Travelling to Noumea for 7 days...

Hi, I am new here and have just booked cheap tickets for me and my partner to Noumea from NZ. We are travelling 17/11 to 24/11. Need some tips on Noumea such as what to do where to eat, etc. I have read everything on this site and have learnt a lot already so far. Thanks for all the postings. Here are details of our trip.

First 4 nights at Casa Del Sole Apartments, then last 3 nights at Le Meridien Noumea.

We are looking at going for a day trip to the Isle of Pines. I see that wednesday is the only day that the shuttle boat travels which suits us (saturday and sunday would not suit us). Just wondering, is a day trip enough to do the outrigger trip and end up snorkelling at the piscene naturelle pools and grill lobster at the restaurant? Could we also fit some time at Kuto/Kanumera beach on the same day? I think the boat leaves at 5pm from Isle of Pines? If we could only do one, which would be recommended? Spending the day at Kuto/Kanumera or the outrigger and piscene pool snorkelling? How do I go about booking the outrigger trip and the bbq meal after?

As for Noumea, looks like we cant visit the saturday market as we arrive and leave on saturday! But will spend a day exploring the city, maybe a day at the new aquarium, one day at the tjabo cultural place... do we still need to do duck island or lighthouse island if we already are going to isle of pines? Should we rent a car so we can drive around noumea or is it ok just to walk around or take the bus?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks again.

Richard

Go to the FAQ of this branch and read my note at #13.

The Betico trip to Isles Des Pins (IDP) takes about 2 hours each wway (2nd class is MORE than adequate). It deposits you there at around 9.30am and goes back around 5pm - ideal for daytrippers.

The idea of spending time at Kuto/Kanumera, the pirogue trip, visiting the Piscine and back in a day is doable (although rushed) as the island is only about 8km across. There is no Public transport as such , but you can get minivan transport all over quite easily. Some people rent bicycles (not daytrippers!) or rental cars are a good option (my preference as minivan trips for 2 people might cost not much less, plus you are time conscious).If you had to choose 2 of the 3 acivities, Id leave out the Pirogue . hePiscine is NOT to be missed. You can still have a great meal at Chez Regis near the Piscine in any event, or failing that (and budget permitting) at the Meridien nearby on IDP - its even more gorgeous than the Meridien in Noumea.

Given the timing at IDP Id pre-book as much as possible via the tourist office in Noumea - here. or via Air Caledonie.

The market in Noumea is not just on Saturdays. There is also an excellent night market on the beach at Anse Vata (near your hotels)- dont miss it.The acuarium and Culutural Centre are both excellent and shouldnt be missed.

Eating in Noumea - lots of great places on Baie des Cirones (not far from Anse Vata) and more casual places on Anse Vata.

Please excuse all the spelling mistakes !

Hi Richard,

Just wondering, is a day trip enough to do the outrigger trip and end up snorkelling at the piscene naturelle pools and grill lobster at the restaurant?
It is doable but you will be VERY rushed. Honestly, if I were you I would cut down Noumea to 5 nights and do a night or two in Isle Des Pins.

The outrigger canoe trip, combined with snorkelling at la piscine naturelle and having the grilled lobster for lunch at the open air Snack Le Kou-gny (tel first to reserve and order your lobster (langouste grille) where you eat facing a lagoon with your feet in the sand, is, to me, the quintessential Isle Des Pins experience.

Could we also fit some time at Kuto/Kanumera beach on the same day?
Kuto/Kanumera are just across from each other and can both be enjoyed in a couple of hours. I'm not sure if you catually could enjoy them on the same day but that being said; the buses depart from the parking lot in front of Chez Regis to take you back to Kuto at about 2.30 - 3pm. You would be back at Kuto by 3.30 - 4. That would give you about 1/2 hour to swim at Kuto before you had to make your way to the wharf which is within walking distance of Kuto bay. You would need to skip Kanumera though.

I think the boat leaves at 5pm from Isle of Pines? If we could only do one, which would be recommended?
You could squeeze both in but it would be a rush in Kuto.

Spending the day at Kuto/Kanumera or the outrigger and piscene pool snorkelling?
It's a toss up - the beach in Kuto is spectacular - baby powder fine white beaches, crystal clear turquoise water - it really is paradise. It's a very laid back day where you don't do much else.

However the outrigger and piscine naturelle snorkelling is an action packed combination day - Catching the outrigger (most are hand made) is incredible. Then trudging through the forest, wading in the stream to get to the piscine naturelle - is really a unique experience. If you throw in the grilled lobster at Le Kou-gny, you've got an unforgettable day.

How do I go about booking the outrigger trip and the bbq meal after?
You can do a 1/2 day pirogue trip to the Isle of Pines from Gite Nataiwatch. http://www.nataiwatch.com/eng/activites.php. I don't think you have to be a guest there to organise it.

For the grilled lobster, I have found 2 telephone numbers, the first is from an older source; the second from the phone book: Snack Le Kou-gny Tel: 45 71 32 or 46 10 65.

You can phone the restaurant directly on the phone numbers I've listed. Do it the morning you are leaving or the day before (Tomorrow is demain in french).

As for Noumea, ........ do we still need to do duck island or lighthouse island if we already are going to isle of pines?
Le Phar Amedee (lighthouse island) is a VERY different outing to the Isle of Pines. The waters around the Phar Amedee are a protected marine reserve so the the marine life is different - not as many tropical fish as in the psicine naturelle but large fish which are very close to shore. You also can go on a glass bottom boat and they have a great buffet with polynesian entertainment. Ilot Canard (Duck Island) is different again. I would choose the Phar Amedee over L'Ilot Canard.

Should we rent a car so we can drive around noumea or is it ok just to walk around or take the bus?
DO NOT unless it is absolutely necessary drive around Noumea. The drivers in New Caledonia, I can categorically say, are the worst in the world (and I have been a passenger in European traffic which is a blissful experience by comparison). Driving around in the country is not so bad - but around Noumea no way.

The bus system is quite reasonably priced & good. There is a bus stop directly out the front of the Casa Del Sole apartments. The bus will take you into the centre of town and you can change quite easily to go to other destinations. Also distances are not great so you can walk around without much difficulty.

Tropicgirl the other suggestion is to go straight to the Piscine in the morning, lunch at Chez Regis or Snack Le Kou-gny and then back to Kuto/Kanumera.

The Pirogue trip takes hours (incl the jungle walk) and as they are pressed for time, Id miss that.

Thanks for all the replies!!!

One thing about the pirogue, is it a smooth ride or is someone prone to sea sickness going to feel sick? Also my partner can't swim, so is it dangerous then?

At the piscene naturelle, is it possible for her to enjoy it without swimming? Is the pool quite shallow?

The Piscine at its deepest is about 3 metres. Most of it is about 1 metre - she'll love it.

The Baie de Upi is calm and she wont feel sea-sick. Its not dangerous but you do go out on a bay which may be many metres deep.

Hi Richard,

The pirogue is very smooth. It is not dangerous at all. I can't swim either and am terrified of deep water that goes above my shoulders but have happily climbed aboard the pirogue and never been scared. I have taken the pirogue on at least 5 occasions and have never encountered anything but smooth as silk ocean. To give you an idea of how safe the pirogues are, I chatted to one particular pirogue operator who told me that he had navigated his pirogue all the way to Grand Terre - the mainland of New Caledonia.

There are always people at the piscine naturelle. You will see kids standing on submerged rocks. As long as she stays on the beach side of those rocks, she will be fine. I always go snorkelling at the piscine naturelle and that's what I do. As Mandja said, most of it is about 1 metre.

Thanks Mandja and Tropicgirl

I would really like to experience the pirogue actually... how many hours would it take? 2 or 3 hours? then a one hour walk through the forest??? hmm... so if we started the pirogue at 10am... we might get to piscene at 1??have lunch at 2?? take the bus to kuto at 2.30/3pm.

I am not sure what kuto is like, dont mind if we dont get to spend much time there... a stroll along the beach and maybe wading in the water for 30 mins or so would be enough for us i think. We are not the type to lie down and relax on the beach for hours... saying that... we might get bored sitting on the pirogue!!! haha...

hi Richard,

I am not 100% sure about how long it takes but it's certainly not 2 or 3 hours. Yes the walk through the jungle takes an hour. I estimate the pirogue journey would take about 1 - 1 & 1/2 hours then you've got the walk though the jungle. So yes, you would certainly be there by 1. Probably more like 12/12.30.

Make sure you both wear a hat, rash vest or something with long sleeves and something covering your legs and smother yourselves with sunscreen on the pirogue or you will get BADLY sunburnt. I have seen too many people wear only their swimming costume on the pirogue, then get scorched and ruin the rest of their holidays because surprisingly they have failed to take this basic precaution. You will also need tropical strength RID or Bushman's Repellant when traipsing through the forest.

You should book the outing to the Baie D'Oro/pirogue to the Baie D'Upi at least a few days ahead.

A few more questions, in terms of the meal I see people recommending Chez Regis as well as Le Kougny restaurant. Which is the better experience/meal? I also assume we will need proper walking shoes on the island?

Also, I found out that the shuttle transfer from the airport to Noumea is really expensive! about NZD100 per person return (which is why i thought of renting a car as the cost of 2 ppl would be enough to rent the car for a few days...) Any alternative transport? I hope the bus/taxi fares in and around noumea wont be so expensive...

City/suburban buses around Noumea are not expensive. Taxis are comparable with NZ.

The rate quoted for transfers to/from the airport are always expensive from any airport in the world if they are transfers rather than , say, local buses. In the case of Noumea, it is also because the airport is at least 40km from town. I agree that renting a car is a good option. You might even get a one-way option - pick up at airport, drop off in Noumea., and do the reverse on the last day. Avis depot is not near Anse Vata but others are eg Budget.

I havent eaten at Le Kougny so cant comment , but Chez Regis is lovely. Its a 5 min walk from Piscine (half way to the Meridien) and is located on a pretty stream. It has seating inside and out and a great menu.

Re shoes to IDP , youll be in sandles the whole time. If you plan to do much walking/hiking then youll obviously need other shoes.If youre only there one day, sandles are enough. If spending longer then running shoes. There are many fine places to walk/hike, by the way.Let us know if you plan to stay longer.

So even after the pirogue trip the walk through the forest is ok with sandals then?

Yes, the walk is really not THAT arduous.

Hi Richard,

You can't beat the view/experience of dining at Le Kougny. You are on the beach under trees with a magnificent view of this aquamarine bay dining on a splendid meal of grilled lobster. The view/experience is in a different league to Chez Regis.

I would recommend reef shoes or those hiking sandals with thick soles that do up with velcro if you are taking sandals with you. Those hiking sandals are the ones my husband and I always wear when we do the trek through the forest.

Yes the shuttle transfer IS expensive, but for me, safety is more important than saving a few dollars. The drivers in Noumea are absolutely manic. I do not say this lightly. They have one of the highest road fatality rates around and when you see how people drive, you understand that is one of the reasons why.

Did you book through a travel agent? Have you checked with them if they have cheaper shuttle bus rates?

The bus fares around Noumea are very good value. You won't need taxis very often.

I am looking at possibly buying our own snorkelling gear from nz and bringing it over, is this necessary?

Do we need snorkelling gear at Piscenne Natural pools? Or are goggles good enough? Flippers needed?

At Amedee Lighthouse island, as I mentioned earlier my partner cant swim... is it still a nice trip to wade around the shallow areas with snorkelling gear to have a look? Do we need to go with the tour to Amedee Island? Or can we just take a ferry there and back?

Thanks again!

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<hr>buying our own snorkelling gear from nz and bringing it over, is this necessary?<hr></blockquote> - no, but theyll be cheaper in NZ . Also if you borrow snorkle gear when you get there , they may not fit well.

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<hr>Do we need snorkelling gear at Piscenne Natural pools? Or are goggles good enough? Flippers needed?<hr></blockquote> -snorkle gear not needed but nice to have. Flippers? Not needed at the Piscine

I am looking at possibly buying our own snorkelling gear from nz and bringing it over, is this necessary?
- I agree entirely with Mandja. It will definitely be cheaper in NZ, it may not fit well and I'm always a bit worried about the hygiene aspect of putting the tube thing in my mouth that has been in someone else's mouth.

Do we need snorkelling gear at Piscenne Natural pools? Or are goggles good enough? Flippers needed?
- Yes, I would definitely take snorkelling gear to la Piscine Naturelle. You don't need flippers - my husband and I wear our reef shoes.

At Amedee Lighthouse island, as I mentioned earlier my partner cant swim... is it still a nice trip to wade around the shallow areas with snorkelling gear to have a look? Do we need to go with the tour to Amedee Island? Or can we just take a ferry there and back?
- Apart from going with a diving school, the only other way to get to Amedee Island is with the Mary D which offers a day trip which includes the return boat ride to the Phar Amedee, glass bottom boating, a polynesian buffet and entertainment.

It is a lovely trip to wade around the shallow areas with snorkelling gear. The fish swim right past your legs - even as your standing there in thigh deep water.

Take a stale baguette with you to feed the fish. It's a really fun day.

You can save a bit of time, but surely spending more by flying to IDP early morning and coming back around 5pm - then it is one day trip.