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Getting Around by Air
Domestic flights are run by Air Calédonie (TY) (website: www.air-caledonie.nc), maintaining regular services from Nouméa to airfields on the island, and the other smaller islands. The principal local airport is Magenta Airport, 6km (4 miles) from Nouméa city centre. From here, Air Calédonie operates regular flights to Touho (east coast), Koné, Koumac, Belep (west coast), and to the neighbouring Ile des Pins and the Loyalty Islands: Maré, Ouvéa, Lifou and Tiga. Light aircraft and helicopters are available from Air Alizé (website: www.airalize.com), Air Loyaute (website: www.air-loyaute.nc), Helicocean and Helitourisme.
Getting Around by Water
An inter-island, high-speed catamaran, ‘Betico’, runs regularly to Ile des Pins and Loyalty Islands from Grande Terre; for further details, contact Compagnie Maritime des Iles/Havanna (tel: 270 405). Boats can be hired or chartered to visit smaller islands.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. The road network consists of 5,000km (3,125 miles) of paved and unpaved roads. Petrol costs the same at all petrol stations.
Bus: Buses are available throughout the island. There are regular services in Nouméa which run every 15 to 30 minutes from 0500-1900. The Green Line travels between Kuendu Beach, the city centre and other beach resorts. The Blue Line travels to Tjibaou Cultural Centre. For more information, contact GIE Karnia Bus (tel: 265 454; website: www.gietcn.nc).
Taxi: Charges are for time and distance. There is a surcharge after 1900 and on Sundays.
Car hire: International and local companies all have representatives in the capital. Drivers must be aged 21 or over (in some cases, 25 or over).
Bicycle hire: Bicycles, motorcycles and motorscooters may also be hired.
Documentation: International Driving Permit is required.
Bus: Buses are available throughout the island. There are regular services in Nouméa which run every 15 to 30 minutes from 0500-1900. The Green Line travels between Kuendu Beach, the city centre and other beach resorts. The Blue Line travels to Tjibaou Cultural Centre. For more information, contact GIE Karnia Bus (tel: 265 454; website: www.gietcn.nc).
Taxi: Charges are for time and distance. There is a surcharge after 1900 and on Sundays.
Car hire: International and local companies all have representatives in the capital. Drivers must be aged 21 or over (in some cases, 25 or over).
Bicycle hire: Bicycles, motorcycles and motorscooters may also be hired.
Documentation: International Driving Permit is required.
Journey Times
From Nouméa to Ile des Pins is 25 minutes; to Lifou is 40 minutes; to Maré is 40 minutes; to Ouvéa is 40 minutes; to Tiga is 1 hour 25 minutes (including stopover); to Koumac is 1 hour five minutes and to Belep is 1 hour 45 minutes (including stopover).
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Nouméa to other major localities/villages in New Caledonia.
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Nouméa to other major localities/villages in New Caledonia.
| Air | Road | |
| Bourail | - | 2.10 |
| Hienghene | - | 5.10 |
| Koné | 0.45 | 3.30 |
| Poindimie | - | 4.10 |
| Thio | - | 2.00 |
| Tontouta | - | 0.45 |
| Touhó | 0.45 | 4.40 |