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Sentier des Cobaleurs

Sport, Pedestrian sports, Course in Nouméa
8.4 km
Loop

  • The two branches of the Dumbéa River are steeped in the history of New Caledonia's mining heritage. Artisanal cobaleurs once extracted "blue gold" by hand. Follow in their footsteps.

  • D - Departure from parking lot (653,595 - 7,551,377; alt. 19 m): Start on the accessible path along the left bank of the southern branch of the Dumbéa River (Southeast) to reach the parking area 1.8 km ahead. You can park here and begin the hike at this point, except during the summer season. Please note that parking spaces are limited at both the parking area and this point. Ensure the water level allows for river crossing at this location before departing.

    1 - Barrier / Parking (654,813...
    D - Departure from parking lot (653,595 - 7,551,377; alt. 19 m): Start on the accessible path along the left bank of the southern branch of the Dumbéa River (Southeast) to reach the parking area 1.8 km ahead. You can park here and begin the hike at this point, except during the summer season. Please note that parking spaces are limited at both the parking area and this point. Ensure the water level allows for river crossing at this location before departing.

    1 - Barrier / Parking (654,813 - 7,551,054; alt. 50 m): Cross the barrier, cross the bridge, and follow the left bank of the river along the accessible path.

    2 - Start of the Old Dumbéa Dam Trail (656,002 - 7,551,589; alt. 66 m): Continue on the main path toward the bridge, cross it, and ascend along the right bank.

    3 - Intersection (656,057 - 7,551,972; alt. 103 m): (> information panel), leave the path to ascend left (north) on "the Cobaleurs trail" for about 800 m.

    4 - Viewpoint (655,928 - 7,552,232; alt. 164 m): Follow the trail west (> beautiful view of the Dumbéa valley towards the Old Dam).

    5 - Bench (655,737 - 7,552,210; alt. 189 m): New viewpoint over the valley. Continue westward until reaching a right hairpin turn.

    6 - Fork (655,643 - 7,552,198; alt. 204 m): At the right hairpin turn, leave the trail that goes left towards the southwest and continue ascending northeast to join stage 7B of the GR®NC1.

    7 - Intersection (655,726 - 7,552,245; alt. 220 m): Turn left onto the Mont Poudhéoume path to begin the descent. The route follows the old path to the mining sites of Haute-Dumbéa, entering the Haute-Dumbéa nature reserve (> traced in 1976-1977 by R. Bloc to recover chromite at camp Bloc - J. Chatelier).

    8 - Viewpoint (655,737 - 7,552,210; alt. 180 m): Nice panorama over the valley and its meanders (the Marmites trail is visible below).

    9 - Intersection (654,489 - 7,552,436; alt. 30 m): Leave the Marmites trail on the right and follow the left bank of the northern branch of the "Dumbéa" (south-southwest).

    10 - Curve (653,750 - 7,551,550; alt. 16 m): At the end of the path in the curve, turn left onto a rudimentary path that progresses through the riverbed's pebbles.

    11 - River (653,739 - 7,551,449; alt. 18 m): Cross the river by carefully following the alignments of large, slippery rounded stones. (Do not cross after heavy rains; the watershed is significant, and the flow can increase suddenly).

    Text by Jean-Francis & Delphine Clair
  • Departure
    Nouméa
  • Environment
    • Close to GR footpath
    • Cycling itinerary less than 1 km away
    • In a nature reserve
    • Close to a public transportation
    • Near shuttle stop
  • Spoken languages
    • French
  • Documentation
    GPX / KML files allow you to export the trail of your hike to your GPS (or other navigation tool)
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Services
  • Equipment
    • Car park
    • Picnic area
  • Services
    • Coach access
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