Amédée Lighthouse

The Amédée lighthouse was made in Paris in cast iron, assembled there for inspection, taken apart and shipped out in pieces to be rebuilt on a sand islet in the southern lagoon, where it was lit in 1865 to mark the Boulari pass through the reef. It stands fifty six metres with 247 steps to the gallery, and the view from the top runs across the lagoon and the reef line. Day boats from Nouméa combine it with snorkelling.

What you actually see

• The cast-iron tower - fifty six metres, made in Paris and rebuilt on the islet.
• The 247 steps - the spiral climb to the gallery and the lagoon view.
• The Boulari pass - the reef channel the light was built to mark.
• The islet reef - the coral around the sand cay, snorkelled from the beach.

When to go

April to November is the dry, cooler season. Boats run daily in season and less often outside it. Rough weather cancels crossings.

Honest expectations

Day trips are packaged with lunch and shows and are expensive for what they are. The islet is small and crowded when the boats arrive. Crossings are cancelled in wind.

Nearby

Îlot Maître is closer to Nouméa, and Nouméa is northwest.