Grande Terre

Getting there

By plane 1 La Tontouta International Airport (NOU IATA), Allée Guy Celton, ☏ +687 351118. is New Caledonia's only international airport and the primary point of entry into Noumea. Located in Païta, 52km northwest of Noumea, there are direct flights to Japan, Australia, New Zealand and nearby Pacific islands. Aircalin is the national airline which operates most of the flights, with Qantas, Air New Zealand and Air Vanuatu also operating flights out of the airport. Most visitors from Europe and Asia will connect via Tokyo or Osaka in Japan, while those from North America can connect via Auckland or Papeete. The airport offers free Wi-Fi and a number of eateries and gift shops, which accept both CFP, AUD and sometimes other major worldwide currencies. Due to the long distance between the airport and the city centre, connecting transport can be very expensive. The cheapest option by far is a public bus, run by Carsud. Refer to the timetable for line P4. A pre-booked shuttle service to your hotel will cost about 3000 F per person; there are a variety of options, but the largest company is Arc en Ciel (+687 27 19 80). A taxi could cost up to 10,000 F.