Short circular loop on Pic Malaoui

Access from Nouméa:
From the motorway, take the exit leading towards Mont-Dore / Yaté / the South, located just before the Kenu-in shopping centre. Then take the Saint-Quentin / Auteuil / Dumbéa exit via the RT1 (you’ll pass Form + Normandie, Leader Price and the Saint-Quentin towers)
Continue for several kilometres, passing the Col de Tonghoué (you will pass in succession: the Colibri shop, the Devil’s Bridge and its large banyan tree, Nakamal du Col, and the Lac nursery junction).
Just after the pass, at a bend, turn right where you see the green sign for “Forêt des Monts Koghis”. You’ll begin a 10-minute climb (worthy of a fine Alpine pass) up to the Mont-Koghi plateau and the inn.

(S/E) Head east on the road, then take the Montagne Kogui path.

(1) At the fork in the road, turn right towards Malaoui. At the next junction, turn left.

(2) At the next junction (not shown on the IGN map), turn right onto the main track. Climb steadily southwards, ignoring the turn-offs to the right.

(3) At the fork, turn left towards Malaoui. Climb, first via a few wide hairpin bends, then straight up the slope.

(4) At the fork in the road, continue straight ahead (north-east).

(5) At the next junction, turn right. After a few hairpin bends, reach a summit (the Belvédère). Descend heading south then south-east.

(6) Join a path coming from the right and continue south-southeast. Pass an intermediate summit. Head along the ridge to the southwest, descend and then climb back up to the summit.

(7) Begin the return journey along the same route in the opposite direction.

(6) At the fork in the road, take the path on the left. Climb slightly then traverse the slope, at the foot of the Belvédère summit climbed on the way out.

(4) Follow the same path down as on the way up to return to the car park (S/E).

Please note, it is usually very hot: plan to set off very, very early in the morning.
There is no water along the route: bring at least 2 litres per person.
If the ground is wet, it is advisable to turn back, as the paths become extremely slippery when it rains.

The route is relatively “obvious”. In places, there are signposts or barrier tape to mark the way.

A quick note: the trails in this area are rarely used; we are in a tropical forest, so watch out for spiders, which may not be dangerous but are certainly “huge”…

The 500 Pacific Francs fee to access the mountain is payable at the refuge.

Superb views from the summit of Pic Malaoui.

The refuge team are very friendly; make the most of it to admire the landscape one last time whilst having a refreshing drink.

A slideshow is available on YouTube at the following address: https://youtu.be/uIxLlsA2s9E