noumea

[ang1684]

hi me again lol,

i am wondering has anyone done the lemon bay tour in noumea,

what are the shops like there is there many?

or is there a better place to shop in noumea?

thanks again im just trying to get all my q's out before i leave haha

[aussiedisneyfan]

Edited: Have decided that my answer was a load of rubbish so deleted, hopefully before someone saw. :)

[Aussie Gal]

We took a van to Lemon Bay beach for $10p.p. return last Wednesday when we were on the Pacific Princess. There are lots of restaurants there but not much else of interest.

 

The shops in Noumea are not very exciting and most of us didn't buy anything other than some pate and cheeses to have in our cabin with drinks!!

 

The sand on the beach is quite corally and not the best beach we have ever been to but the water was lovely. We did go to Oueva on the day before and that has a lovely beach.

 

Jennie

[Skyrules]

hi me again lol,

i am wondering has anyone done the lemon bay tour in noumea,

what are the shops like there is there many?

or is there a better place to shop in noumea?

thanks again im just trying to get all my q's out before i leave haha

 

I wouldn't spend the money on an organised shore tour to Lemon Bay - it's works out as an expensive taxi service to a shopping centre. A taxi or even the local bus service would be much cheaper than the shore tour.

[kaseyoz]

we also just caught a taxi to anse vasta(sp) and spent the time just playing at the beach. The beach is ok here. we then walked around to lemon bay(not far). There wasnt many shops as been said before. Mainly restaurants. we did buy a couple of ice creams and postcards.

we had been to noumea twice before when Club Med was around.

dont plan on buying much here.

my daugher bought a few pencils carved out of wood at the dockside market but was taken off us at customs so beware wood/shell items.

 

karon

[aussiedisneyfan]

I should have left my original post on here. I said that KaseyOz had some something, but then I couldn't find anything about it to back me up so I deleted it.

[wenmar]

We got a van from the terminal where the ship comes in to Lemon bay Beach. It cost us $20 return ($10 each and my girls were free). There wasn't much to do except have a swim and buy and icecream unless you wanted to eat at one of the restaurants.

[cheznandy]

Silly question probably:rolleyes: Is lemon bay beach what i know as bay de citroens?? Just up from Anse Vata area? I stayed in Bay de Citroens area for a week years ago, nothing much there then except hotels and restaurants, although the beach/bay was nice.We usually just taxi it to Anse Vata beach when in Noumea.

Thought I would ask as lately everyone seems to be referring to Lemon Bay beach.

 

Thanks all

 

Chez

[Aussie Gal]

Silly question probably:rolleyes: Is lemon bay beach what i know as bay de citroens?? Just up from Anse Vata area? I stayed in Bay de Citroens area for a week years ago, nothing much there then except hotels and restaurants, although the beach/bay was nice.We usually just taxi it to Anse Vata beach when in Noumea.

Thought I would ask as lately everyone seems to be referring to Lemon Bay beach.

 

Thanks all

 

Chez

 

Not a silly question and you are correct. The bay de citroens is the correct name for the anglized version of Lemon Bay. There are now lots of new restaurants opposite the beach. In fact, I think a few of them have just opened in the past few weeks.

 

Jennie

[suey]

One of the nicest and cheapest things to do in Noumes if you are there from morning (not 3pm arrivals) is to walk to the local market (just keep walking around from the front of ship to blue and white marketplace and have a coffee at the coffee bar there. It is a large 'bowl' of delicious coffee for about $A3. We first saw it on a travel show and now if we are in Noumea for a whole day we always go for a coffee and a look around the market.:)

[cheznandy]

Thanks for that info Jennie!

 

Brings back lots of memories, we were there when a coup was on and had a 10pm curfew!! Remember a lovely Japanese restaurant with sunken chairs so you could sit around and watch the chefs cook. I also remember our first hamburger in Noumea, the meat was raw!!

 

We then went to Vanuatu for 4 days and that is when I fell in love with Vila!!

 

Cheryl

[Skyrules]

I'd thoroughly recommend Dukes restuarant at Lemon Bay. We went there the first time I went to Noumea. On this occasion all shore tours were cancelled because of a late arrival into Noumea from Brisbane (about 5.30pm). In place of Shore tours P&O provided a free bus shuttle between the Ship and Lemon Bay, meaning literally hundreds of passengers descending on the restaurants. Dukes handled the extra crowd remarkablly - there was only 2or3 waiters on in what quickly became a full restaurant, and still we didn't wait more than 15 minutes for our food. Poor people, I don't think they knew what hit them - I think they were expecting a nice quite Monday night.

[qld cruiser]

Hi ang6184, the best things about Noumea is the Petite train and the best coffee in the South Pacific.

expensive to buy everyday stuff at the supermarket near the wharf.

it's called Casino, which a lot of cruisers first think it is a casino !!!

if you need a headache tablet or such, buy it on board ship.

 

a lovely loaf of bread from the bakery, cheese etc is very nice.

 

the shops around at Anse Vata are the better quality shops, but you pay BIG prices, I bought really good quality lingerie, that is unavailable here. At the duty free shops in Noumea , you can get really lovely Champagnes, Cognac etc that I have never seen here in OZ.

it all depends what kind of things you want to buy.

have a great cruise,

kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

[ang1684]

so if i wanted to go to the nice but expensive shops (Anse Vata) how would i get there from the ship. sorry lol

[cheznandy]

Ang,

 

You can get a local bus, i never have but i know they are available. Grab a taxi, if you walk down towards town, near Coconut Square, there is a taxi rank. We did this on our second last trip. by memory it is about $15 -20 AUD each way.

 

Or you could do the city and Anse vata tour with P&O, it takes you on a great tour of Noumea and then drops you in Anse Vata for a couple of hours shopping and swimming, then picks you up and takes you back to the ship. We had the kids with us so we did this tour so they could see a bit of Noumea. Drinks and pastries are provided at a lookout.

You get back in time to have lunch on the ship then take a walk into Coconut Square and the markets. (if you take a morning tour)

 

Chez

[qld cruiser]

so if i wanted to go to the nice but expensive shops (Anse Vata) how would i get there from the ship. sorry lol

 

Hi ang6184, you catch a local bus from the square , you will need local South Pacific Francs.

On board ship at the tour desk, they put out maps of wherever we go, you can read on there how to get to the square.

at the bus terminus there is also a tour desk, and they will help you.

just make sure you are back on board before the ship sails, because it won't wait.

Are you going on Sun or Star.??? there is a big difference ....

the Sun spends most of the day in Noumea where the Star doesn't get in until afternoon, and most shops shut early...

kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

[Brushtail]

Edited: Have decided that my answer was a load of rubbish so deleted, hopefully before someone saw. :)

 

 

Thats classic, Jane.

 

It has given me a big laugh to start the day. :D

 

Jenny

>^..^<

[Aussie Gal]

The bus you pick up is the Orange bus which runs every 10 minutes. We changed a small amount money at the front desk and used that when we were in Noumea. We timed the bus as we lay on the beach just in case our driver did not return for us. The bus goes all the way to the Anse Vata beach.

 

When you leave the ship you go into a lovely tourist arrival hall and there are people selling rides and tours to various sights. We bought a return trip to Lemon Bay for $10p.p. return and paid in aussie dollars. We told the driver the time we wanted to be picked up and he was there right on time.

 

Jennie

[arxcards]

Rather that start a new thread, thought I would ask similar questions on this one that is fading down the list.

 

What to do in Noumea?

 

We have looked at the P&O shore tours book and read several posts here as well. So far it seems that the Petit train rates with regular praise.

 

I have not seen any testimony on the following, and would be grateful for advice or feedback on any of these options:

 

Helicopter flight - and is there a limit to # of passengers at a time?

 

Motor trike

 

4WD Dumbea river swim

 

As always, thanks for any help here :)

 

Geoff

[Skyrules]

Yes, there are limited numbers on the helipcoter flights - you'd need to get early with your booking to make sure you get on it.

[arxcards]

Yes, there are limited numbers on the helipcoter flights - you'd need to get early with your booking to make sure you get on it.

OK, thanks Skyrules. Whatever we decide, we will book as early as we can.

My main question on numbers was being able to get the family (3) on the same flight. ie, if they only take 2 passengers at a time, we will look for something else.

[Skyrules]

OK, thanks Skyrules. Whatever we decide, we will book as early as we can.

My main question on numbers was being able to get the family (3) on the same flight. ie, if they only take 2 passengers at a time, we will look for something else.

 

Ah, not sure about that one, as I haven't actually made it onto a scenic flight in Noumea :mad: The time I was booked to do one, it was cancelled (along with all other shore tours) because we were 4 hours late arriving in Noumea (6pm instead of 2pm).