Upi Bay Isle of Pines

Located north of the small island of Koutomo, southeast of the Isle of Pines, Upi Bay is often compared to Halong Bay in Vietnam. The comparison lies in the huge rocks on the water, which seem to float as if by magic. But here, all is quiet: only a few traditional pirogues bob quietly on the water. All you can hear is the gentle lapping of the water, a few birds, and the gentle breeze that caresses the sails and your face… The landscape of Upi Bay, with its pirogues, turquoise water and rocks, is one of New Caledonia’s most emblematic.

Located north of the small island of Koutomo, southeast of the Isle of Pines, Upi Bay is often compared to Halong Bay in Vietnam. The comparison lies in the huge rocks on the water, which seem to float as if by magic. But here, all is quiet: only a few traditional pirogues bob quietly on the water. All you can hear is the gentle lapping of the water, a few birds, and the gentle breeze that caresses the sails and your face… The landscape of Upi Bay, with its pirogues, turquoise water and rocks, is one of New Caledonia’s most emblematic.

Traditional outrigger pirogues are the result of know-how handed down from generation to generation. Saint-Joseph Bay is still home to a small construction site where these emblematic New Caledonian boats are made the old-fashioned way.

Once made from araucaria (columnar pine), the more solid kohu is now used as a raw material. In terms of tools, the chainsaw has replaced the use of fire for felling, but the technique remains the same. The trunk is cut a few days after the full moon, when the sap sinks into the roots and the wood is less likely to rot. The trunk is then immersed in water for three weeks, before being dried with salt from the seawater. The lower part of the pirogue is hollowed out. It is sometimes enhanced with planks. The lateral balance ensures stability. The sail is made of canvas (for a long time it was woven from pandanus). Finally, a small motor has been added for windless days!