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The Parc Provincial des Grandes Fougeres was opened to the public in 2008. The 4,550 hectare park in the cloudy mountains near Farino is nearly in the middle of New Caledonia's largest island Grande Terre. The park protects a varied and lush tropical forest with huge trees and giant fern trees.
The park management has created easy walking trails with sign posted tracks ranging from an hours walk to an all day hike. The land is folded into steep, forest covered hills and valleys and the trails follow the crests of the hills and the floors of the valleys.
This particular part of the track is only about a 30 minute walk from the parking lot and picnic area. The giant fern tree that is the centerpiece of this little clearing was easily 30 metres high.
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New Caledonia is the closest South Pacific Island to Australia and New Zealand. It is a French Territory and although the official language is French the culture is a blend of Melanesian, European, Polynesian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian, and more. There is one large mountainous island called Grande Terre and 6 smaller islands - the three Loyalty Islands, Belep and the Isle of Pines.The islands are remarkably unpopulated and there are vast areas of wilderness. There are hundreds of kilometers of walking treks, camp grounds, more than 42 parks and reserves, and crystal clear rivers with sparkling waterfalls. Almost one third of the population is located in the capital city of Noumea. Nickel mining is the primary industry and is the major contributor to the high standard of living in the country. Grande Terre is surrounded by the second largest barrier reef in the world and the protected lagoon created by this barrier reef is the largest in the world. Listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, the lagoon is 24,000 square kilometers and supports a diverse and luxuriant fauna of fish and invertebrates.The vibrant, clear and rich colors are one of the first things that visitors notice when they arrive. Noumea has a complete range of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and activities to welcome visitors.
