EASO BEACH LIFOU ISLAND

last visited Jan 2019

"EXPLORER OF THE SEAS" off Easo Beach Nov 2018

"NOORDAM" Jan 2019


LIFOU

LIFOU (please excuse spelling on map - it is too time consuming to correct) is the largest of the LOYALTY ISLANDS of NEW CALEDONIA - it is about 100km north of the main island of GRANDE TERRE and only 60 odd km from MARE.

EASO VILLAGE and BEACH are on the north coast of SANTAI BAY. This is an excellent cruise ship anchorage with natural protection from the SE TRADE WINDS which blow here more often than not. As a matter of fact it is protected from most winds of the area - you don't get too many westerlies in these latitudes. I can only see problems arising during and after the rare TROPICAL CYCLONES (aka HURRICANES and TYPHOONS in other parts of the world).

EASO BEACH is a short distance west of the village and has 4 sections - the MAIN SECTION WEST OF THE PIER - a continuation of this strip of sand EAST OF THE PIER (yellow arrow denotes eastern limit) - and 2 other small sections FURTHER EAST (black arrows).. 
Note the NATURAL AQUARIUM the other side of the headland - this is the top snorkelling spot of JINEK BAY. Locals charge $15 entrance so I gave it a miss - perhaps next visit.
Note too the cruise-ship sitting off ESO.
Click-expand image to make labels clearer.

MAIN BEACH WEST OF THE PIER

This proved the most popular location. About 400m long but quite narrow - in parts the high tide line left only a meter or so of dry sand. Lotsa marine debris both weed-like and eroded coral on the sand. Plenty of shade in back of the beach. Water was of medium clarity close to shore. featured a lot of marine grass and some dead coral. A few fish hanging around but nothing to get excited about. I noticed some good coral patches further out on the tender trip into the beach (the water seemed much clearer out there too) but at 73 I couldn't be bothered swimming out to check it.

Landing pier from the beach - the outer part is actually a converted WW2 landing barge. 

UPDATE - this had been replaced by a more conventional pier Jan 2019

Landing barge from the ship with a little telephoto cranked in.

EASTERN part of MAIN BEACH from the landing pier. Less than 100m long. The further arrows point to two patches of sand further east -each abt 120m long. Can be reached easily on a track just behind the rocks.

Behind the pier locals had set up a market (the usual touristy clothing and trinkets plus food, drinks, hair braiding etc) and cultural exhibition (singing and dancing).

To the west most of the area behind the beach was a PARK with lotsa trees, some picnic tables and even a camping area. Very relaxing.

FIRST FURTHER EASTERN BEACH 

This is the nearer of the two eastern beaches to the landing pier. It's only 150m from the landing pier on but despite this had way fewer people. Looks to be the place to go if you value seclusion.

NEARBY

There are some easy walks from the pier area. The village starts about 350m east of the pier and there is JINEK BAY and a couple of nice churches to check out.

EGLISE CAHTHOLIQUE NE DREHU CHURCH  abt 900m east of  the landing pier on the far edge of the village.

NOTRE DAME de LOURDES church on the end of EASO POINT which separates EASO BEACH from the natural aquarium of JINEK BAY. It's an easy 15-20m stroll west along the road and 5-10 mins past the turnoff to JINEK BAY.

Pretty prominent position south end of peninsula

I made it up there in Jan 2019 - pretty easy walk along partly shaded road (go uphill  for 70m  from the arrivals area - turn left) apart from last 5 minutes of stairs which or not killers but will have unfit people pausing for a few rest breaks.

Apart from its great position, the church is significant in that it is the first in the area, built by Catholic missionaries in 1858. 

The outlook from the church is panoramic only to the south-east (above) and south. Vegetation blocks views of the beach, village and other parts of the northern SANTAI BAY shore, plus to the west, north and north-west

JINEK BAY NATURAL AQUARIUM

This is from just short of the headland church - I didn't go up here in 2018 so I pinched this one from ADVENTURES ALL AROUND.COM.

The bay apparently has excellent snorkelling and is abt 500m walk SW from the pier - see map up page. Next LIFOU call in (yep, LADY TEZZA has already booked another cruise for Jan '19) I intend to spend the $15 admission and have a look.

UPDATE JAN 2019 - I wandered down after my visit to the headland church (coming from the pier on the same road, you will find the turn-off to the right after about 10 minutes). The road down to the bay slopes gently for about 5 minutes. Bayside is a nicely shaded area with some places offering food, drink etc. Shortly after I joined the line for water entry the local up front collecting the $15 announced "FINIS" - people close asked was this for the whole day? (it was only 1030) - the answer was "OUI". Now I don't know if this was a communications thing (the local authorities definitely limit # of snorkelers in the water at any one time, so you can expect limited delays) or whether there is also a DAILY LIMIT. Anyhow, my advice is to turn up real early if you want to check the underwater scene which promises to be good with restrictions on numbers, no sunscreen, yada. This is a true marine national park.

ATTENTION.

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