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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members
Walking is the best option on this island
by globetrott
Walking is the best option on this island and within just a few minutes you will get to a nice sandy beach, you can walk to one of the 2 churches that I mention in my other tips, each of them is in a distance of ca. 30 minutes from the place, where you enter the island by the tenderboats of your cruiseship.There are some shopping-possibilities as well in tents and even some fruits and other refreshments available. Several times a day, there are dancers as well, showing traditional dances and songs.
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sightseeing by taxi ?
by globetrott
You will hardly find any taxis on this island !!! All cars and buses will be hired for the tours that are organized by the cruiseships. These tours are quite expensive, but also the only possibility to explore a bit more of this island.Some private cars also used to stop and hoop and asked me, if they should take me to town, but I never took such service so I dont know if they would offer any tours for tourists on a private basis or not.What I could see is that they also stoped for local people, who mostly hopped into their cars, so it is rather a kind of friendlyness for the poor people, who have to walk in the open sun there.
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by cruiseship to Lifou
by globetrott
I came to Lifou onboard the Dawn Princess, a ship with around 2000 Passangers onboard, and so we had to anchor off the shore and take the passangers ashore by the small tender-boats.From the place, where the tenders landed I could do some easy walks, about half an our to walk to the chapel of the Mother of God including the small traditional hut that show in another tip and to walk to the church and village of Easo will take another 30 minutes.There are various beaches closby as well !
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rent a bike in Lifou
by globetrott
Right at the place, where the cruiseships will take their passangers ashore in the tenderboats you will find quite a lot of bicycles to rent. The island is almost totally flat and only at the beginning you have a short way uphill. Biking might still be quite exhausting in the hot sun there. The bicycles have 7 gears.Another possibility to explore the island are private cars, that would normally hoop and stop next to you, when they see you walking on the road and invite you to come with them.
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By Air
by hunwagner
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!
By Thumb
by hunwagner
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.
By Bus
by hunwagner
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!
By Sea
by hunwagner
New Caledonia is one of the few Pacific nations to have regular ships carrying passengers to a neighbouring country. That country is Vanuatu, and the ship is the Havanna, actually a cargo ship that takes passengers as well. Unfortunately it runs only about once a month.There are of course plenty of expensive cruises coming over here from Australia, too.Within New Caledonia, ships serve all but one of the inhabited outer islands.The main one used by tourists is the comfortable, high-speed Betico that runs to both the Isle of Pines and the Loyalty Islands a few times weekly.There are also cheaper cargo ships going to the Loyalty Islands less frequently.The main Tourist Office in Noumea can get you the schedule and fares for all these.
Cruise ship
by Maximilian21
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.
Ferry to the loyalty islands and the Iles of pines
by Maximilian21
There are several ferry trips to the loyalty islands and the iles of pines from Noumea. The ferry is called the Betico and is quite fast and efficient, as well as being a cheaper option that flying. From Noumea to The iles of pines it costs about $60 and from Noumea to any one of the 3 main loyalty islands it costs around $90. Its a nice and cheaper alternative.
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