New Caledonia Transportation

Theme: Ship/Boat


	Bus around "la grande terre"	Tip Rating:

on March 22, 2005

The buses are quite nice and the roads are of reasonable quality around the island. A good option to get to new caledonia various provinces would be to take the bus. for deatils on pricing and distances look at the following website http://www.bugpacific.com/transport/busnc.html The bus travel in Noumea itself is also very good and efficient.

Theme: Bus


	Take the "Cuddle Airline!"	Tip Rating:

Updated By Geisha_Girl

on July 6, 2004

by Geisha_Girl
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A "Mile High" above Noumea

The official air carrier to New Caledonia is AIRCALIN, a partner carrier to AIR FRANCE. (Calin is "cuddle" in French) The main international airport, Tantouta Airport, is located in Noumea, which is about an hour drive from the main city centre. The only direct flights into Noumea arrive from either Japan (Tokyo/Osaka), Australia (Sydney/Brisbane), New Zealand (Auckland), or Tahiti (Papeete). If you are flying in from the US or France, be prepared for a stopover and a long flight.

Theme: Airplane

Website: www.aircalin.nc


	Flying to New Caledonia	Tip Rating:

on March 22, 2005

Flying is your only option if you want to come to New Caledonia (the other option is cruise, but the port of call duration is less than a day). The main airline of New Caledonia is "air calin" and does several weekly flights from Sydney. Other air carriers which fly to the island are Air France, Qantas and AOM. Subsequently there are flights which fly to the loyalty Islands next to "la grande terre", these flights also leave several times a week and are undertaken by the smaller carrier "air caledonia"

Theme: Airplane


	Cruise ship	Tip Rating:

on March 22, 2005

The other option of course is by going on a cruise ship. This option is very popular and the ports of Noumea, Poume and Lifou are met by large cruise ships on a weekly basis. P&O have regular ships travelling here such as the Pacific sky and the Pacific Sun as well as the Pacific Princess. Unfortuntely you only get to see each destination very briefly but i suppose if gives your a preview of what the country is like.

Theme: Ship/Boat


	Bus	Tip Rating:

By Kate-Me

on April 18, 2003

by Kate-Me
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Local public transport

We didn't find a best way to get around. Hiring a car, I guess, but after seeing some of the drivers (especially the reckless bus driver who picked us up from the airport) we were a bit scared to get on the roads. We took public transport, along with the locals, which was an interesting experience. Bus got us around Noumea, but little further.

Theme: Bus


	Chartered Boat to the Iles of Pines	Tip Rating:

on March 22, 2005

by Maximilian21
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One good way of getting to the isle of pines in by chartered boat. it probabaly isnt the cheapest option, that would be the ferry, but it was defienetly the feel good option

Theme: Ship/Boat


	By Bus	Tip Rating:

By hunwagner

on July 10, 2006

by hunwagner
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Grande Terre has a decent bus system that can get you to the main towns around the island at least a few times weekly. Your fellow-passengers will be almost all Kanaks - the French all seem to have their own cars, and the tourists just don't seem to get around. The buses are good and cheap enough when and where they do run - elsewhere and at other times, you will have to hitch!

Theme: Bus


	By Thumb	Tip Rating:

By hunwagner

on July 10, 2006

by hunwagner
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If you don't have your own vehicle, hitch-hiking will at some point be necessary around Grande Terre. Thankfully, the locals, both French and Kanaks, tend to give rides relatively easily. As usual, you may meet some interesting characters, but few drivers speak English so your communication may be limited. If you do speak French, you may even be invited to have meals and stay with people who pick you up though! Unlike in many other countries, payment is never expected.

Theme: Other


	By Air	Tip Rating:

Updated By hunwagner

on July 14, 2006

by hunwagner
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Aircalin is New Caledonia's national airline, linking the territory to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuau, Fiji, Wallis and Tahiti. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, I found it a rather bad airline when it came to services on the ground - staff were shockingly incompetent and unhelpful even when only having to do a simple thing like changing reservation dates allowed on a year-long ticket. As alternatives, Qantas, Air New Zealand and Air Vanuat all fly to Noumea from their home countries. Within New Caledonia, there are flights from Noumea to all the inhabited outer islands and to several towns around Grande Terre. They are provided by Air Caledonie, Aircalin's domestic branch. If you plan to fly round-trips to two places, ask about their special pass that can save you a fair bit - they won't tell you about it unless you ask!