Noumea. Flying Qantas and Aircalin in J.

[Austman]

If this place gets any more beautiful, I think I might scream. Haha.



And be very specific with model choice when making Avis car bookings:

 

[SYD]

Useful updates. We’re probably going to book a return visit in the current sale. The DT looks interesting and friends all recommend Le Meridian (if staying on the mainland). The Hilton was ok but obviously set back from the water.

 

[gibboflyer]

Looks amazing! Thankyou for the updates! I’m looking forward to (hopefully) some warm weather when we head over there too!

 

[Austman]

The Hilton was ok but obviously set back from the water.

Yes it is. But the beach is just across the park and road. Still, it’s a walk to get there and it’s not really the swimming area. And the Hilton’s pool is no great shakes. The swimming area is near the Le Meridien.

A part of Anse Vata beach is being reconstructed at the moment. But it’s not directly in front of the Hilton or the Le Meridien.

And I discovered a use for pegs. I must buy some one day.

 

[SYD]

Yes it is. But the beach is just across the park and road. Still, it’s a walk to get there and it’s not really the swimming area. And the Hilton’s pool is no great shakes. The swimming area is near the Le Meridien.

A part of Anse Vata beach is being reconstructed at the moment. But it’s not directly in front of the Hilton or the Le Meridien.

And I discovered a use for pegs. I must buy some one day.

View attachment 285945

That is an almost, if not identical view from the room we had! (Which i may mentioned before).

PS “pegs” are on my always take away with me list!

 

[Austman]

I’m not sure that this will interest too many but there’s a pretty extensive local bus network around Noumea.

The busses are modern, air-conditioned with electronic moving maps and announcements on board. Even USB charging at each seat.

But they are stll a public transport bus:



You can buy a single journey ticket from the driver (cash only) for 300 ($3.70). A day pass (not sold on board) is 900 ($11.00):





The best part, at least for me, was this App which is a reasonable journey planner that worked in English on my iPhone:



The busses can sure get around! Noumea is quite hilly with winding streets. You do have to brace yourself for some of the manoeuvres! Haha.

I saw using the App that it’s even possible to get to the international airport. But it’s a pretty long journey…

 

[Austman]

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.

I took the above advice for lunch today. I think this is one of those restaurants?



It was a wonderful meal. And quite the bargain:



Fish (local): 2,962 ($36). One glass wine: 1,370 ($17). No tip requested or necessary.

Spoiler Alert!!

I’d be untruthful if I didn’t mention the following: What was a great experience on a beautiful day was spoiled when the food arrived. Flys that had until then been absent were quite the nuisance:



Pity about the flys. It’s the first time they have been a nuisance here, at least for me!

 

[SYD]

That’s the one! Pity about the flies

 

[craven morehead]

Enjoying this TR

 

[Austman]

My Noumea stay is winding up.

This afternoon, on another nice weather day, I took a trip over to where the domestic airport, Magenta, is. The idea was to see a bit more of Noumea city itself on the way.

The Taneo App, I mentioned earlier, planned it:



At the destination:





Many would know the game played on the court above.



Not super high security perimeter fencing at the domestic airport, haha.

 

[Austman]

A few odd observations about Noumea:

While Noumea city is mostly beautiful looking, the city centre itself is a bit gritty:



Buying alcohol is interesting. There are wine shops around the place that keep odd hours:





I didn’t go in.

In the supermarkets that sell alcohol, it’s in a separate, almost hidden, room. I was told you needed to show your passport as ID but my Australian Drivers License was accepted fine.

The Hilton’s swimming pool, that I never saw a single person use for the six days I was here, seems to change water temperature by up to 4 degrees a day, at least according to the chart beside it:



I didn’t go in.

Then there are a few, err… adult shops around:



I didn’t go in.

I did however buy a bottle of wine for tonight from the small supermarket nearby:



I’m staying in.

Gee, it even has a real cork with numbers on it! So that’s my Oh la la !

(It only cost $20 so I’m not expecting too much )

 

[SYD]

Have you been to Citron Bay (sounds better in French) yet? It has/had a bunch of cafe and restaurants over looking the bay and sunsets.

 

[Austman]

Have you been to Citron Bay (sounds better in French) yet? It has/had a bunch of cafe and restaurants over looking the bay and sunsets.

I’ve been past (through) it a few times. It does look pretty nice.

 

[SYD]

I’ve been past (through) it a few times. It does look pretty nice.

We walked there from the Hilton (a couple times from memory).

 

[Longtoo]

Thanks Austman for sharing your review. I am heading to Noumea with Mrs Longtoo week after next, will probably be tracing most of your track, including a much anticipated stay at the Double Tree Ilot Maitre. I have booked a rental car for most of the trip, excluding the time at the Double Tree Ilot Maitre.

A couple of questions if you have time:

How do you rate your bottle of Chateau Notre Pere? Mrs Longtoo plans to pack one or two bottles from Australia, we are just not sure if we can get good wine in Noumea. I assume they are all imported from mainland.

Do you have any recommendation on places (nature/culture) to visit around Noumea, say within 1 hr of driving?

The Double Tree Hilton on Ilot Maitre looks amazing on the internet. I wonder if there is much do do after dark?

 

[Anna]

not sure if we can get good wine in Noumea

I have fond memories of a fortnight spent in Nouméa in December 1984 when my then boyfriend and I would dine most nights at this cute little bistro with red and white check table cloths, drinking chilled red wine from a carafe. I'd never seen chilled red before (or much since) but it was perfect for the tropics.

New Caledonia was then in the midst of turmoil and our flight home was delayed while they brought onboard a wounded fighter who was being taken to Australia for surgery and treatment

 

[Austman]

A couple of questions if you have time:

How do you rate your bottle of Chateau Notre Pere?

Do you have any recommendation on places (nature/culture) to visit around Noumea, say within 1 hr of driving?

The Double Tree Hilton on Ilot Maitre looks amazing on the internet. I wonder if there is much do do after dark?

The wine was perfectly drinkable. There’s a huge choice of mostly French wines in the bigger supermarkets. Prices seem reasonable. Other countries including Australia are represented too.

The duty free allowance is 1 litre spirits plus 2 litres of wine, so with 2 persons you could certainly bring a few bottles.

I didn’t rent a car and have only stayed in Noumea. Even the DoubleTree is Noumea - you can see the island from the Hilton.

At the DoubleTree, a very few of the overwater bungalows are a bit cheaper than the rest. They are the same bungalow but are furthest away from the reception/restaurant/pool. They are sold as “king” while the others are “king deluxe”. I nabbed one of those:



Actually I liked the choice! I had a clear view directly out to sea. I was a bit worried when swimming that no-one would see or hear me if I got into troubles.

I used Google to measure and it was about 500m to the resort centre. So about a 1km round trip. They do have transportation for your luggage. Not sure if they’ll transport people too.

As for entertainment, I didn’t see any advertised or hear any. And I didn’t buy dinner there on my single night stay. I suspect if there is any entertainment, it’s low key. Maybe some singers?

I did have a beer in the bar, which is pretty nice:

 

[Austman]

Flight 3. NOU-BNE. QF90.

Most of the flights to Australia depart NOU in the mid morning. Eg today’s flight to SYD departed at 9.00am. With the 2 hours before departure recommendation (probably not really needed) and a ca 1 hour journey to the airport, it can make for a very early hotel check-out.

But QF90, currently just 1 flight per week, has a 4:10pm departure. Far more civilised.

I’ve booked the airport shuttle for a 1pm pick-up, so we’ll see how it goes.

The Hilton is fully booked (again) for tonight, so my request for a late check-out, even as a Diamond, was “difficult”. But noon was OK.

The Hilton has an interesting breakfast/brunch arrangement on the weekends. Breakfast/brunch up to 2pm.



And the breakfast vouchers work for either session.

So my plan is to have a light breakfast in my apartment, then check-out around noon, then have brunch, then get the shuttle at 1pm.

Not sure it will all work out, but the first part is complete. Baguette and pod coffee on the balcony. It’s not a great weather day today but still pleasant:



The baguette was from this shop, below the Hilton:



On-line check-in has been done already. It’s not so full in J-class at the moment:

 

[SYD]

The Aircalin lounge (Salon Hibiscus) is comfy but not much food from memory but they did have real French bubbles.

If the clouds clear, you should get some nice reef views from 1A during takeoff.

 

[SYD]

If the clouds clear, you should get some nice reef views from 1A during takeoff.

Here’s one I prepared earlier… View from QF737 Seat 1A.