Plum: Beach and Chapelle de Plum

Plum can be explored through two distinct local attractions: Baie de Plum beach and the history of the Chapelle de Plum. If you’re looking for hotels in Plum, these themes can help shape your stay: a specific stretch of coast on the one hand, a historic building on the other. The Circuit des Eglises du Grand Sud also broadens the scope to include a regional route that is not limited to Plum.

Beach and scenery at Baie de Plum

Baie de Plum beach is 800 meters long, has brown sand, and faces the bay. Its length, color, and orientation describe the same stretch of beach from three perspectives: its extent, its appearance, and how it faces the bay. This attraction therefore focuses on the specific coastal landscape. Together with the chapel, it creates a contrast between scenery and history: both features are part of Plum, but they offer different points of interest.

The Chapelle de Plum and the cultural route

The Chapelle de Plum is one of the last historical reminders of the Pacific War in New Caledonia. Its simple building is made of lightweight materials, including wood; it has no bells or decoration. Its understated design contrasts with its historical significance as a reminder of the Pacific War. The chapel is currently closed to visitors. Bear this in mind if you plan to visit it as a specific sightseeing destination.

The Chapelle Américaine de Plum (Jeanne d’Arc) is a stop on the Circuit des Eglises du Grand Sud. The cultural route can be taken independently by car or motorcycle and goes beyond Plum. It should therefore be understood as a regional route, not one limited to Plum. The chapel’s inclusion as a stop does not change the fact that it is currently closed to visitors.

History in the wider destination of Le Mont-Dore

In the wider destination of Le Mont-Dore, the Village de Prony bears witness to the history of New Caledonia’s penal colony. The former bread oven, powder magazine, wood-hauling sled, and officers’ quarters of the former Camp Sébert remain there. Guided tours organized at the Village are regularly offered by a heritage guide; check the current arrangements before your trip. The Sentier de la Pénitentiaire leads to the Village de Prony and to historical remains from the penal colony era in the early 20th century. Thus, Le Mont-Dore features both the preserved historic sites in Prony and a trail connected to this history.

Views and seasonal nature-watching

Scenery and nature-watching also shape the wider destination of Le Mont-Dore. The Sentiers du Mont-Dore offer views over the Grand Sud and Nouméa. From the viewpoint at the Cap N'Dua lighthouse, you can look out over the southern lagoon; on a clear day, Île des Pins can be seen in the distance. Another panoramic view opens up from the Crève-Coeur viewpoint at Col de Prony: from there, you can see the Champ de bataille and Baie de la Somme.

Humpback whales can be spotted in the municipality of Le Mont-Dore near Prony or at Cap N'Dua from mid-July to mid-September; dates can vary from year to year. During this period, the jetty at Baie de la Somme serves as a departure point for whale-watching trips and excursions to Îlot Casy. Check conditions at the jetty before your trip. Seasonal whale-watching and the viewpoints thus offer different nature experiences across the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Bouloupari, Dumbéa, Sarraméa, Vao, Yate, Bourail, Nouméa, La Tontouta

For the wider travel overview: South Province.