While I rate Maurice Bay as a must visit for its statue of Christ (dedicated to St Maurice) which is surrounded by a most stunning palisade of carved totem poles, the beach here is one of many beautiful beaches on the Ile des Pins and worthy a look in its own right.
While I feel Kuto Bay and Kanumera Beach are better and they are much more accessible – i.e. within a couple of hundred metres of where you come ashore, should you arrive by cruise ship or by ferry from Noumea – Maurice Bay would make a nice option for an independent traveller seeking solitude and peace, should there be a cruise ship in port at the time of your visit.
Maurice Bay is on the south of the island near Vao village and was a stop on an island tour I signed up for on my cruise ship, the Carnival Spirit. See my Getting There and Getting Around review for other transport options on Ile des Pins.
There is a unisex toilet near the statue but, in so far as I could see, no other facilities at Maurice Bay.
This blog entry is one of a group (loop) of entries based on my trip to Ile des Pins, New Caledonia. I suggest you continue with my next entry – Vao War Memorial – Morts Pour La France – or to start the loop at the beginning go to my introductory entry – No Hurries, No Worries.
The Rambling Wombat 