Shopping- pacific islands

[MandaNShannon]

Isle of pines

Lifou

Noumea

Mare Island

 

The cruise I am considering going on with Carnival, stops at those 4 Islands.

If you have visited these places, could you tell me about local shopping?

Like handmade goods, vases, bowls etc.

Quality, price, customs.

We will be sailing from and to Sydney.

Also anything else about this particular itinery would be appreciated.

And one last thing, what is the weather normally like there in feb?

Thank you.

 

 

 

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[Aus Traveller]

I have been to these ports several times and don't think you will find items that you mention. The best place to buy souvenirs is at the stalls upstairs in the cruise terminal in Noumea, but the range is rather limited. They take AUD at a good exchange rate. At Lifou there will be a few stalls (no shops here) but not as good as at Noumea. Isle of Pines usually has one or two stalls between the jetty and the beach. They had some souvenirs and shirts. Prices were fairly high. Mare - forget it.

[Tara Jane]

Agree with Austraveller, if you are expecting the shopping opportunities of Bali, Fiji etc then forget it.

Noumea is the only place you will have any sort of variety. There are a few shops in the town area that have souveniers, around the coconut square area. The casino supermarket opposite the cruise terminal mentioned did have a range of t shirts, bags, purses, postcards, hats etc if that is what you are after but I didn't see anything along the lines what you are asking about.

The supermarket name is casino, it has nothing to do with a casino but isn't open if you are there on a Sunday. If you happen to go out to the areas that are more upmarket and geared for tourist where the hotels and apartments are,you may have more luck. We went on the hop on hop off bus to the area but didn't get out of the bus, it is around the area where the bus turns to come back. we had passed it before we realised that was the place we should have got off. As we weren't really looking for souveniers we didn't bother getting off at the next stop to go back.

[cathiecatt]

In Noumea there is a cute little shopping centre at Anse Vata beach. It has some really lovely items - carvings, jewel leery, clothing etc. Mare and Lifou have limited stalls that sell much of the same imported stuff - sarongs, shell necklaces etc. isle of pines has one little shop on the shore that always had lovely items - but a couple of months ago it seemed to have changed to the more market style stuff too. There is a new bar and shop hut on the beach - see attached pic - has a few nice items :)

 

 

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