Planning a trip
Hearing music in New Caledonia
The Centre Culturel Tjibaou is a building to walk through as much as a venue. The ten huts take their form from upturned Kanak ceremonial structures, and the centre is named for Jean-Marie Tjibaou. Performances cover Kanak traditional music, contemporary Pacific sounds and world music. The tip: walk the route between the visitor centre and the huts, which crosses reconstructed indigenous gardens, slowly and an hour before doors.
The programme runs all year, but performances are irregular, so check adck.nc before you set out. Every four years Festival des Arts du Pacifique is the main international event, and traditional programming is the focus of the Kanak Yam Festival each March. The centre is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays.
The centre lies 7 km north-east out of central Nouméa, on the Tinu peninsula. Bus 40, the local service, runs from central Nouméa in 20 minutes, and a taxi from La Tontouta airport takes 45 minutes.
FAQ
Questions people ask
When is the Centre Culturel Tjibaou open?
The centre is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays. Performances are irregular, so check adck.nc for the programme before you travel.
How do you get to the Centre Culturel Tjibaou from Nouméa?
The centre lies 7 km north-east out of central Nouméa, on the Tinu peninsula. Bus 40, the local service, runs from the city centre in 20 minutes. A taxi from La Tontouta airport takes about 45 minutes.
What events take place at the Centre Culturel Tjibaou?
Events are programmed all year. Every four years Festival des Arts du Pacifique is the main international event, and traditional programming is the focus of the Kanak Yam Festival each March.