Thio

Thio is where nickel mining in New Caledonia started in the 1870s, and the territory's economy has run on the metal ever since; the hills behind the town are stripped and terraced in red and the ore is still moved down to the coast. A mining museum in the old company buildings covers the industry's history, the workers brought from Japan, Java and Vietnam, and the technology. The road over the mountains from Nouméa is spectacular and slow.

Highlights

• The mining museum - the industry's history in the old company buildings.
• The terraced hills - the red stripped slopes above the town.
• The imported labour history - the workers brought from Japan, Java and Vietnam.
• The mountain road - the crossing from Nouméa over the central range.

When to go

April to November is the dry season. The museum keeps limited hours and closes some days. The mountain road is slow in any weather.

Things to know

The museum has limited opening hours and is almost entirely in French. The landscape around is industrial and heavily scarred. The drive over the range takes two hours each way.

Nearby

La Crouen is north, and Nouméa is south over the range.

Key facts