Suggestion for tours in Fiji and New Caledonia

[Jasp 0401]

Hi, Looking at a map we dock right in town in Noumea when we go to New Caledonia. But we are going to Lautoka in Fiji and it looks like its a cargo port. Does anyone know if it is easy to get into town in Lautoka or any must see sites there.We thought we would be able to just walk in to town in Noumea. Or is it best to book tours through the ship or a private tour for both these ports.Any tips or ideas on what to do while we are in these two port would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[AntiHamstr]

Lautoka is a cargo dock. The main “city” shopping area is maybe a 10-15 minute walk away. When we visited in March, the store Jack's of Fiji had free shuttles from the dock to (you guessed it) the corner right in front of their store and back. IMHO, you could only occupy yourself for an hour or two at most in Lautoka. Take a boat tour to one of the outlying islands, or go farther inland, and save the city for the end of the day.

 

 

Noumea is a fairly common port of call. Do a search for “Noumea” in this board and in the Aussie one and you should find lots of information. Some people like to go to the small islands. Others take the Petit Train, or there is a hop on/hop off type bus that runs a loop through the city. IIRC, while there are a few things to see withing walking distance of the port, a lot of the other sites are spread pretty far out.

 

 

Dennis

[Jasp 0401]

Lautoka is a cargo dock. The main “city” shopping area is maybe a 10-15 minute walk away. When we visited in March, the store Jack's of Fiji had free shuttles from the dock to (you guessed it) the corner right in front of their store and back. IMHO, you could only occupy yourself for an hour or two at most in Lautoka. Take a boat tour to one of the outlying islands, or go farther inland, and save the city for the end of the day.

 

 

Noumea is a fairly common port of call. Do a search for “Noumea” in this board and in the Aussie one and you should find lots of information. Some people like to go to the small islands. Others take the Petit Train, or there is a hop on/hop off type bus that runs a loop through the city. IIRC, while there are a few things to see withing walking distance of the port, a lot of the other sites are spread pretty far out.

 

 

Dennis

 

Thanks Dennis,When I looked at google maps there didn't seem much to do in Lautoka.Will probably look at taking a boat tour to one the outer islands.Have to research some more into it.

Did some research for tour in Noumea and most of the tour operators have been booked by the Ship and you have to book your tickets through the ship they are not offering any private bookings.Don't know if this is what normally happens when a ship comes into port or just because it a big ship.Or Royal Caribbean want to make sure their passengers get on these tours. And of course so they can make some money.

Thanks for your information

[cjm66]

Did some research for tour in Noumea and most of the tour operators have been booked by the Ship and you have to book your tickets through the ship they are not offering any private bookings.Don't know if this is what normally happens when a ship comes into port or just because it a big ship.Or Royal Caribbean want to make sure their passengers get on these tours. And of course so they can make some money.

Thanks for your information

 

The ship may fully book the Tchou Tchou train, coach tours to the Aquarium etc and the Mary D to Amadee Island but there are other options. There is the Ho Ho Explorer bus that will take you around the main tourist areas in Greater Noumea - the bays and beaches (Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons), the Aquarium, the Tjibaou Cultural Centre - you can also try the local buses that leave around Coconut square. There is an excellent Tourist Information office in the middle of the square - very friendly and multi lingual. You can also go by water taxi to Duck Island. You will find smaller local tour operators lined up in the Passenger Terminal waiting to offer you indpendent tours. Pick up a copy of the New Caledonia Weekly in the terminal for the excellent maps and information on what to do and see in Greater Noumea and how to do it.

 

Colleen

[Jasp 0401]

The ship may fully book the Tchou Tchou train, coach tours to the Aquarium etc and the Mary D to Amadee Island but there are other options. There is the Ho Ho Explorer bus that will take you around the main tourist areas in Greater Noumea - the bays and beaches (Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons), the Aquarium, the Tjibaou Cultural Centre - you can also try the local buses that leave around Coconut square. There is an excellent Tourist Information office in the middle of the square - very friendly and multi lingual. You can also go by water taxi to Duck Island. You will find smaller local tour operators lined up in the Passenger Terminal waiting to offer you indpendent tours. Pick up a copy of the New Caledonia Weekly in the terminal for the excellent maps and information on what to do and see in Greater Noumea and how to do it.

 

Colleen

 

Thanks Colleen for all the great information on what else we can do in Nourmea.

We had contact about half a dozen different tour operators (helicopter tour,glass bottom boat and Tchou Tchou train etc ) and they all emailed us back saying that they are operating excursive to the ship that day we are in port and that we had to book through the ship.

Thanks again for all the suggestion on what we can do.

[cruisechaos]

When we were in Noumea last year we spent the day with Aquanature (http://www.aquanature.nc/en/accueileng.html) It was amazing! I highly recommend them.

 

If you want to read a review of our day with them, check out our blog post at http://www.thenextjourney.com/2011/10/noumea-fantastic-snorkeling-with-aquanature/

 

When we were in Fiji (we docked in Port Denarau instead of Lautoka but they are fairly close) we did the Discover Nadi tour with Tourist Transport Fiji (http://www.touristtransportfiji.com/). Our guide Solomon was extremely knowledgeable and very interesting to talk with. Our review of that day can be found at http://www.thenextjourney.com/2011/10/port-denarau-our-first-taste-of-fiji/

[Jasp 0401]

When we were in Noumea last year we spent the day with Aquanature (http://www.aquanature.nc/en/accueileng.html) It was amazing! I highly recommend them.

 

If you want to read a review of our day with them, check out our blog post at http://www.thenextjourney.com/2011/10/noumea-fantastic-snorkeling-with-aquanature/

 

When we were in Fiji (we docked in Port Denarau instead of Lautoka but they are fairly close) we did the Discover Nadi tour with Tourist Transport Fiji (http://www.touristtransportfiji.com/). Our guide Solomon was extremely knowledgeable and very interesting to talk with. Our review of that day can be found at http://www.thenextjourney.com/2011/10/port-denarau-our-first-taste-of-fiji/

:)Thanks for your suggestion on tours for both Noumea and Fiji

[Jasp 0401]

When we were in Noumea last year we spent the day with Aquanature (http://www.aquanature.nc/en/accueileng.html) It was amazing! I highly recommend them.

 

If you want to read a review of our day with them, check out our blog post at http://www.thenextjourney.com/2011/10/noumea-fantastic-snorkeling-with-aquanature/

 

When we were in Fiji (we docked in Port Denarau instead of Lautoka but they are fairly close) we did the Discover Nadi tour with Tourist Transport Fiji (http://www.touristtransportfiji.com/). Our guide Solomon was extremely knowledgeable and very interesting to talk with. Our review of that day can be found at http://www.thenextjourney.com/2011/10/port-denarau-our-first-taste-of-fiji/

 

Thanks for your help.We have booked to do the discover Nadi tour.:)

[Chmielel]

If you ship in in Noumea on Sunday or a holiday be sure to book a tour because the town will be pretty much closed down. Snokeling with Aquanature was better than the Great Barrier Reef! Capt Bernard has a wonderful tour.

[cjm66]

If you ship in in Noumea on Sunday or a holiday be sure to book a tour because the town will be pretty much closed down. Snokeling with Aquanature was better than the Great Barrier Reef! Capt Bernard has a wonderful tour.

 

If you cannot book with Aquanature, do not despair about being in Noumea on a Sunday. The centre of town is virtually closed - a few (very few) restaurants are open and the Casino (supermarket) directly opposite the cuise terminal is only open until lunch time. The best advice on a fine day is to head for Anse Vata or perhaps Lemon Bay, where you will find beaches, restaurants and some shops - the Explorer bus is operating and it also goes to the Aquarium and the Tjibao Centre - both are open on Sunday and are good options in unkind weather. There is also public transport to the bays. See the discussion on Trip Advisor - it seems several cruises (including ours in November) arrive on a Sunday. This exchange is unusual because it includes feedback from a cruiser who took the advice offered on the forum.

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g294130-i4308-k5067442-Noumea_on_a_Sunday-Noumea_Grand_Terre.html

 

Cheers

[Jasp 0401]

If you ship in in Noumea on Sunday or a holiday be sure to book a tour because the town will be pretty much closed down. Snokeling with Aquanature was better than the Great Barrier Reef! Capt Bernard has a wonderful tour.

 

Thanks,We are in port on a Wednesday.We are still waiting to hear back from some other private tour operators so we can book something

[Gwendy]

Hi, Looking at a map we dock right in town in Noumea when we go to New Caledonia. But we are going to Lautoka in Fiji and it looks like its a cargo port. Does anyone know if it is easy to get into town in Lautoka or any must see sites there.We thought we would be able to just walk in to town in Noumea. Or is it best to book tours through the ship or a private tour for both these ports.Any tips or ideas on what to do while we are in these two port would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

In the terminal at the port in Noumea, there are a number of tour operators offering tours at very good prices, including the Little train, the green one. Last week we went with Lyvai Transports, http://www.lyvai.nc. They organised a tour on the green train for us, at half the ship's price, but when it came time to go the tour had to be cancelled as there were only the two of us booked (most had taken the tour as soon as they got off the ship). The operators gave us our money back immediately and then organised for us to go to the lookout, which was really all we wanted to do at sunset for $5 Aus each. They provided a driver and a guide for our sole use. Fantastic service.

[tashiba]

Boyfriend and I were in Lautoka too and Jack's or Proud's usually provide a shuttle from the ship to their store for you.

 

I love Jack's for pearls. I got some incredible stuff, very happy :D

 

Also if you can find an excursion that includes a trip to an island by sailboat TAKE IT!!! If you are doing 2 ports in Fiji like we did, I'd recommend using one for shopping and the other for touristy stuff. There was a specific excursion with RCI that included a sailboat that took us to this tiny, beautiful postcard perfect island. It was just wonderful! And the boat ride there was also great. It was a definite highlight of the trip.

[Jasp 0401]

Boyfriend and I were in Lautoka too and Jack's or Proud's usually provide a shuttle from the ship to their store for you.

 

I love Jack's for pearls. I got some incredible stuff, very happy :D

 

Also if you can find an excursion that includes a trip to an island by sailboat TAKE IT!!! If you are doing 2 ports in Fiji like we did, I'd recommend using one for shopping and the other for touristy stuff. There was a specific excursion with RCI that included a sailboat that took us to this tiny, beautiful postcard perfect island. It was just wonderful! And the boat ride there was also great. It was a definite highlight of the trip.

 

 

We are only going to one port in Fiji.And we have booked a discover Nadi tour for the morning and then we are going to wait and see in the afternoon.Your trip on the sailboat sounds lovely.Thanks for your tip

 

In the terminal at the port in Noumea, there are a number of tour operators offering tours at very good prices, including the Little train, the green one. Last week we went with Lyvai Transports, www.lyvai.nc. They organised a tour on the green train for us, at half the ship's price, but when it came time to go the tour had to be cancelled as there were only the two of us booked (most had taken the tour as soon as they got off the ship). The operators gave us our money back immediately and then organised for us to go to the lookout, which was really all we wanted to do at sunset for $5 Aus each. They provided a driver and a guide for our sole use. Fantastic service.

Thanks for your tip.We have put in request for quotes for a few different company.Some got back to us and said they only do tour if you book through the cruise ship and some we are still waiting to hear back from (Lyvai Transport being one of them we are still waiting to hear from). We did get a quote from Sunny Transport and they were happy to do a private tour with a guide for our sole use for the day.So we may just go with them.

[jolly julie]

I Noumea it is a working port and the ship shuttles you to the town where there is a huge tourist information and where all the tour operators hang out.  There are lots of tours and information for you to gather there and also lots of souvenir shops upstairs to look at, that is if it hasn't changed since I was there a couple of years ago.  There is also the big outdoor markets which are about a 10 minute walk from the tourist place and also a McDonald's where you can get the free wifi if you are looking for that.  The walk along the foreshore is lovely also and good value for the hop on hop off bus. I am sure you will enjoy and find plenty to do.  Julie.

 

[jmtate816]

On 6/13/2012 at 1:53 AM, cjm66 said:

 

The ship may fully book the Tchou Tchou train, coach tours to the Aquarium etc and the Mary D to Amadee Island but there are other options. There is the Ho Ho Explorer bus that will take you around the main tourist areas in Greater Noumea - the bays and beaches (Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons), the Aquarium, the Tjibaou Cultural Centre - you can also try the local buses that leave around Coconut square. There is an excellent Tourist Information office in the middle of the square - very friendly and multi lingual. You can also go by water taxi to Duck Island. You will find smaller local tour operators lined up in the Passenger Terminal waiting to offer you indpendent tours. Pick up a copy of the New Caledonia Weekly in the terminal for the excellent maps and information on what to do and see in Greater Noumea and how to do it.

 

Colleen

 

[jmtate816]

Do we need local currency, or will buses, taxis, vendors,etc. Take credit cards. We are coming from U.S. (Dallas, TX) 

[dalibi]

Local currency would be easier.  We did the Hop on Hop off bus to the beaches, purchased drinks with local currency.