A couple more questions PSun 23rd July

[Ruby62]

1/ How much would we expect to pay to hire a taxi for a tour of Vila and do they take A$. What sites are there to see?

2/ How long does it take to get to the Cascades?

3/ How much would we expect to pay for a taxi to take us to the Cascades?

4/ Are there taxis at the Cascades if we wanted to go from there to Hideaway Island and what would they charge for this?

5/ Can you pay with A$ to get into the Cascades and if so, how much?

6/ Replies to one of my earlier posts indicated there was a local tour at Lifou for A$15. Has anyone been on this tour and if so, where do they take you, and for how long?

Thanks, in advance for your replies.

[croydonCruiser]

Hi Ruby,

 

Have a look at the replies on this thread

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=811131.

 

There is some good info on Noumea, which should answer some of your questions.

 

Have a great cruise!

[Ela 2]

1/ How much would we expect to pay to hire a taxi for a tour of Vila and do they take A$. What sites are there to see?

2/ How long does it take to get to the Cascades?

3/ How much would we expect to pay for a taxi to take us to the Cascades?

4/ Are there taxis at the Cascades if we wanted to go from there to Hideaway Island and what would they charge for this?

5/ Can you pay with A$ to get into the Cascades and if so, how much?

6/ Replies to one of my earlier posts indicated there was a local tour at Lifou for A$15. Has anyone been on this tour and if so, where do they take you, and for how long?

Thanks, in advance for your replies.

H Ruby,

Tour of Vila - You should get a taxi for Aussie $25 per hour and one hour would be enough. In April we paid $25, had a tour and then went on to the Cascades. Ask them to take you to the Chiefs' Meeting House, stop at the gate to Parliament House, and drive past the village. The driver can stop at the lookout (where there is also a war monument). Everyone in Vila accepts Aussie dollars.

 

The Mele Cascades are 12km from the centre of Vila, and you should get a taxi for A$25 from the ship (that would be about an 18km trip). Make sure you confirm this price because the taxi drivers tend to 'up the price' later if you are not careful.

 

Hideaway Island is on the way to the Cascades. If you go to the Cascades when you get off the ship there will be taxis to take you back, or to the ferry to Hideaway. If you leave your visit to the cascades too late, there may not be many taxis and that makes negotiating a price more difficult.

 

Entry to the Cascades is Aussie $20 (when a ship is in port, otherwise it is cheaper). There is a small change room/toilet near the entrance, so go in your swimmers and you can change into dry clothing before you leave the Cascades if you wish.

 

Lifou - The tour is good value for $15, it is interesting but not fantastic. They accept Aussie dollars. They take you a few kilometres to a village and into the Chief's traditional Hut and explain a little bit about the culture. You drive through the village and also visit the church. There is a stop at a view spot that looks over the bay where the ship is anchored. The tours are sold in a little grass-roofed shelter behind the large 'hut' where a few stalls are set up. In addition to the tour you can go swimming/snorkelling and also walk to the church on the headland overlooking the ship.

 

Have a great cruise.:):)

[Ruby62]

Thanks both of you for your replies. All sorted now and counting down with 5 days to go.