New Caledonia Travel Guide

New Caledonia — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: South Pacific.
Language: French is the official language, but there are approximately 30 different Melanesian languages. English and Japanese are also widely spoken.
Area: 18,575 sq km (7,172 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 11.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style, two-pin plugs are in use.
Population: 221,943 (CIA estimate 2007).
Population Density: 11.9 per sq km.
Capital City: Nouméa. Population: 91,396 (2004).
Government: French Overseas Territory since 1957.
Head of Government: Harold Martin since 2007.
Head of State: President Nicolas Sarkozy since 2007, represented locally by High Commissioner Yves Dassonville since 2005.
Religion: Vast Christian majority, with 59% Roman Catholic.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: . There is a 24-hour service for international calls. International calls are bookable at the post office or through hotels. Most hotels have direct dial facilities.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies companies including Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Australia. However it may be easier to buy a carte liberte from any local post office â€“ this gives you a prepaid SIM card to make national and international calls. The card is valid for 90 days.

Internet

Public access is available in several internet cafes and at cyber points (computers available for public use in local businesses/ISPs).

Media

Media operates relatively freely. Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes is a French-language daily. L'Hebdo, Les Infos and Télé 7 Jours are French-language weeklies.

Post

The New Caledonia Post and Telecommunications Office (OPT) has approximately 50 branches throughout the island, providing postal and banking services. The main post office, located on rue Eugène Porcheron, is open Mon-Fri 0745-1115 and 1215-1530. Airmail take around four days to get to Australia and New Zealand; one week to get to Europe.The post office, located on rue Eugène Porcheron, is open Mon-Fri 0745-1115 and 1215-1530.

Press

Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes is a French-language daily. L'Hebdo, Les Infos and Télé 7 Jours are French-language weeklies.

Radio

RFO Nouvelle Caledonie is publicly run. NRJ Nouvelle Caledonie, Radio Djiido and Radio Rythme Blue are private stations.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
8 May 1945 Victory Day
2 Jun Ascension Day
13 Jun Whit Monday
14 Jul Bastille Day
15 Aug Assumption
24 Sep French Treaty Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
11 Nov Armistice Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
8 May 1945 Victory Day
17 May Ascension Day
28 May Whit Monday
14 Jul Bastille Day
15 Aug Assumption
24 Sep French Treaty Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
11 Nov Armistice Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

Contact Information

Diplomatic Representation

New Caledonia is a French Overseas Territory; addresses of French embassies, consulates and tourist offices may be found in the France section.

New Caledonia Tourism South

Street address: 20 rue Anatole France, Nouméa-Center, Place des Cocotiers, Nouméa, New Caledonia
Postal address: BP 688, 98845 Nouméa Cédex, New Caledonia
Tel: 242 080.
Website: www.nctps.com

Office of the High Commissioner

BP C5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
Tel: 266 500.

South Pacific Travel (South Pacific Tourism Organization) in Fiji

Street address: Level 3, FNPF Place, 343-359 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji
Postal address: PO Box 13119, Suva, Fiji
Tel: (639) 330 4177.
Website: www.south-pacific.travel