Anse Vata is the main beach of Nouméa's southern tourist peninsula, a curving stretch of white sand with calm, clear water backed by a promenade of restaurants, cafes, and water sports operations. It is the most animated spot in the city — families, tourists, and locals all share the beach, and on weekends the promenade fills with people walking, cycling, and eating ice cream.
Water sports operators along the beach front rent kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and pedal boats, and several kite-surfing and windsurfing schools work from the beach when conditions allow. The adjacent Baie des Citrons (Lemon Bay), just around the headland, is slightly more sheltered and has a livelier bar and restaurant scene that runs into the evening. Anse Vata beach is the departure point for many of the lagoon island day trips.