HIENGENE

On the northeastern coast of the "grande terre" (main island)

The east coast of the island has the largest concentration of Kanak people. There are fewer Caldoches (white New Caledonians), because the land is less well suited for cattle breeding or agriculture.

More than anywhere else on the island, it is extremely important to respect the custom of asking the owner's permission before adventuring on to someone's property. Trespassing is not taken lightly here...

The symbol of Hiengene is its "hen"; the large mass of rock in the bay whose silhouette very closely resembles the farmyard animal.

In Hiengene there are a few cottages, a Club Med, a camp site and a snack bar. There is nothing fancy about Hiengène! It is a typical Kanak village with a friendly atmosphere, in which its people still take the time to sit around and talk over a cold Number one (the local beer).

Climb up to the belvedere and you'll get a superb view of the "hen" and the rest of the bay.

The town saw some tumultuous times in the not so distant past. Ambushes between the Caldoches and the Kanaks were frequent.