New Zealand Travel Guide
New Caledonia 1 French New Caledonia is an overseas dependent territory of France located in the western Pacific Ocean in the Coral Sea, east of Australia and west of Vanuatu territory consists of the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty islands archipelago Loyalty islands, Isle of Pines Isle of Pines and many small sparsely populated islands and atolls.
New Caledonia offers beaches, mountain fondue in chalets, camping, hiking, snorkeling and diving incredible and fabulous French cuisine.
The people of New Caledonia belong to five major ethnic groups.
The descendants of prisoners and European settlers and North Africa.
People from other regions of mainland France and French overseas regions working in Noumea.
The descendants of earlier settlers often Asian Vietnamese and Indonesian.
There is a general trend towards greater autonomy in New Caledonia and it was decided in the Nouméa Accord that the territorial Congress will have the right to call at a time of his choice, for a referendum on the status future of the territory, including the possible independence after 2014.
Colonized by Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island became a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864.
The islands have been a territory overseas of France since 1956.
The 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formally under French law Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s seems to have dissipated a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but was not adopted; a new referendum is planned for after 2014.
In New Caledonia, as elsewhere in France, the national holiday is Bastille Day on July 14.
New Caledonia has a semi-tropical climate, modified by trade winds south is often hot and humid in January and February the islands are exposed to tropical cyclones, most frequent from November to March during winter from April to August daytime temperature is about 22C the water may still be hot, but it often feels too cool to really want to go swimming.
The main island of New Caledonia is one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean and its terrain consist of coastal plains with interior mountains The highest point is Mont Panie 1,628 m.
Grand Terre is rich in minerals, and is an important source of many ores, mainly nickel and chrome There is a mountainous interior green with subtropical foliage The outlying islands are coral, and beautiful white sand and palm trees sport.
Chesterfield Islands uninhabited and incredibly remote Chesterfield Islands are an expedition.
NOUMEA The capital and only town of any size.
Voh - the starting point to see the Heart of Voh - Image mangrove heart shaped covering all the tourist information.
Poindimie - One of the largest cities of the east coast.
Hienghene - where you can see rock formations that look like a hen and a sphinx One of the best cities to see islets off.
Sarraméa - A small town nestled in the mountains with excellent hike is signposted.
The citizens of all EU countries, including France, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland may visit and stay without a visa for an unlimited period in New Caledonia Moreover the citizens of the countries mentioned should use their national ID card as a travel document, if you take flights from mainland France in New Caledonia This can also be done if French Guiana wheel Guadeloupe Martinique Mayotte and Reunion .
New Caledonia Airport IATA ICAO NOU NWWW, also known as Tontouta airport located in Paita, 52 km north-west of the capital Noumea, 687 35 11 18 Air France flights to Paris via code sharing Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul scheduled flights are available from Tokyo and Osaka in Aircalin New Caledonia is very popular with the Japanese Air New Zealand and Qantas 2 3 also serve the airport There are also flights from various Pacific countries, New Zealand, Australia and Southeast Asia Aircalin also offer codeshare flights from a number of these sites, however, there aren t many flights overall, so beware availability There is little or no competition on the roads, so be very careful of the high prices of theft.
Noumea-Magenta Airport GEA IATA 4 km from the city center, 687 25 14 00 serves all domestic flights in New Caledonia, as the Loyalty Islands Maré, Tiga, Lifou, Ouvea, Pine Island south to the islands Belep northern tip of the continent, as well as Koné and Koumac on the west coast and Touho on the east coast air Caledonie 4 services predominate all flights to New Caledonia and passes air islands are available, but you should book their luggage restrictions Islands office is 12kg tickets can be purchased that allow you to carry more as a stranger, or you can pay extra for each leg on arrival.
Noumea is a popular port of call for people sailing around the Pacific, though most dare SAIL during the hurricane season.
Shipping company Heritage Expeditions New Zealand company visit New Caledonia every year in April with his expedition ship Spirit of Enderby 50 passengers Professor Kromov an expedition from New Zealand, visiting several island countries including New Caledonia before finish in Honiara, Solomon Islands They sail the waterways with the ship and inflatable zodiacs to visit off the beaten path islands and communities brief style main shipping Travel trips and daily landings are cultural , wildlife, including bird watching, hiking and diving experiences snorkeling underwater conference program decompresses onboard experience for those on board.
Renting a car to move around the main island of Grande Terre is a great way to find out what this Pacific island has to offer and is probably the easiest and best way to explore the Great earth roads are generally of a high standard and the road speed limit on the west coast is 110 km h, allowing top down quickly travel this coast the coast is a speed limit of 100 km h and is generally slower to drive around this coast is hugged by the mountain, making for corners and hills.
Road maps are readily available from the tourist information office at Tontouta airport and the roads are well signposted, making the cities of the main island easy to find and driving in Grande Terre a pleasant travel experience.
There are a number of car rental companies that rent a range of cars to be Tontouta Airport Noumea or international car rental companies include Thrifty Car and Europcar both allow online car reservation using their websites Rentals - cheapest are.
Red point requires drivers over 24 years.
The buses are not too bad and go almost anywhere, but they are rare, but they are worth a try and you will save money A bus Tontouta Noumea City is about 400CFP opposed to 7000CFP but shuttle or taxi the bus company Carsud 5 online services Tontouta C every hour approximately 5 to 6 p.m. Travel time is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes Realize the terminus of Tontouta is another part Noumea and the bus go Magenta airport if you are traveling to the islands.
The buses around the city, you can take a bus that will take very easily you the Bay of Lemons in downtown Noumea for 200CFP way This is a good alternative to a taxi bus that services this route is the bus No. 1 and it is green this help you on your return to the Baie des Citrons and Anse Vata since you are looking for green number 1 bus takes about 15 to 20 minutes for a taxi costs about the same destination by 850CFP path over 200CFP each way by bus taxis cruise the streets to pick up passengers as in other cities; they should be telephoned to come to where you are This makes the bus a good alternative as the total duration of the trip is not much more than a taxi.
If you are in a hotel or other, you can just ask them to call you a taxi even if you are shopping in Noumea if you just buy something, even groceries in a small store, they will be happy call you a taxi.
There are ferry operators torque to the Loyalty Islands and the Ile des Pins Bettico 6 operates a high-speed catamaran that travels to the islands on a regular basis.
Hitching is possible, but not recommended around the celebrations there are many drunk drivers on the roads Locals prefer to travel during the day if possible, the roads at night are very dangerous and few drivers have adequate insurance.
Tjibaou a gift from the French government was the architect Renzo Piano, the Italian architect.
Wandering along the waterfront in Noumea - Baie des Citrons and Anse Vata.
Island just outside the Duck Anse Vata is a good place for beginners.
Aguille Prony is an amazing underwater structure in the Prony bay south of Noumea.
Baie des Citrons and Anse Vata are common beaches in the peninsula of Noumea.
Ilot Maitre has a resort It can be reached by boat taxi from Anse Vata, and boat from the Moselle Bay.
Many other resorts are located throughout the mainland and the Isle of Pines.
Blue River Park in Noumea Yate region south.
Join a hiking group is generally a good idea, since you can really enjoy the great scenery without fear of getting lost or having to stick with the traditional tourist spots.
The official language is French, and it is difficult to find English speakers outside Noumea in Noumea, French, Japanese and English are widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and shops to enjoy a place like this, you should really strive to learn French.
The cartoon series La Brousse en Folie and Le Sentier Men by Bernard Berger will provide an overview of the local culture and tradition The comics are written in French, the former imitating the local accent and grammar or lack of it.
Apart from this, many traditional souvenir shops located throughout Noumea.
New Caledonia is expensive by Asian countries, but, as elsewhere, cheap compared to Australia Much of the food has to be imported There is no culture of bargaining either and perform such infringement could cause a beer from the supermarket is 150CFP in some meals camping areas can be acquired for 850CFP restaurant meals can be comparable prices in Australia to 2200CFP for a main course.
Bougna, a traditional meal among indigenous Melanesians, which consists of some form of meat, pork, chicken, Fruitbat, crab, etc., and roots such as yams and sweet potatoes This is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked under hot rocks heated in a fire.
All fruits look very good taste, unless they are consumed at Koniambo Nickel SAS.
Buy food at local markets, which are common to almost all cities.
Expensive restaurants you can eat very well for about 10EUR at two restaurants in front of the city library for travelers on a budget, you will need to observe that the Kanaks do for the best deals.
French cuisine is obviously a specialty, but the range of food available can be somewhat limited.
The legal age to purchase the consumption of alcoholic beverages is 18.
Try mattu You can recognize a Kava Bar also called Nakamal a red light outside and low interior lighting is about 100CFP 500CFP over for a beer, so about a fifth of the price you drink Kava immediately once you have purchased and then go to a dark bench to relax.
There are many places around New Caledonia that are affordable and in good condition All you need to do is look around and you will find a place to sleep in your price range.
Volunteering in civil engineering from the Help VCAT 7 Conditions you must be French or from another EU member state or a country belonging to the European Economic Area, you must be between 18 and 28 years inclusive You should not have had your civic rights revoked by a court or have been convicted of certain offenses.
New Caledonia is pretty safe, but it is wise to take the following precautions.
When snorkeling, avoid contact with sea urchins, which are often toxic, and coral structures, which can cause scratches that swell badly and take a long time to heal.
A sea serpent known locally as a striped knit potentially deadly poison, but not aggressive when left alone, and that attacks when threatened.
There are sharks, some of them quite large, though great white sharks are rare shark attacks per Avoid.
Not carrying fish you caught and possibly bleeding while in the water.
Facing the shark, so the shark you appear large, vertical and difficult to bite.
There is no native crocodiles in New Caledonia Rogue individuals have been observed on the island more than twice over the last 200 years, probably swept the Solomon Islands.
Iodine or a similar disinfectant is invaluable to fight against small infections, which occur frequently in most sores and scratches.
Some mosquitoes carrying dengue virus There is no vaccine for this visit a doctor for more information, see our article on Wikitravel.
Travel Guide New Caledonia, Caledonia, Travel, Anse Bay Lemons, Lemons Anse Vata Bay.
Новая Каледония