Centre Culturel Tjibaou

The wonderful Tjibaou Cultural Centre should be at the top of your list of places to visit. It is built on the secluded Tina peninsula on the site of the 'Melanesia 2000' festival organised by Jean-Marie Tjibaou in 1975, a cultural festival which, for the first time, brought together Kanaks from throughout New Caledonia. A statue of Jean-Marie Tjibaou, after whom the centre was named, stands on the hill overlooking the centre.

The harmony between the contemporary architecture and the surrounding nature is striking and gives the cultural centre the air of a futuristic religious shrine. The main buildings rise from the bush in a series of tall curved wooden structures that evoke the shape of tall traditional Kanak cases. Their traditional equivalents, in the form of three cases, stand behind the main structure.

Its fascinating architecture aside, the centre has permanent and temporary exhibition rooms showing art from New Caledonia and around the Pacific region as a whole. Its multimedia library holds a wealth of information on Kanak culture. There is also a souvenir shop, a book shop and a café. The Kanak path that meanders through the grounds tells the Kanak creation myth. A local dance troupe reenacts this myth along the path every Thursday at 14:30. Guided tours in English and French are held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 14:30. Open-air concerts are often held in the grounds. Enquire at the entrance to find out what is scheduled.

Blue-line Karuia and Noumea Explorer buses run regularly to the centre of the city. On Wednesday and Thursday le petit train runs here from baie des Citron, going via l'Anse Vata around the waterfront.