Saturday 24 November 2012

A Day in Noumea, Port of Call

Looking Down Over Noumea
So you are in Noumea on a cruise ship and wondering what to do for the day. If you want to explore independently there are several options. 

  • You could go on a one hour bus trip (get your ticket from a local operator at the cruise terminal) that is a good way of getting to the best vantage points up in the hills for spectacular wide views. From the lookout of Ouen Toro, the 360° view over the lagoon and islands and out to the Barrier Reef is stunning.
  • Ride on the bright yellow Le Petit Train. This train leaves from the dock and trundles on a sightseeing tour of the city that takes about one and a half hours.
  • Hire a pushbike from outside the cruise terminal and ride along the flat coastal road to one of the safe sandy beaches (Baie des Citrons and Anse Vata) for a few hours swimming and sunbathing. If riding a bike is not your thing, a shuttle bus runs to the beaches from the cruise ship terminal at regular intervals.
  • Visit the aquarium at Anse Vata Beach. All sorts of weird and wonderful examples of tropical marine life, including glow-in-the-dark corals, from the seas around New Caledonia are on display.
Reef Fish at the Noumea Aquarium

  • Catch a local bus out to the Tjibaou Cultural Centre for an understanding of the indigenous Kanak people. The visitor experience starts with an easy 45 minute guided walk, learning about stories of Kanak folklore. Three traditional huts from three regions of Melanesia can be visited, along with displays of masks, sculptures and ritual costumes.
  • Swim and Sunbathe at Sandy Beaches in Noumea
  • And if all the swimming, sightseeing and sunbathing is not enough, you can always go shopping in the stores in the central city, near the cruise terminal, that are stocked with beautiful goods imported from France.
Enjoy your day ashore in Noumea!

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