Getting Around New Caledonia
Planning a visit to New Caledonia? You’ll find plenty of great transport options across the archipelago to help you see and do all that you wish to during your stay. One of the simplest ways to get around New Caledonia is by car, but there are countless other services available, from buses and coaches to flights, water taxis and airport shuttles. Discover the options on offer and start planning how you’ll go from A to B!
The essentials
- Trip planner Këdia
- Rent a car
- Take the bus lines
- Travel to the islands by plane or by boat
- From Tontouta Airport to Noumea
- Getting around in Noumea
Trip planner Këdia
If you are looking for:
- Timetables for New Caledonia's transport networks
- Possible routes by bus, boat, plane, bike, carpool and car
- Fares and points of sale
Go to the Këdia website and plan your trip!
Download the free app available on Android and iOS:
Rent a car and go where you like, when you like
Renting a car is an excellent option for getting around New Caledonia. The road system is very well maintained, making it great for a self-drive adventure, and, unless you intend to drive on rural roads, you won’t need to rent a 4WD.
Please note: fuel prices are strictly regulated. Whether you fill up at a big supermarket-owned service station in Nouméa or in a remote outback service station, you’ll pay the same price per litre. You can’t argue with that! Although New Caledonia now boasts a very extensive network of service stations, it’s a good idea to plan ahead on Sundays and public holidays, when you could have more difficulty in finding a service station open in the North or along the East Coast.
Coach routes serving 360 stops
Don’t fancy driving but still want to travel around the Main Island with ease? The RAI coach network is a great solution for getting around New Caledonia. Offering 25 routes and 360 stops across the Main Island, the RAI coach network is an easy and affordable way to see the sights.
Getting to the islands? By air or by sea, it’s up to you!
The fastest way to travel to New Caledonia’s islands is by air. New Caledonia's domestic airline Air Calédonie operates from Magenta Airport in Nouméa, running scheduled flights to the Isle of Pines and the main Loyalty Islands (Maré, Lifou and Ouvéa). To discover more of the Loyalty Islands, Air Loyauté, another domestic airline, also offers daily inter-Loyalty Island services between Maré, Ouvéa, Lifou and Tiga, and flights from Nouméa to Tiga, Koumac, Belep and Touho.
If travelling by sea takes your fancy, you can also get to the Isle of Pines, Maré, Ouvéa or Lifou aboard a high-speed passenger catamaran service from Betico 2. You’ll find schedules and prices at www.betico.nc.
Travelling From Tontouta Airport to Noumea
If you’re making your own arrangements for your stay in New Caledonia and aren’t planning to rent a car on arrival, don’t forget to book a shuttle service from the airport to wherever you’re staying in Nouméa ahead of time. Several private firms offer shuttle services at very comparable prices, making getting around New Caledonia quite easy. Some of the most popular operators include: Les Mouettes, Arc en ciel, Philotours, Go Shuttle, or Allo Transports.
Getting around Noumea
You can explore most of the city on foot or by hopping aboard one of the popular tourist trains that follow routes taking in all the major sights. If you want to get from one neighbourhood to another, you can call a taxi - Tel +687 28 35 12 - or rent a moped or a bike. Nouméa is quite a hilly city, so you’ll need to be fairly fit to go sightseeing by bike.
By bus
The Tanéo network
Nouméa and Grand Nouméa have a brand-new network: Tanéo - Tel +687 76 06 08. Very many journeys to Nouméa, Dumbéa, Païta and Mont-Dore can be taken on this network.
How much does a ticket cost?
On Tanéo lines, a single ticket bought in the bus or at a terminal costs 300 francs. If you have to make several trips, it is better to get a Pass – you will pay less, and it makes it easy to travel.
Point of sale
- Tanéo commercial agency - Maison Néobus, Place de la Moselle
- Tanéo commercial agency – Exchange hub of Desmazures
Tourist lines in the Tanéo network
Access to Park Forestier:
From Desmazures, take L6 lines then N4 to get to the park. Alternatively, for direct travel, take the N4 line from the town centre (Boulevard Vauban, “BALLANDE” stop).
Access to Anse Vata:
Line L3 takes you to the Nouville peninsula to Anse Vata and the Ouen Toro.
Get a quick overview of all lines, and plan your journeys:
View all the lines on the travel map or the network plan. You can also plan your journeys by indicating your departure and arrival points.
A mobile app “Tanéo” is also available from Google Play and the App Store
By water taxis
And finally, the most attractive and exotic local means of transport deserves a mention: water taxis. You’ll find water taxis in both Nouméa and the bush ready to whisk you off to dream islets just off the coast of the Main Island. An absolute must for any visitor to New Caledonia! Various private operators run services from Nouméa, Bourail, Boulouparis, La Foa, Poindimié, Poum and beyond.