Drinking Water Across New Caledonia

elliek704:31 UTC27 Jun 2013

I am about to leave for a six-week internship in New Caledonia that will put me all over the island, usually in homes, guest houses and apartments rather than hotels. I am an avid camper and adventurous eater, so I tend to think that I'll be fine, but this is a whole new situation for me. I would love some advice on eating/drinking in NC... Is ice a risk? Tap water? And, of course, street food-- know any good places, any bad places, any general rules?

indyj01:12 UTC04 Jul 2013

Tap water is safe to drink all over the country. So when you are near a village (hébergement en tribu) or a main road you can easily fill your bottle or tank. Don't expect too many guesthouses (at least not in the meaning of the word in other parts of the world) but once you are outside Nouméa you will definitly find your type of accommodation "en tribu" or with "caldoches". Street food is also safe to eat - I recommend the brochettes de cerf on the roadside stalls. They are far between, though, compared to e.g. Asian countries. Enjoy your stay!

gypsyinabigtown13:10 UTC29 Sep 2013

Is it still the case that tap water is safe to drink all over New Caledonia, including Ile-des-Pins?
The reason I am asking is that according to a review I've read on tripadvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g298359-d302428-r150564664-Le_Meridien_Ile_des_Pins-Ile_Des_Pins.html), dozens of people have had severe food poisoning due to tap water contamination earlier this year- and this was at Le Meridien, the most luxurious hotel on the island !!
Was this a one-off isolated case, and is Ile-des-Pins water indeed safe to drink?

Edited by: gypsyinabigtown

Drinking Water Across New Caledonia Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / New Caledonia
elliek704:31 UTC27 Jun 2013	I am about to leave for a six-week internship in New Caledonia that will put me all over the island, usually in homes, guest houses and apartments rather than hotels. I am an avid camper and adventurous eater, so I tend to think that I'll be fine, but this is a whole new situation for me. I would love some advice on eating/drinking in NC... Is ice a risk? Tap water? And, of course, street food-- know any good places, any bad places, any general rules?
indyj01:12 UTC04 Jul 2013	Tap water is safe to drink all over the country. So when you are near a village (hébergement en tribu) or a main road you can easily fill your bottle or tank. Don't expect too many guesthouses (at least not in the meaning of the word in other parts of the world) but once you are outside Nouméa you will definitly find your type of accommodation "en tribu" or with "caldoches". Street food is also safe to eat - I recommend the brochettes de cerf on the roadside stalls. They are far between, though, compared to e.g. Asian countries. Enjoy your stay!	1
gypsyinabigtown13:10 UTC29 Sep 2013	Is it still the case that tap water is safe to drink all over New Caledonia, including Ile-des-Pins? The reason I am asking is that according to a review I've read on tripadvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g298359-d302428-r150564664-Le_Meridien_Ile_des_Pins-Ile_Des_Pins.html), dozens of people have had severe food poisoning due to tap water contamination earlier this year- and this was at Le Meridien, the most luxurious hotel on the island !! Was this a one-off isolated case, and is Ile-des-Pins water indeed safe to drink? Edited by: gypsyinabigtown Edited by: gypsyinabigtown	2