Air Calin’s (SB) recent launch of direct flights from MEL to NOU has made me consider visiting New Caledonia. They’re doing a LOT of advertising here in MEL. I didn’t realise how close it was to Australia. Some very brief research (including from some members on here) told me mostly negative things – expensive, rude locals, average beaches and the upper class locals treating the lower class locals appallingly. However much of that feedback seemed to be from visits 5 – 10 years ago. I also looked at the SB flight times which are not ideal (afternoon MEL departure with morning NOU departure – wish it was the other way around to maximise holiday time). SB also has very average reviews.
So I passed on NC as somewhere that wasn’t worth visiting.
Then I remembered QF fly there are it’s only 30k USDM miles pp return in J (and a perfectly legit itinerary). I investigated the flight times going via SYD or BNE and they’re actually perfect – early morning Sat departure from MEL via BNE arriving into NOU at lunch time and then afternoon NOU departure via SYD for early evening arrival back into MEL. Swift but comfortable connection times. I’ve got 130k USDM miles to use up with no long-haul travel plans. So essentially the flights would be almost ‘free’.
Then I read this article and became a whole lot more interested. http://www.traveller.com.au/gallic-meets-the-pacific-1yuqa
My partner and I absolutely love France and we also love tropical beaches (we’ve considered RUN before but it’s a REALLY long way to travel). This seems like a really great mix. My partner speaks almost fluent French (we found locals to be really lovely in France given we were speaking French to them). Many of the reviews of NC I have read seem to be the same complaints people have about Paris – you either love it or you hate it (we love it).
I’m looking for any recent experiences in New Caledonia, as a destination, not just a daily stop on a P&O cruise (we are really not 2000+ pax cruise people). I know its going to be expensive but Australia is incredibly expensive and if it’s the same price as DRW or CNS or BME to visit we would much rather go somewhere more interesting overseas. I can’t find that much info on prices – it seems like food is about the same price as Australia, alcohol slightly cheaper, transport more expensive and accommodation about the same.
I understand the best part of NC is Isle de Pines which can be reached by turboprop plane or ferry.
Can anyone provide more information? There are very little reviews of the placed online. Is it worth seriously considering or is the cost just too prohibitive? Are the beaches nice? Is it really like being in France but in the tropical Pacific? If so it sounds perfect.
So I passed on NC as somewhere that wasn’t worth visiting.
Then I remembered QF fly there are it’s only 30k USDM miles pp return in J (and a perfectly legit itinerary). I investigated the flight times going via SYD or BNE and they’re actually perfect – early morning Sat departure from MEL via BNE arriving into NOU at lunch time and then afternoon NOU departure via SYD for early evening arrival back into MEL. Swift but comfortable connection times. I’ve got 130k USDM miles to use up with no long-haul travel plans. So essentially the flights would be almost ‘free’.
Then I read this article and became a whole lot more interested. http://www.traveller.com.au/gallic-meets-the-pacific-1yuqa
My partner and I absolutely love France and we also love tropical beaches (we’ve considered RUN before but it’s a REALLY long way to travel). This seems like a really great mix. My partner speaks almost fluent French (we found locals to be really lovely in France given we were speaking French to them). Many of the reviews of NC I have read seem to be the same complaints people have about Paris – you either love it or you hate it (we love it).
I’m looking for any recent experiences in New Caledonia, as a destination, not just a daily stop on a P&O cruise (we are really not 2000+ pax cruise people). I know its going to be expensive but Australia is incredibly expensive and if it’s the same price as DRW or CNS or BME to visit we would much rather go somewhere more interesting overseas. I can’t find that much info on prices – it seems like food is about the same price as Australia, alcohol slightly cheaper, transport more expensive and accommodation about the same.
I understand the best part of NC is Isle de Pines which can be reached by turboprop plane or ferry.
Can anyone provide more information? There are very little reviews of the placed online. Is it worth seriously considering or is the cost just too prohibitive? Are the beaches nice? Is it really like being in France but in the tropical Pacific? If so it sounds perfect.