Païta
hills and valleys

For decades, the Tontouta airport in the area of Païta has alone symbolize the town’s modernity. For some fifteen years, urbanity has largely expanded the geographic sphere of the international airport. And the recent opening on city land of the biggest concert hall in the territory, the Arène du Sud, now represents its current dynamism.

Delicious Païta strawberries and the ox festival

In spite of this strong urbanization, Païta has still lost nothing of its bush spirit. The crop-growing (including the famous Païta strawberry) and horticulture are still strongly anchored locally. The same goes for beef farming, celebrated every year in October with the traditional and popular Ox Festival.

Thus the town plays a role of the storehouse of Nouméa, which it has held since the early 20th century.

Also during this same period, between Nouméa and Païta, via Dumbéa, a railroad existed that would ensure that the village would thrive during its entire lifespan from 1914 to 1939 (from 1904 to 1914, the line only went from Nouméa to Dumbéa). Unfortunately, the first (and last) Caledonian passenger railroad would close to do low ridership. Rare vestiges are still visible today.

Mont Mou and Mount Humboldt: hiking for everyone

From a tourist’s point of view, the city has lots of advantages. Beside the presence of four horseback-riding centers on its land, the town encompasses Mount Humboldt and Mount Mou. Both are reputed spots for foot hiking. The two mountains feature staggered plateaus and hills up to the plains of Païta and Saint-Vincent, with the valleys of Tontouta and Tamoa splitting them upstream and downstream from the Pirogue pass.

For decades, the Tontouta airport in the area of Païta has alone symbolize the town’s modernity. For some fifteen years, urbanity has largely expanded the geographic sphere of the international airport. And the recent opening on city land of the biggest concert hall in the territory, the Arène du Sud, now represents its current dynamism.

Delicious Païta strawberries and the ox festival

In spite of this strong urbanization, Païta has still lost nothing of its bush spirit. The crop-growing (including the famous Païta strawberry) and horticulture are still strongly anchored locally. The same goes for beef farming, celebrated every year in October with the traditional and popular Ox Festival.

Thus the town plays a role of the storehouse of Nouméa, which it has held since the early 20th century.

Also during this same period, between Nouméa and Païta, via Dumbéa, a railroad existed that would ensure that the village would thrive during its entire lifespan from 1914 to 1939 (from 1904 to 1914, the line only went from Nouméa to Dumbéa). Unfortunately, the first (and last) Caledonian passenger railroad would close to do low ridership. Rare vestiges are still visible today.

Mont Mou and Mount Humboldt: hiking for everyone

From a tourist’s point of view, the city has lots of advantages. Beside the presence of four horseback-riding centers on its land, the town encompasses Mount Humboldt and Mount Mou. Both are reputed spots for foot hiking. The two mountains feature staggered plateaus and hills up to the plains of Païta and Saint-Vincent, with the valleys of Tontouta and Tamoa splitting them upstream and downstream from the Pirogue pass.