New Caledonia Taxis and Car Rental
Taxis are an easy way to get around and most of the larger towns in New Caledonia have at least one reliable cab company, such as Radio Taxis de Nouméa (+687-283-512) or VIP limousine service, Blue White Tours VIP (+687-764-128). A taxi cannot be hailed on the street; rather, they are booked in advance via the phone or picked up from a stand. Hotels or stores will usually be happy to call a cab for you, but expect to pay more than the buses.
Car rental is easy and possible in New Caledonia, with a good variety of international and local firms to choose from. Most of the operators, including Hertz and Europcar, have a desk at the airport as well as an office in Nouméa. Drivers must be over 21 and hold a valid driver’s license. New Caledonia has a good network of sealed roads. Drivers tend to be safe and courteous as it is customary to allow faster vehicles to pass safely.
New Caledonia Water Taxis
There is a water taxi service that takes passengers from Anse Vata in Nouméa to the neighboring islets of Ile aux Canards (Duck Island) and l’Ilot Maitre (Master Island). Water taxis can be booked at the kiosk on Plages Loisirs beach at Anse Vata in Nouméa. A regular ferry, the Betico, runs between New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands and the Iles de Pines.
New Caledonia Buses
New Caledonia has a well developed bus network with comfortable vehicles which are good for getting around town that is cheaper than taking a taxi. Tickets can be purchased beforehand from machines at bus stops, or on board for a little more. The Nouméa Bus Service has routes around the city that usually terminate at either the town hall or Avenue de la Victoire (Victoria Avenue). Bus services usually end around 6:00 pm each day.
There are also two tourist bus routes in Nouméa. The first is the Nouméa Explorer, which takes visitors to all the main attractions and hotels in the city. The other is a train style shuttle that runs on regular roads called Le Petit Train, which loops along the most scenic parts of the town.