Noumea Shore tours

[AuzzieCruiser]

I've just had a look at the shore tours for Noumea, and wanted a few suggestions.
I know many of you have done the Le Petit Train, but would like to hear from others who have done other tours or tour operators.
The Scenic Drive with wine and cheese would appeal to my mum and others in my party. At $78 it seems to be of decent value. Has anyone done this tour?
The Botanical Gardens, Bird Sanctuary & Forest Park tour also looks to be a good tour. Has anyone done this tour and what were your thoughts?
Also, it is possible to do two tours in one day, or do they all leave in the morning?
Looking forward to the responses.

[Skyrules]

I've just had a look at the shore tours for Noumea, and wanted a few suggestions.
I know many of you have done the Le Petit Train, but would like to hear from others who have done other tours or tour operators.
The Scenic Drive with wine and cheese would appeal to my mum and others in my party. At $78 it seems to be of decent value. Has anyone done this tour?
The Botanical Gardens, Bird Sanctuary & Forest Park tour also looks to be a good tour. Has anyone done this tour and what were your thoughts?
Also, it is possible to do two tours in one day, or do they all leave in the morning?
Looking forward to the responses.

When we were in Noumea for the day in 2005 we did Le Petit Train in the morning and Tijbaou (?sp) Cultural Centre in the afteroon - two tours in one day is doable.

Unfortunately on our two cruises out of Brisbane we arrived in Noumea so late that all the shore tours were cancelled (one of the drawbacks of the late arrival in Noumea out of Brisbane), so they're the only ones I've done in Noumea.

Martin's been to Amedee Island in they days they used it as a port of call and says it lovely - so the whole day trip to there might be nice.

[epal]

Hi Jarrod we to have been looking at the tours And thought the cheese and wine tour looked good It gives a bit of sight seeing as well as wine tasting:D and allows enough time to shop and look around independently, or do a second tour as this is only 2.5 hours

[AuzzieCruiser]

It is (un)fortunate that there are so many good tours in Noumea. It looks as though I/We may do two tours that day.

[aliflem]

I did the Amedde Island tour and though it was great. Although it is over $100 it is worth it as it includes a buffet lunch with drink and lots of different displays throughout the day-cocnut tree climbing, coconut hulling, lots of dancing, glass bottom boat, as well as the boat road to and from the island. Amedee Island itself is very clean with a great lighthouse. The only drawback-the sea snakes that are all over the island. :eek: Although they are venomous they are non-aggresive. They move away as soon as they sense someone is coming. Don't let them put you off going though!
aliflem

[SouthAussie100]

I did the Amedde Island tour and though it was great. Although it is over $100 it is worth it as it includes a buffet lunch with drink and lots of different displays throughout the day-cocnut tree climbing, coconut hulling, lots of dancing, glass bottom boat, as well as the boat road to and from the island. Amedee Island itself is very clean with a great lighthouse. The only drawback-the sea snakes that are all over the island. :eek: Although they are venomous they are non-aggresive. They move away as soon as they sense someone is coming. Don't let them put you off going though!
aliflem

TOO LATE !! :eek: :eek:

[girl05]

I did the Amedde Island tour and though it was great. Although it is over $100 it is worth it as it includes a buffet lunch with drink and lots of different displays throughout the day-cocnut tree climbing, coconut hulling, lots of dancing, glass bottom boat, as well as the boat road to and from the island. Amedee Island itself is very clean with a great lighthouse. The only drawback-the sea snakes that are all over the island. :eek: Although they are venomous they are non-aggresive. They move away as soon as they sense someone is coming. Don't let them put you off going though!
aliflem

I really want to go on this tour in Feb.
I've seen footage of Amedee island from our last cruise dvd, & it looks so nice.
venomous snakes:eek: Do people still go in the water there?

[Anissa72]

Do not do the Botanical Gardens and heritage centre. It was not worth it. Very boring and we hated it! Even the kids who were than aged 2 1/2, 11 and 15 hated it. Sorry but this is just my opinion. It was so boring and we ended up having to wait aged for the bus to come back and get us and they didnt have any water to drink.it was so hot we ran out! We ended up getting the bus to stop at the shops and we had a look around.

[wombat50]

hi all got back from cruise today and as 4 noumea well i wouldnt be getting to excited, did the le petit train and while there is a good view from top of the island i though the rest was just average,and it cost $51 which both my wife and myself reckon was over priced, 3 women sitting at our dinner table did the Amedde island tour and said it was great it is $160 i think, we spent a hour or so walking around the town and there is nothing to see or do and it is very dear, hey other people have different ideas but that is mine. as for the cruise well what can i say but it was GREATTTTT

[LouLou28]

We missed on the Petit Train when we were in Noumea (it had sold out) - so did the lesser priced bus trip (without refreshments) - it seemed to do the exact same route as the Petit Train (well we caught up with them or passed them many times along the way) - and as one of the other bus tours (the one with champagne and cheese).

It was much cheaper than the others - and with the other bus trip, they were getting Freycinet Sparkling Wine at the top of the hill/mountain --- so I don't think we missed anything!

It's difficult on the ex-Brisbane cruises to do much more touring in Nourmea as you get in mid afternoon.

[Fires]

We didn't do any P&O organised tours. For the centre of the town there is a tourist walk you can do with a map and all of the different sites have a large board with information in French and English letting you know their history/significance. There are less than 20 stops and it takes less than an hour. In the afternoon we did an independant tour with an English lady called Vivienne. She runs city tours that take you to all the regular places but also to the Mont D'or (Gold Mountain). It's a 2.5 hour tour and it only costs $35 (if you tell her you've been on a tour with her before she'll do it for 30 pp). You can find her inside the terminal on the far left hand side as you walk in.

Terry

[alternateamber]

I too just got off the same cruise as Wombat and Fires... My daughter and I did the Petit train in the morning (agree with Wombat not worth the $51 but nice enough) and then we did the Harley Ride in the afternoon (that was great and if you have done the train he will take you on a different route)... That was $47 and only 30 mins long but he is great and my daughter and I had a ball...

We did the 2 tours and still had PLENTY of time to walk around town... Like the others have said not that much to look at and certainly not that much to buy (in my price range anyway)... We needed some sounscreen... popped off to the supermarket (as you do) and came out with the smallest bottle available and that still cost me $25 aussie dollars... so you can see hat the prices are like....

Meg

[Justgottago]

When we were in Noumea for the day in 2005 we did Le Petit Train in the morning and Tijbaou (?sp) Cultural Centre in the afteroon - two tours in one day is doable.

We were in Noumea 3 weeks ago on Pacific Star. Like Skyrules we did Le Petit Train in the morning - got in early and booked on the first trip. It was pleasant and the pastry was gorgeous - but at $51 I agree with the other posters that it really was over-priced. After that we took a taxi to Tijbaou Cultural Centre. Dramatic looking building and very interesting exhibits and art work illustrating the story of the Kanak indepence movement and the "liberation" from French rule. Took a local bus back into the city and had a great crepe lunch at a kiosk in Coconut Place in the centre of town. Wandered around the shops then back to the ship.

[shellseas]

Not the usual cruise question, but it has been on my mind since we got off the Pearl a week ago, and cannot find an answer on Google.

If anyone here was at these classes on the Pearl, or any other cruise I hope someone can help me.

In one of the dances - we learnt some steps which included "Lasso the Bull, Lasso the Bull, shoot the Bull, shoot the Bull, and turn for 4 counts" before you start the dance again.

It is so annoying (you know when you get a song in your head and it won't go away), as I don't remember what they called the dance. Anyone know?

Thank you.:confused: