Noumea Amedee Island Day Trip with Lighthouse and Turtle Swim

Amedee Island in the lagoon of Noumea

Amedee Island lies in the southern lagoon of New Caledonia, roughly twenty-four kilometres south of Noumea, close to one of the passes that open through the barrier reef to the Pacific. It is small enough to walk around in well under an hour, with white sand beaches, coconut palms and coastal trees, and the bright turquoise shallows that New Caledonia is famous for. The lagoons here are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

An Amedee Island day trip from Noumea is the most popular island outing for visitors to the capital, and this trip makes it simple: a water taxi takes you across the lagoon and back with a captain, leaving most of the six hours for the island itself. Is Amedee Island worth visiting? For many travellers it is the highlight of their time in New Caledonia, combining history, beach and marine life in one place.

The Amedee lighthouse

The Amedee lighthouse is one of the tallest metal lighthouses in the world, rising about fifty-six metres above the island. Its cast-iron parts were made in France, shipped across the world in pieces and assembled on the islet, and the light was first lit in 1865 to guide ships safely through the reef toward Noumea. A spiral staircase of a few hundred steps climbs to the gallery at the top.

If the lighthouse is open on the day you visit, you can buy a ticket on site and climb it. The view from the top is superb: the whole island below, the many shades of the lagoon, the line of white surf on the barrier reef and, on clear days, the mountains of Grande Terre. The lighthouse may close in strong wind or bad weather. Allow about half an hour for the climb and the view, and bring some cash for the Amedee lighthouse ticket.

Swimming with turtles and snorkelling

The waters around Amedee Island are clear, warm and full of life. Green turtles graze on the seagrass close to the beach, and a short swim from the shore brings you over coral heads with parrotfish, butterflyfish, giant clams and starfish. The island is also known for its banded sea snakes, which come ashore to rest; they are calm animals, but you must never touch or pick them up.

A mask and goggles are available free of charge on request from the skipper, though bringing your own mask gives the best fit. Reef shoes help on the coral sand, and reef-safe sunscreen protects the marine life. Touching marine life and plants is not allowed. Because you need to be able to swim to enjoy the reef, this trip is not suitable for non-swimmers, and children under eight must be accompanied by an adult in the water.

How the day works for cruise and hotel guests

The trip runs on a simple plan. Cruise ship guests meet at the tourism office information point at the end of the waterfront, close to the cruise terminal, while hotel guests meet at the Port Plaisance shopping centre, just behind the centre by the marina gate. The water taxi leaves at 9:00 and you spend the day on the island before returning to Noumea about six hours later.

Food and drinks are not included, so we recommend buying water, fruit and a picnic lunch before you leave; there is a supermarket in front of the cruise terminal. Bring your own towel, swimwear, a hat and sunscreen, as there is little shade on the open beaches at midday. The best time to visit Amedee Island is the dry, sunny season from September to December, though the lagoon is beautiful all year round.