GR® NORD Stage n°4 : From the tribe of Pwöbèi (Pombéï) to the tribe of Tiwae

Accommodation site (GPS: 518 757 – 7 690 241; alt. 20m): follow the road (RPN 2) towards the W, then towards the NW. About 300 m before the large bridge which spans a tributary of the Tiwaka, leave the road and head left.

1 Track (GPS: 518 044 – 7 690 708; alt. 39m): descend on the dirt track which runs along the road, and which passes under the bridge. Pass the houses. A little more than 500m after the bridge, leave the track.

2 Track (GPS: 517 670 – 7 691 037; alt. 30m): the route descends towards the river and crosses it (> be careful, the crossing is very dangerous in the event of heavy rain. Do not hesitate to give up). Go up the right bank for about 120m, then cross the river again towards the left bank. Cross the fields, then follow the path which climbs several successive shoulders. After a few zigzags on the east flank of hill 264, it leads to a shoulder [panoramic view over part of the Lèvres massif, which covers an area of 36,000 hectares between the Koohnê (Koné) -Tiwaka, the coast of Touho and the Tipindjé valley. In particular, it is home to the northernmost Kagus of New Caledonia and large populations of the rare Horned parakeet].

3 Shoulder (GPS: 517 690 – 7 692 494; alt. 222m): go around the small summit (alt. 264m) by the NE, then descend into a wooded pass. Bypass the next hillock by the W.

4 Pass (GPS: 517 586 – 7 693 279; alt. 220m): leave the path which climbs straight ahead and take a left to descend into the forest towards the SW in the direction of the Wöwijè river. In contact with the river, head right, upstream, through the bamboo.

5 Rock shelter (GPS: 516 576 – 7 692 977; alt. 33m): cross the creek to the NW. The path then runs along the side, above the river. It crosses a creek (water), then, after passing an old hut, descends towards the confluence of the Pwaajibè and the Tipiléi (water). Cross the Pwaajibè and set foot on a promontory overlooking the confluence. Go up the left bank of the Tipiléi [the course of the river, very close to the path, offers several beautiful water holes] to the start of the long rising ridge line which ends at point 448.

6 Start of the climb (GPS: 515 367 – 7 694 519; alt. 98m): climb NW on the edge of a wooded ridge line. Climb several successive shoulders to reach an open hillock where pineapples are planted in an open area.

7 Former mound (GPS: 515 034 – 7 695 680; alt. 360M): continue towards the NNW, then descend into a wooded pass. Cross the creek in the shade of a clump of bamboo (water). Then resume the ascent of the ridge in a NNW direction to reach a pass.

8 Ananas Pass (GPS: 514 752 – 7 696 704; alt. 421m) tends towards the N while gradually losing altitude on the NW flanks of hill 514 then, towards altitude 350, it leaves the descending ridge.

9 Fork (GPS: 514 930 – 7 697 124; alt. 389m) abandon the track that descends straight ahead and turn right to progress on the wooded side. The path emerges in a savannah of niaoulis, then descends towards a small valley.

10 Dihèn Umëu River (GPS: 515 353 – 7 698 216; alt. 271m): cross and pass by a camp site and undertake an easy climb among the niaoulis. Cross a grassy clearing [ironwood; blackish rocks] towards the Pwöpwöjè Lödè pass. Descend on the north flank of the Pwamobwong to reach a promontory.

11 Unobstructed Hillock [view over the entire valley] (GPS: 515 326 – 7 699 249; alt. 336m). From here, the trail plunges down to the Tiwae (Tiaoué) valley below following an aerial ridge [lookouts]. After crossing a beautiful forest and crossing the creek twice, it reaches the access road to the tribe at the level of the sports field.

12 RM 7 (GPS: 515 455 – 7 700 918; alt. 37m): head left along the road towards the SW to join the tribe.

13 Accommodation site (GPS: 514 779 – 7 700 720; alt. 41m).

FFRandonnée grading
* Effort IBP 97 4 Fairly difficult (red)
* Technical difficulty 3 Not very difficult (orange)
* Risk 2 Fairly low (orange)
* Overall rating 3 Fairly difficult (orange)

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