We've been past Ouano Surf Camp before but we'd never spent the night there. Which is a bit silly given that it's only slightly over an hour from Noumea.
What a spot! We are so glad we decided to spend Max's fourth birthday there.
There are well-equipped bungalows with clean bathrooms and air-con, wickedly funky safari tents, and a big campsite that's right on the beach. Oh - and a pool that looks right out over the water. There's also a restaurant that does good pizza and you can catch a taxi boat out to surf on the reef. Nice.
It's great value too. A bungalow is CFP8000 (about $NZ100) and it has a double and two single beds with a view straight out to sea. Actually, you can lie in bed with the doors right open and look over the tips of your toes, to the beach. For that level of beach view, it's a steal by Noumea standards!
We came armed to the teeth with insect repellant, coils, long trousers and every other trick known to man to avoid the beastly mosquitos but in fact we got lucky and they really weren't too bad. We were able to sit outside and watch the sun go down. We ate our dinner outside - caught some 'squitos but it was fine.
And look at the sunset...
With Cyclone Yasi roaring its way towards North Queensland's coast, it seems like the right time to be grateful that our little cyclone was just a baby. A bit of wind, a lot of rain and some time without power. In comparison with Yasi - it was bit like someone blowing a pesky mosquito off their arm.
Vania took a long time to cross over Noumea. It actually did a big circle just north of us and we were in the eye for about 2 hours. It was so very quiet and our whole house slept - so nice! We lost power early and realised just how important the radio is. We listened to the updates every hour or so and giggled at the wonderful presenters and the fabulous feeling of community as people called up to provide updates on what was going on in their quartier.
And then the coup d'ouest came (big westerlies) and the storm was over. All of Noumea left their houses to clean up the mess, which wasn't too bad, and go swimming in the rare waves at the Baie des Citrons.
A few blown down trees, some slips from the rain and boats on rocks. Not too bad at all. Finger crossed that's all we get during the cyclone season - we just need to get to the end of April!
