New Caledonia Travel Guide

New Caledonia — Travel Tips

Browse the New Caledonia Photo Gallery

Social Conventions

There is a casual atmosphere, and local traditions still prevail alongside European customs. Casual wear is the norm, but smart restaurants require a more formal style of dress. Long trousers are required for men at night in restaurants and casinos.

International Travel

Getting There By Air

The national airline is Aircalin (Air Calédonie International) (SB) (website: www.aircalin.nc).

Departure Tax

None.

Main Airports

Nouméa (NOU) (La Tontouta) (website: www.cci-nc.com/tontouta) is 50km (31 miles) from the city (journey time – 45 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxi and coach services are available to the city. It is advisable to book transfers before arrival in New Caledonia. Facilities: Post office, bureau de change, duty-free shops (available for scheduled flights), bar, restaurant and car hire.

Getting There By Water

International port is Nouméa, served by various shipping lines.

Duty Free

Overview

The following goods may be imported into New Caledonia without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco.
• 2L of wine plus 1L of spirits and liquors not exceeding 22% alcohol content, or 2L of spirits and liquors with 22% alcohol content or less.
• 50mL of perfume or 250mL of eau-de-toilette.
• 500g of coffee or 250g of coffee essence.
• 100g of tea or 40g of tea essence.
• Other goods up to a value of XPF30,000 per passenger aged 15 years and older, and XPF15,000 for those aged under 15 years.

Note: Those importing duty-free alcohol and tobacco must be aged 18 years and older. If taking personal and everyday goods, such as cameras, music players and radios, it is advised to carry documents providing legal justification of ownership.

Prohibited Imports

Plants, flowers, seeds and earth (except on import permit); meat and other animal products (except with prescribed sanitary certificate).

Internal Travel

Getting Around By Air

Domestic flights are run by Air Calédonie (TY) (website: www.air-caledonie.nc), maintaining regular services from Nouméa to airfields on the island, and the other smaller islands. The principal local airport is Magenta Airport, 6km (4 miles) from Nouméa city center. From here, Air Calédonie operates regular flights to Touho (east coast), Koné, Koumac, Belep (west coast), and to the neighboring Ile des Pins and the Loyalty Islands: Maré, Ouvéa, Lifou and Tiga. Light aircraft and helicopters are available from Air Alizé (website: www.airalize.com), Air Loyaute (website: www.air-loyaute.nc), Helicocean and Helitourisme.

Getting Around By Water

An inter-island, high-speed catamaran, ‘Betico’, runs regularly to Ile des Pins and Loyalty Islands from Grande Terre; for further details, contact Compagnie Maritime des Iles/Havanna (tel: 270 405). Boats can be hired or chartered to visit smaller islands.

Getting Around By Road

Traffic drives on the right. The road network consists of 5,000km (3,125 miles) of paved and unpaved roads. Petrol costs the same at all petrol stations.

Bus: Buses are available throughout the island. There are regular services in Nouméa which run every 15 to 30 minutes from 0500-1900. The Green Line travels between Kuendu Beach, the city center and other beach resorts. The Blue Line travels to Tjibaou Cultural Center. For more information, contact GIE Karnia Bus (tel: 265 454; website: www.gietcn.nc).

Taxi: Charges are for time and distance. There is a surcharge after 1900 and on Sundays.

Car hire: International and local companies all have representatives in the capital. Drivers must be aged 21 or over (in some cases, 25 or over).

Bicycle hire: Bicycles, motorcycles and motorscooters may also be hired.

Documentation: International Driving Permit is required.

Journey Times

From Nouméa to Ile des Pins is 25 minutes; to Lifou is 40 minutes; to Maré is 40 minutes; to Ouvéa is 40 minutes; to Tiga is 1 hour 25 minutes (including stopover); to Koumac is 1 hour five minutes and to Belep is 1 hour 45 minutes (including stopover).

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Nouméa to other major localities/villages in New Caledonia.