Need help

[mourhaan]

Has anyone been to these ports?

Easo Lifou, New Caledonia TR

Luganville, Vanuatu

Wala Island, Malakula TR

Port Vila, Vanuatu

 

Lautoka, Fiji

Dravuni Island, Fiji TR

Noumea, New Caledonia

 

Do you know of any tour companies,rent a car or any help?

 

we are cruising to them

 

Thanks

[Chmielel]

I was in this area in 2010 so things may have changed.

Dravuni Island, Fiji is very small you can sunbath on the beautiful beach, buy a green coconut for $2 us, hike to the top of a hill for a view of the sea, (it was very warm and I only make it half way before returning) snorkel (if you bring your only equipment), you must swim way out to see non bleach coral. If you walk to the left there a burial site that was interesting.

 

Noumea, New Caledonia I booked on line with AquaNature for all day snorkelling. If was the best snorkelling I experence in my life. I have heard that Capt Bernard sold the boat so I am not sure if the experience will be as great but even at half it still would be the highlite of my snorkeling life.

 

If your in port on a Sunday or holiday most of the south pacific shuts down.

 

Luganville, Vanuatu was a sleepy little town. The people who enjoy it most visited one went to the Blue Holes which are fresh water swimming area. I didn't so can't speak from 1st hand experience.

 

Port Vila, Vanuatu My dinner table got together and share a taxi for a private tour of the area. We saw WWII area and the country side and tour the city "hightlites".

 

Enjoy!

[FlightMedic555]

At Noumeau try Amadee Island if you can. We had choppy seas and that was cancelled and we went to Duck Island to snorkel. No need to reserve in advance. In the pier building are a number of tour operators. $20 includes a bus tour to a water taxi and included is the 5 minute water taxi to the island. Chairs and umbrellas for rent. Bring water sHoes due to a crushed coral beach.

 

Port Villa, at the port, is a dump. A few crummy shops and really, really pushy taxi drivers.

[cjm66]

A very personal take on each port. Even if you do not want to pay the often high cost for a ship provided tour the list can be a good way of starting your own research. We do ship's tours when a full day with a water journey is involved. E.g. Amadee Island in Noumea. We have not hired cars when stopping in port for one day. Taxis if you bargain are usually a safer and more relaxing option given the roads and the driving rules (or lack of them!).

 

Easo Lifou, New Caledonia TR - Been several times and always look forward to it. Usually no ships tours offered. A tender port with a short ride to the wharf. There is a market area with souvenir and trinket sales and a performance area where locals offer dance and cultural shows if the cruise line has organised this. They can be fun. The Gite (local accommodation) near the market area offered draft beer and was being renovated the last time I was there and most refreshing it was after snorkeling and walking back. There are local tours available usually fun and quirky and not expensive. No airconditioned coaches however. You can snorkel at Jinek Bay for $15 pp or go in off the beach towards the cliff end for free. Walking to the church on the hill is good on a dull day but can be heavy going if it is bright and hot.

 

Luganville, Vanuatu - Only been once and I did the RiRi River canoe tour to a blue hole. It was a Princess tour and I would do it again. Half day , you do not paddle your own canoe and the peace and colours were wonderful.

 

Wala Island, Malakula TR - Sun, swimming and sand with village tours, beach side market stalls and performances thrown in. Cost was a donation when I was there but I understand it is now more organised with an upfront charge. No ship tours when I was there.

 

Port Vila, Vanuatu - Famed for duty free at Feng Kwei in town and for the sometimes pressing sales pitches of the taxi drivers who throng outside the port gates. Take a deep breath and be prepared to bargain. Most of the higher priced excursions offered by the ship will be available as a taxi ride as an earlier poster mentioned. It is a good idea to team up with another couple and you can do this by joining the roll call for your cruise and getting to know other cruisers at a meet and greet on board. If you want to shop choose an excursion that takes a half day.

 

Lautoka, Fiji - Missed this port - cruise cancelled

 

Dravuni Island, Fiji TR - Missed this one too - weather!

 

Noumea, New Caledonia - I have rented a car in Noumea but on a land holiday with time to get to know the car and the local driving style - there are rules but it is style that matters. If you are on a smaller ship you will dock at the Overseas Passenger Terminal very close to the centre of town. There are lots of stalls and touts offering tours to almost everywhere in and around the terminal. Or you can walk to Coconut square and take a local bus or pick up a taxi at the rank just off the square. For these trips you will need Pacific Francs, which you can get at any hole in the wall scattered around the town. By local bus or taxi you can get to the beaches, the Aquarium or the Tjbao Cultural Centre. You can take a water taxi to Duck Island and snorkel. There is also a HoHo style tourist bus - tickets and information at the crruise terminal. If you are on a larger ship you will dock at the commercial wharf and will need to take the shuttle bus to the OPT. The ships tours will pick you up at the commercial wharf. Last time we docked there and took a ship's tour via the Tchou Tchou train which we had not done before. Not a place for shopping unless it is for nibbles and wine at the Casino (Supermarket) opposite the Passenger Terminal and the downtown area is not attractive unless there is a festival or something going on in Coconut Square. If you want to go to Amadee Island book with the ship. On a fine day it is a very good day out. We like Noumea and usually end up at L'Annexe in Coconut square, drinking wine overlooking the pond and eating the special chocolate dessert..

[mcspudmack]

Just returned of the Pacific Dawn last week(W316) and after 6 trips to Port Vila had the best adventure yet. Negotiated a day for the four of us with a local taxi driver and he was fantastic. I told him what we wanted to see and he planned our day, took us to all the sights, waited at the car to guard our gear whilst we were swimming and took us to some other fantastic places we didn't even know about that were on the way. At the end of the day, dropped us at one end of town, and waited for us at the other end so we could do our duty free shopping. Met us 3/4 of the way back and even helped carry our bottles of grog. Great guy, good English and a safe driver. Air conditioned car and reasonably late model in good condition. His email address is jonassumu@gmail.com Not sure if this is allowed but only one way of finding out. If not, whoops.:)

[cruisinsusin]

Noumea, New Caledonia I booked on line with AquaNature for all day snorkelling. If was the best snorkelling I experence in my life. I have heard that Capt Bernard sold the boat so I am not sure if the experience will be as great but even at half it still would be the highlite of my snorkeling life.

Just got back from Celebrity Solstice French Polynesia cruise and did use Aquanature for our New Caledonia stop. Valerie is the new manager and did not disappoint- we had a great day of snorkelling- saw sharks,turtles, sea snakes and multitudes of tropical fish. There were 3 Aquanature staff in the water during snorkelling stops so that there was individual attention/guidance and small groups of snorkellers. Highly recommend- we really enjoyed the day:)

[mourhaan]

Just returned of the Pacific Dawn last week(W316) and after 6 trips to Port Vila had the best adventure yet. Negotiated a day for the four of us with a local taxi driver and he was fantastic. I told him what we wanted to see and he planned our day, took us to all the sights, waited at the car to guard our gear whilst we were swimming and took us to some other fantastic places we didn't even know about that were on the way. At the end of the day, dropped us at one end of town, and waited for us at the other end so we could do our duty free shopping. Met us 3/4 of the way back and even helped carry our bottles of grog. Great guy, good English and a safe driver. Air conditioned car and reasonably late model in good condition. His email address is jonassumu@gmail.com Not sure if this is allowed but only one way of finding out. If not, whoops.:)

 

How much did he cost for the day

[mourhaan]

Thank you for all of you help .

[mcspudmack]

We got a good deal I think. $150 for the day