Amédée Lighthouse

About this place

The Amédée Lighthouse is an iron lighthouse on tiny Amédée Island in the New Caledonia lagoon, about 23 km in a straight line south of Nouméa. At 56 m tall, with 247 steps, it is one of the tallest lighthouses in the world. Its metal parts were made in Paris in 1862 and first assembled there for display, then taken apart and shipped to New Caledonia. It was first lit on 15 November 1865 and still guides ships to the Boulari Passage, one of the few natural openings in the reef that surrounds the main island. Visitors climb the spiral staircase to the gallery at the top, which looks over the small sandy island, the turquoise water and the distant reef. Around the island are a white beach and coral close to shore for snorkelling, where turtles and banded sea kraits are often seen; do not touch them. The island can only be reached by boat, with paid day trips leaving from Nouméa. Trips usually include time on the beach and in the water, and calm weather is best for the crossing.