PRM facilities and services in South Province

Accessible transport and services

The city of Nouméa, in collaboration with several partners, has implemented a plan to improve the accessibility of public transport. Since 2021, a number of projects have been carried out to make bus stops accessible to people with reduced mobility. These improvements include refurbishing bus stops and creating roundabouts to facilitate bus manoeuvres. These efforts are aimed at making public transport more appealing and accessible to everyone.

In Païta, there’s an initiative focusing on adapted transport for people with reduced mobility. This organisation offers specialised transport services, enabling people with specific mobility needs to get around more easily and take part in many activities in the region. Guided tours and walks on marked trails are services designed to make the region more inclusive and accessible to everyone.

Activities adapted for people with reduced mobility

The Parc Provincial de la Rivière Bleue

South Province has recently installed the first access to the Rivière Bleue for people with disabilities and reduced mobility. This project, located in the Blue River Provincial Park, includes a specially designed wooden ramp and dedicated parking area. This facility makes access to the river easier and incorporates adapted sanitary facilities, thus contributing to better accessibility to natural spaces.

The Provincial Zoological and Forestry Park

The site has improved its accessibility for people with disabilities, notably with a new sanitary area. This facility includes adapted toilets, a lift, and a changing table for adults. Designed in collaboration with an occupational therapist, this ten-square-meter space complies with accessibility standards. The park, which regularly welcomes people with disabilities, is committed to offering comfortable and inclusive visits.

The Nautical Activity Centre

The Côte Blanche welcomes some 8,000 kids each year for activities such as windsurfing, optimist dinghy sailing, kayaking, and hobie cat sailing. After its extension in 2011, the Nautical Activity Centre innovated in September 2013 by adding a floating water pool, accessible to people with reduced mobility, which was a first in the region.

The Aquarium des Lagons

The Aquarium des Lagons in Nouméa offers facilities and spaces adapted for wheelchair access. It has free parking available for visitors. These facilities enable visitors of all abilities to discover the richness of New Caledonia’s marine ecosystems.

The Madeleine Falls

The Madeleine Falls, a major tourist attraction in New Caledonia, are located in a special botanical reserve and offer an exceptional natural setting. Access to the Falls area requires entry through Lake Yaté. The trail to the falls is described as an easy 10-minute walk, although there is also a longer and more challenging route. This relatively straightforward access is suitable for people with reduced mobility, but it’s important to note that the terrain still presents a number of obstacles, particularly for PRM who might require even more specific accommodations to be made.