Noumea. Flying Qantas and Aircalin in J.

[Austman]

With Qantas Points Planes available in August 2022, this is a short trip report on travel to Noumea.

The route is MEL-SYD-NOU-BNE-MEL.

All flights are QF except for SYD-NOU which is SB (Aircalin). All in J.

 

[Austman]

Flight 1. MEL-SYD.

Qantas cancelled my 10am flight late the night before departure. Some time on the phone and I was moved to the 9am flight. It was my choice to go earlier rather than later.

It was a nice enough flight.


Just after this photo there was heavy turbulence. A good deal of the drinks ended up in the tray.

 

[Austman]

Flight 2. SYD-NOU.

The transfer in SYD from Qantas T3 gate 15 to T1 was pretty quick. Passport control and security not too bad. Then off to the Qantas First Class lounge as my Aircalin flight was sold as a Qantas code share.



Aircalin, an A330-900neo was on time today.



It’s a pretty nice aircraft and seat.

 

[Austman]

On board Aircalin.

J class was pretty empty. Service was pretty good for a 3 hours flight and very friendly. The pre-departure champagne and menus:






Although I was in row 2, my food order was taken last with only the Barramundi available.





The amount of food was substantial.

There was on-board duty free available too. WiFi as well, supposedly free for J-class but you needed a code and I couldn’t be bothered.

 

[Austman]

Arrival in NOU.

It couldn’t have been easier. It’s a modern, small airport with 2 air bridges. J-Class was off first. No visa needed for Australians. And absolutely no COVID anything anymore. Just a usual health and customs form to fill out that you get on the plane.

I was HLO, so I was first out. I had booked a shuttle to get to my hotel for the first night: ARC EN CIEL SERVICE. It cost about $30 for the ca 1 hour journey by mini-bus or bus. They have an air conditioned waiting room complete with bottled water and wifi:



It turns out there were only two of us on the mini-bus. Most of the trip to Noumea itself was on a pretty good freeway. Still, it’s a pretty long transfer.

For those on the latest Telstra Prepaid plan, be aware that’s there’s currently ZERO roaming service available!

Oh and the mains power here is all continental Europe outlets.

 

[Austman]

The Hilton Noumea.

Pretty nice accommodation. I have a one bedroom high floor apartment. Two balconies.

The view is nice even on a very wet day.

 

[SYD]

The new SB J config looks nice!

Yes, NOU is a long way out of town. My one and only time there (2017) we ended hiring a car so we could check out the north coast a bit and then drove to the airport the next day. Worked out cheaper and quicker for 2x PAX.

PS That looks like the room we had

 

[Brissy1]

On board Aircalin.

J class was pretty empty. Service was pretty good for a 3 hours flight and very friendly. The pre-departure champagne and menus:

View attachment 285471

View attachment 285472
View attachment 285473

Although I was in row 2, my food order was taken last with only the Barramundi available.

View attachment 285474

View attachment 285475

The amount of food was substantial.

There was on-board duty free available too. WiFi as well, supposedly free for J-class but you needed a code and I couldn’t be bothered.

Quite impressive. I'll going opposite to you, qf j outbound and aircal j inbound. I expect the qf j (b737?) won't be aircal standard.

 

[Brissy1]

The Hilton Noumea.

Pretty nice accommodation. I have a one bedroom high floor apartment. Two balconies.

The view is nice even on a very wet day.

View attachment 285485View attachment 285486

Ha, I've also booked at the Hilton, 1br too.
Hoping for a upgrade (diamond).

 

[Austman]

Local restaurant, Noumea.

It’s pouring rain today, so I didn’t want to venture far.

Noumena has a reputation for having expensive restaurants. But potions tend to be large and there’s no tipping.

This is the pizza and pasta place beside the Hilton:
- garlic bread. A huge portion. $12
- chicken caesar salad. Massive. $32
- one glass white wine. $15

So all up just under $60. The wine choices given were interesting: Dry, Chardonnay or sweet. The Dry was very acceptable.

It was a pretty large lunch!

 

[Austman]

Ha, I've also booked at the Hilton, 1br too.
Hoping for a upgrade (diamond).

As a diamond, the upgrade for me was to a “deluxe” one bedroom, which translates to higher floors.

Also you get breakfast. Full, not continental.

 

[SYD]

Local restaurant, Noumena.

It’s pouring rain today, so I didn’t want to venture far.

Noumena has a reputation for having expensive restaurants. But potions tend to be large and there’s no tipping.

This is the pizza and pasta place beside the Hilton:
- garlic bread. A huge portion. $12
- chicken caesar salad. Massive. $32
- one glass white wine. $15

So all up just under $60. The wine choices given were interesting: Dry, Chardonnay or sweet. The Dry was very acceptable.

It was a pretty large lunch!

There were a couple of decent places in the Hilton complex and nearby. Tucked around the corner, just past the Ramada, there was a couple local restaurants. One was a little rustic French place but the food was good.

It will be interesting to see how La bias des Citrons beach strip cafes and restaurants have held up thru Covid?

 

[Quickstatus]

Wow 28% tax.

What was the tip?

 

[Austman]

Wow 28% tax.

What was the tip?

I think I’ve figured it out:

3302 was at 6% tax = 198. Total = 3500
984 was at 22% tax = 216. Total = 1200

So the 22% tax was on the 1200 glass of wine.

No tip!

 

[gibboflyer]

The Hilton Noumea.

Pretty nice accommodation. I have a one bedroom high floor apartment. Two balconies.

The view is nice even on a very wet day

Arrival in NOU.

It couldn’t have been easier. It’s a modern, small airport with 2 air bridges. J-Class was off first. No visa needed for Australians. And absolutely no COVID anything anymore. Just a usual health and customs form to fill out that you get on the plane.

I was HLO, so I was first out. I had booked a shuttle to get to my hotel for the first night: ARC EN CIEL SERVICE. It cost about $30 for the ca 1 hour journey by mini-bus or bus. They have an air conditioned waiting room complete with bottled water and wifi:



It turns out there were only two of us on the mini-bus. Most of the trip to Noumea itself was on a pretty good freeway. Still, it’s a pretty long transfer.

For those on the latest Telstra Prepaid plan, be aware that’s there’s currently ZERO roaming service available!

Oh and the mains power here is all continental Euro

Ha, I've also booked at the Hilton, 1br too.
Hoping for a upgrade (diamond).

Great to know re: transfers and lack of mobile coverage. We have booked Hilton too

 

[Brissy1]

Great to know re: transfers and lack of mobile coverage. We have booked Hilton too

Welcome to aff Gibbo

 

[Mattg]

I've never been and have been thinking about visiting New Caledonia, so thanks for this trip report.

How widely is English spoken there?

 

[bam71]

I’ve found a lot can speak English when pressed, whether they choose to is another matter. It’s totally French, and if you don’t speak French you can be looked down upon as a bit of a nuisance, although others may have had different experiences. We go to the south of France yearly, two small villages around 90 mins north west from Nice are our spots. One is treated with a bit of disdain initially, until we try our French, and when we explain we’re Australian, they can’t be more helpful. Australians are adored there ( due to our actions in WWII). I found Noumea however rather different…… they don’t give a toss if you’re Australian, we were a nuisance. Merde!

 

[dairyfloss]

Was glad to see this trip report posted! - I've just booked our family of 3 on our first visit to New Caledonia, during the Oct school holidays, and I'm a little lost on what to expect. Also flying J, but both ways on QF metal, and had to stump up for fares (sale fares, at least), as no classic J awards during our travel window. We'll be staying in Noumea at the Le Meridien Noumea Resort & Spa.

On COVID-related stuff... I saw you mentioned there was nothing to do, but their tourism site talks to a post-arrival verified RAT still being needed within 2 days of arrival. Is that also not being enforced?

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Austman]

I decided to stay a night at the DoubleTree on Îlot Maître in an overwater bungalow.

I got one for $400 for 1 night. Which is probably pretty good value for overwater bungalows?

I must say, it is rather lovely. You have electric steps that drop down into the water from your deck.