GR® NC1 complet

A crossing of the Grand Sud towards Dumbéa

The route starts from the baie de la Somme, at Prony, and gradually climbs to the reliefs of the Plaine des Lacs, the former mining landscapes, the ridges and the humid forests of southern New Caledonia. It then reaches the Rivière Bleue area before finishing in the Dumbéa valley.

Province Sud announces 126.7 km, +1,500 m, -1,500 m and 34 h 41 for the whole route. These are the official values shown on the listing; they are not replaced by a Trailboard calculation on a GPX with variants and separate segments.

The published stages and variants

1. From Prony to the Néocallitropsis refuge: an introduction to the mining and forestry history of the Grand Sud, via the little Rivière Bleue de Prony and the CR 7 road.

2. From the Néocallitropsis to Netcha: the Alain Grouazel ridge trail follows the watershed between the Plaine des Lacs and the Pernod creek valley, with the Pic du Pin and the ocean as landscape landmarks.

3. From Netcha to Ouénarou: the route crosses the Pernod creek and the Bois du Sud before reaching the Ouénarou refuge.

4. From Ouénarou, Province Sud publishes three options: 4A via the Bon Secours area and the Muletiers refuge; 4B via the ridges and the Germain bridge to the Tristaniopsis; 4C via the Rivière Bleue to the Tristaniopsis. Bivouacking at the Germain bridge is reported as possible on the ridge option.

5. From the Muletiers to the Tristaniopsis: the route skirts the Rivière Blanche marsh and passes through the Mois de Mai forest.

6. From the Tristaniopsis to the Mine Soleil: a stage in the Haute Rivière Bleue, via the Corne du Diable and the Fougères camp.

7. From the Mine Soleil to the Dumbéa valley: the path reaches the Mineurs camp creek, then Mont Poudéhoume, before descending towards Dumbéa.

Reading the map without inventing a route

The GPX downloaded from the Province Sud listing is kept exactly as published. It includes many segments as well as the options around the Rivière Bleue; the Trailboard map displays them without drawing a fictitious link between two distinct endpoints.

The file does not provide usable elevations. Trailboard automatically calculates an indicative profile of the sections from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 terrain model; this profile does not represent a continuous crossing. The distance and elevation figures on the listing remain the official Province Sud data.

Preparing a self-supported trek

The source recommends planning one day of walking per stage. The huts shown along the route have no electricity and cannot be booked: guests are accepted in order of arrival.

Access and overnight stays in the Rivière Bleue Provincial Park are paid. For the stage towards Dumbéa, the listing mentions a free, mandatory summer shuttle to reach Fayard park. These arrangements may change: confirm ground conditions and access before setting off.