "barks". Kagus are monogamous breeders, live in pairs and raise their offspring together for a few years before their young leave the nest.
They are in danger of extinction from deforestation and predation by mammals introduced to the island (dogs, pigs and rats) and since 1977 are a protected species.

We learnt that the breeding programme in the park has led to the birth and growth of 100 kagus, which have been partially re-introduced back into their natural habitat.

It was a very pleasant few hours wandering around and we agreed we had found something quite different to do from everyone else on board.

Two more relaxing days at sea then it was back in Sydney to take up the Australian camping side of our holiday again.