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Your stay in New Caledonia

So here you are in New Caledonia... And you’re determined to make the very most of your stay. Even if you’ve put time and effort into planning your trip in advance, a few useful tips will help you get your New Caledonian holiday off to a good start.

  • A couple on the Coconuts place in Nouméa


  • Kanak on the Coconuts place in Nouméa
  • Walk on Quai ferry in Nouméa
  • The market in Nouméa

The essential

  • Basic precautions
  • Tourism Offices
  • Local currency
  • Shops opening hours
  • Phoning
  • Local population
  • Useful contacts

New Caledonia is a very safe tourist destination but, like anywhere else, it’s advisable to take a few basic precautions. Check out the Health & Safety section for advice about health and safety precautions in New Caledonia.

If, once you’ve arrived here, you have decided to include visits to Noumea, the West and East Coasts of the Main Island, some of the Loyalty Islands or the Isle of Pines, be sure to drop in at the Tourism Offices for tips and information to help you plan the your schedule and to ensure you don’t miss out on must-see beauty spots or festive events.

In practical terms, don’t forget that New Caledonia has its own currency, the Pacific Franc, which is pegged to the Euro at a fixed rate of exchange. You’ll find all the information you need in the Local currency & exchanging currency menu, and further useful information is featured in the Everyday cost of living section.

Still on the subject of practical everyday tips & information: retail opening hours are generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and stores selling food and groceries are usually open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 7.30 a.m. to 3.45 p.m.

Note: local regulatory restrictions apply to takeaway alcohol sales. The sale of takeaway alcohol is generally prohibited on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from midday. Only wine retailers are exempt from the ban.

Phoning is easy with a pay-as-you-go IZI card… you can use it to make calls from landline or mobile phones or public phone booths. You’ll find IZI cards on sale at all OPT (NC telecom company) branches and approved retail outlets.

New Caledonia is a real melting pot of ethnic communities: Kanak, Tahitian, Wallisian, Javanese, Caldoche (descendents of European settlers), etc. A rich and varied mix endowing the country with a wealth of cultural traditions and Local customs. Before setting off for your stay in New Caledonia, it’s important to learn something of the traditions and customs of the native Kanak people.

We recommend that you copy the Useful contacts listed on this site onto your mobile, tablet or laptop to help you deal with any emergency situations.

Enjoy your stay in New Caledonia!