Duck Island, Noumea - Water Taxis And Doing Your Own Thing

[Brushtail]

We're keen to swim and snorkel at Duck Island, Noumea and don't mind booking a shore tour through P&O but they only spend 2 hours on the island and we would like to stay most of the day.

 

Does anyone know if the water taxis come and go all day from the island? Do they phone through for one to come over from Noumea to get you? Or do you just wander over to the jetty on Duck Island and they're lined up in a row - like a taxi rank?

 

All this is essential information if we plan to stay on the island for the afternoon when the rest of our P&O shore tour goes back to the ship. It would be terrible to be stuck there as the ship sails out and away. :eek:

[Bizziecruzer]

Hi We did this tour on Princess in October and it was fantastic. It was very limited and we went over on a boat that could only fit 8 people. It went back to the mainland and returned to pick us up. There was only 1 other boat that dropped people off during the day - so I'm not too sure if there's a "taxi" to / from the island. FYI - the island is very small, you can walk around it in about 4 mins. Snorkling is good - with all the different areas marked off with buoys which explain what type of fish / coral you are looking at. Suggest you take your own snorkling gear if you have it. We also did our own "choo choo" train ride on the "non tour" one and it was great. We spent probably 1 1/2 hours snorkling and were ready to leave at our alloted time. Spending the whole day there may be too much, especially if the conditions are not too good (e.g. rough seas / cloudy sky). Enjoy.

[subaru94]

We did a tour through P&O for Duck Island via speed boat which was a lot of fun, and found we had enough time to snorkel, there are water taxis that go across to Duck Island if you prefer to do your own thing. We also went on the yellow train which if I remember was green think it cost $25.00 for train cheaper than going through P&O tours. There was also markets when we got off the ship. Hope this helps

[Brushtail]

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

 

We might book the earliest shore tour and check things out about the water taxis.

 

We've been to Noumea before and have done the little train and Amedee Island and really enjoyed them. We now want to go to Duck Island and check that out. Can't wait.

 

Jen

[sunbaker]

We did the Duck Island half day across on the jetcraft boat thing. The ride over was fun and the island is tiny but nice.

It was windy and cloudy when we were there. Too cold to sunbake in bathers. too cold to swim. That was last August.

We had planned to eat and drink at the cafe/ restaurant on the island but the barmaid was not very friendly and there was a very limited menu and hardly any cold drinks or snacks to choose from. We ended up buying a tub of pringles. It was pretty quiet the day we were there, maybe because of the weather and no one else was in the restaurant.

 

We are thinking of doing the day trip to Amadee Island this year. Brushtail, can you give me any details about it? We are planning to take our 2 kids with us (aged 7 and 9).

[Brushtail]

Hi Sunbaker,

 

We loved our trip to Amedee Island and plan to go again next year on our May 2011 P&O cruise.

 

I did a small review of Amedee Island here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=863523&highlight=amedee

 

We loved it there, it remains our best shore tour yet. Well worth it.

[sunbaker]

Oh Brushtail!!!

 

What a lovely review of Amedee Island!! Loved reading it! Thanks so much for the link. It answered all my questions including about taking the kids!

 

Don't you just love these forums???