Travel to Noumea. Guide

l'Orphelinat Bay Noumea is the largest city in and capital of New Caledonia, lying on the main island of Grande Terre. One of the most westernized capitals in the Pacific Islands, it features beautiful beaches and colonial mansions and is not yet a heavily touristed destination. Where metropolitan French will hear a bad French accent, wince and say that they speak English, the Francophones of New Caledonia are either less willing or less able to accommodate Anglophones. It is probably a matter of capability, since they are marvellously willing to persevere in determining what it is that a foreigner needs. Without tourist-level French, you may find yourself lost--but it's a lovely place to be lost! The French spoken by Kanaks is much harder to understand than the French of people in Paris: on a par with Breton French (or think of the challenge offered by broad Scots or Yorkshire for a naive English-speaker). Get in By plane New Caledonia Airport (IATA: NOU) (ICAO: NWWW), in Païta, 52km northwest of Noumea, (687) 35 11 18, [www.cci-nc.com/tontouta] Regular flights are available from Tokyo on Aircalin, as New Caledonia is very popular with the Japanese. Air New Zealand and Qantas also serve the airport. There are also flights from various Pacific nations (Vanuatu, Fiji, other French possessions), New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia. There is little or no competition on routes, so be very wary of high flight prices. For travellers flying from Europe, the partner of Aircalin is Finnair, which flies passengers via its hub in Helsinki and on to Noumea via either Seoul, Osaka or Tokyo. Noumea-Magenta Airport (IATA: GEA) , 4 km from the city center, (687) 25 14 00. Serves all domestic flights within New Caledonia, such as the Loyalty Islands (Maré, Tiga, Lifou, Ouvéa), from Isle of Pines in the south to Belep Islands in the northern tip of the mainland as well as Koné and Koumac on the west coast and Touho on the east coast. By boat Noumea is a popular port of call for people sailing around the Pacific, though most dare not sail during cyclone season. Get around The Little Train (Le Petit Train) is a motorised tour on normal roads, that runs several times a day. It is an area tour, but you can also hop off one train, and catch the following service. Check the timetable, though, because it may be cancelled or only offer two services on a given day. The city is also serviced by 8 colour coded bus routes that costs 210 CFP if you buy your ticket on board (as of January 2010), or 190 CFP. Others have recommended this only if you feel your French is up to scratch, as the bus drivers very rarely understand anything but French. It is sufficient to know that the bus goes to "Centre Ville", then hand over the money and state the number of tickets required (une personne, deux personnes, trois personnes, etc.). The big catch is working out where the buses start, as Ligne 2 leaves from a different point to numbers 1, 2, 6, 7 and 9 (from memory). The majority of buses go from near the ticket office in Place des Cocotiers, where Rue d'Austerlitz passes through the Place. Ligne 2 departs from a rough piece of ground near the corner of rue Clemenceau and rue de la Somme, within sight of the Municipal Markets and the cinema and a couple of blocks south of Place des Cocotiers. You can buy a number of tickets in advance at the office on rue d'Austerlitz (it's more of a booth, actually) but you need to validate the appropriate number of tickets for the trip when you board the bus (that includes the ones you buy from the driver). Validation just means stamping them with a time and a date, but this is nowhere explained. We heard rumours of ticket-selling machines that were in shops, but never saw any. We also heard of an all-day ticket, but never managed to track that down either. The bus line is called Karuia [1]. The first trick is to recognise a bus stop when you see one. These are white-ish pillars, usually with a name on them, sometimes with a shelter from sun or rain, but usually with no indication of the line(s) that stop there. Also available for tourists is a "Noumea Explorer" service that runs an hourly loop pass the major tourist sites (Museums, Parc Forestier and Zoo, Tjibaou and hotels) hourly. That for 1500CFP a day (March 2010 price), is a great idea to be used to explore each of the sites for an hour before catching the bus onto the next location when it comes past again. The service takes a little over an hour, the stops are hard to locate at the start, and you need both a map that shows the stops, and also a leaflet from your hotel or a tourist office that gives the timetable. See Most of the tourist attractions in Noumea are closed on Mondays and open all other days. with the exception of Museum of Caledonia that is closed on Tuesdays. Each venue has its own entry costs, but in 2010 for 1700 CFP a "Pass' Nature and Culture" could still be purchased that provided admittance to the Tjibaou, New Caledonia, Noumea and Maritime History Museums, Zoo and Aquarium that could be used over 6 months. Another good idea, is to grab the Free English publication "The New Caledonia Weekly" and check in it for local events and ideas. The best map was the "New Caledonia Visitor map" found in many places. This is an A1 sheet that can be a challenge in high winds, but at least it shows you where the "Noumea Explorer" stops are. Museum of New Caledonia is close by the Post office in Quartier Latin. Many Kanak and Melanesian art and cultural items like spears, huts, weapons, decorations and boats are to be found in the exhibition rooms. Like most museums in Noumea, the descriptions are all in French with English and Japanese translations of usually the title only. Also as well as being closed on Tuesdays (instead of Mondays like the rest of the tourist attractions) the Museum of New Caledonia is closed for lunch from 11:30 to 12:15 every day. Tjibaou Cultural Centre Tjibaou Cultural Centre the iconic large modern wooden round houses, that you see on most postcards of New Caledonia, are located a little way out of Noumea (but accessible by buses--Noumea Explorer or Ligne 2 public bus) past the Magenta Domestic Airport. It houses a lot of contemporary Melanesian and other Oceanic cultures art work, as well as some traditional pieces. Also if you visit at the right time, there are regular performances of traditional dances and music here, as well as the resource libraries focusing on Oceanic cultures. There is a cafeteria manned by a character with severely limited skills of addition, so make sure you know what you should be paying. The shop has some exquisitely designed souvenirs which aren't cheap, but which are still worth it. Make sure you leave some time to walk around outside the building. The architect was Renzo Piano, and you need to look closely at the way he has captured the spirit of the Auracaria pines. The centre commemorates a leader of the Kanak independence movement, Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a former priest who significantly was a student in Paris in 1968. Tjibaou was murdered by another Kanak who regarded Tjibaou's signing of the Matignon Accords as a betrayal. For more, www.adck.nc City of Nouméa Museum in the old Town hall opposite Place des Cocotiers, this museum houses a miniature model of Noumea during World War II, as well as many other displays about living in Noumea during various historic periods. Most displays in this museum also have English placards. The Geological Museum is reportedly in the Parc Forestier, but this reporter did not see it. Maritime History Museum on the Baie de la Moselle water front, this little museum is packed with maritime artifacts, like a humongous rudder, light house lamp, and models of New Caledonian ships. It also regularly hosts international exhibits like a Piracy exhibit in late 2008. In March 2010, the Maritime History Museum was closed and had been since January "for renovations" that had not begun. A concealed sign, surrounded by wind-blown rubbish indicated that an opening date would be announced at some future time. Michel Corbasson Zoological and Forest Park Also known as the Parc Forestier, a well-handled small zoo collection combined with some pleasant forest walks and some rather stolid "museum" exhibits. This is well worth a two-hour stop. You can get there by the Noumea Explorer or the Petit Train. Note that as often happens in France, over-60s are half-price. Aquarium des Lagons between Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons, the Aquarium has a great collection of Nautilus, as well as lots of information about the local marine life of the island. Last admissions are at 4 pm (or as the times are given locally, 1600). Do New Caledonia is home of one of the largest Lagoons in the world. So naturally water sports are very popular. Wind Surfing Anse Vata during the afternoons is very popular with Kite and Wind Surfers. There are a few hire companies on the beach that are very friendly and have a wide range of equipment. Snorkeling it is highly suggested to snorkel while in Noumea. The water off Rocher a la Voile around and into Baie des Citrons has coral literally meters from the shore line, making it very easy to see the coral and fish that inhabit there. Baie des Citrons is also very protected from wind, making it even more enjoyable for the novice. But also if you are prepared to pay for a water taxi ride, Ile aux Canards just off Anse Vata (maybe half a kilometer away) has a snorkeling track in a marine park that has even better coral to see. The visibility can be poor after rough weather, and the charges for almost everything are appallingly heavy (600 CFP for a chair, the same for an umbrella, and the service is surely the surliest found anywhere in Nouméa, aside from the Tjibaou cafeteria). You get there by water taxi from the lower level of the faré ("native hut") half-way along the Plage Loisirs or Anse Vata beach. The price in March 2010 was 1000CFP for a return trip, which was good value. It should be noted that seeing sea snakes is not uncommon in Noumean waters, but they are very unlikely to bite a snorkeler. Sharks are very rarely seen though. You can rent a mask, fins and snorkel for about 1000 CFP, so you may think it worthwhile taking your own. Island hopping/visiting there are also many tourist operators who will take you to an island to sunbathe, swim and explore — like the Light House tours available from most tourist operators on Anse Vata, or via the hotels. Scuba diving Walking The climb up Ouen Toro Park at the South of Noumea (the hill near most of the big hotels) is a great way to spend a few hours. There are many paths through the hill that are signed (though sometimes poorly due to vandalism) and many places to stop, rest and take in the views. At the top of the 128m summit is a military base (that can not be visited) and an old battery that has BBQ facilities. The quickest way up from the area near Anse Vata is to walk along rue g. Laroque, but if you reach the pharmacy and the Hippodrome, you have gone too far. Go past the first couple of cross streets, then look for rue Paul Baumier on your right: there is a Gascon restaurant on one corner, and the Val Plaisance Charcuterie on the other. Walk up the street warily (the drivers are a bit wild) then pick up the track at the top end of the street. This leads up to the road that comes from somewhere past the Meridien hotel. The track is a bit of a scrabble, with a number of 5 cm stumps, but this mid-60s rambler got up it all right. Once you are on the road, you can either go west to look out over the sea or just look for the walking tracks that start immediately opposite. There is a painted map-sign there (we could not get any printed ones) so take some notes, especillay of the distances, because these are repeated on the track signage. The main thing is to be aware that there are many other tracks than the ones shown, and the red tracks (on the signboard map) are indeed "difficult". In the late afternoon, we found plenty of other walkers and runners so the place is safe enough. Take some water, and watch where you put your feet, as twisted ankles are always possible on the loose stones and rocks. Keep an eye on where you are going so that you can retrace your steps, because the internal signs are poor. The views, however, are superb. Most of Nouméa is also very close together, and safe to walk day and night between the suburbs. By day, the walk from Anse Vata along to and around the Baie des Citrons is pleasant. Assume that coffee and tea along the way will leave you little change from 500 CFP (each). Buy Local Markets just off rue Clemenceau, South of the CBD every morning of the week is local markets from approx 5:00am till 10:00am. Where cheap food, arts and crafts can be purchased. It is reminded though, that bartering prices is not common in New Caledonia. Food is not cheap in New Caledonia, but you can do well shopping at the non-tourist shops. Learn to detect the boulangerie and patisserie for bread and pastries, the charcuterie for meat and pâté and so on, but don't pass by the slightly seedy-looking general stores, where you can probably get tinned pâté, packaged cheese (wedges of brie, for example) and more. Eat Waterfront Market, Rue Georges Clemenceau. Open every morning, providing a good option for budget breakfasts. Croissants and Pain au Chocolat (CFP 180) and multitude of fresh fruit are available from various merchants. La Buvette du Marché, located inside the building adjacent to the main fruit market, prepares a variety of food including Croque Monsieur (Toasted ham and cheese sandwich) and coffee.  edit At night, locals who eat out seem to wait until "vingt heures" (20.00 or 8 pm) before they eat, though most places are open from 18.30 (6.30 pm). Views and food The 360 Restaurant [2] is a revolving restaurant on top of one of the Ramada towers. At one point, you are looking straight into the apartments of the other tower, but the food is truly superb, and the lunch views are great. Drink The local beer is 'Number One', and it is a passable drop. There are many French wines to be had, but as a rule, the New Zealand and Australian wines seem to travel better (but that is an Australian opinion, and so open to being questioned). The local water is said to be perfectly safe to drink, but bottled water is easy to find if you are fearful. We stocked our hotel fridge from the neighbourhood general store and effected considerable savings. For Australians, the idea of 'flat white' coffee is foreign. A short black is 'espresso', capuccino comes heaped high with cream (not froth), and tea is served without milk. The hot chocolate is up to Belgian standards. Fruit juices are pricey but excellent. Sleep Budget Youth Hostelling International, 51 bis, rue Pasteur Marcel Ariège, Tel: 27 58 79, (Fax: 25 48 17, Email: yhan@lagoon.nc), [3]. Moderate Le Surf (www.grands-hotels.nc) Le Parc High end Ramada Plaza, rue Louis Blériot, Anse Vata Splurge Le Meridien Noumea*****, Pointe Magni, Tel:: 26 50 00 (Fax: 26 50 03, Email: lemeridien.noumea@lemeridien.com), [4].