Any shopping in noumea,isle of pines ?

Hi, just asking you past cruisers what is there to buy in noumea or Isle of Pines ? My daughter was told you could buy stuff like cheap Rayban sunnies etc on Isle of Pines ? what currency will they accept ?

Any past experiences appreciated. :)

Hi,

I can't help you with Isle of Pines, I haven't been there since 2002.

I personally wouldn't do ANY shopping in Noumea due to everything being so expensive compared to Australia. Then again, maybe I just don't know the good spots.

If you are going to Port Vila, that's where your best shopping is for markets, knick-knacks, cheap duty free alcohol and brand name copy-cats eg. Billabong etc.

In Noumea I suggest you to to the small market upstairs in the cruise terminal on the wharf. If you aren't going to Vila and you want duty free alcohol, I suggest going to Marlenes Duty Free. If you are cruising on P&O, it is probably better to buy duty free alcohol in the first two days when there is an extra discount. The stalls and Marlenes take AUD.

Isle of Pines - there is one market stall on the left as you walk towards the beach. They have clothes and souvenirs, but the prices are similar to Australian resort prices.

I agree with Mum 81. Noumea is expensive for clothing,jewellery, cosmetics etc. Unless there is a promotion on or stalls set up in the Coconut square for a special event. The only interesting things I have bought there are pastries, chocolates. the French language version of the musical Les Miserables and some Asterisk the Gaul comics in French for a friend. On Isle of Pines there are a few market stalls with unexciting souvenirs - sarongs etc. There is also a boutique worth visiting for unusual jewellery and hand printed textiles. Well signposted when you get off the tender. No duty free on Isle of Pines and no bargains at the duty free in Noumea. The Casino (supermarket) in Noumea. opposite the cruise terminal is good (but not cheap) for snacks and french wines if you are on a ship with a take on wine allowance.

I bought 3 postcards from a vendor at the cruise terminal markets. I asked how much in AUD, and was told 4.50. Gave the lady $5 and got a 50 franc coin back. I did not worry about it, thought of it as a souvenir but be aware that this does happen.

I also doubt that anything you see on any island with a brand name is actually the real deal.

Cruisymum

Be wary of the "Brand Name" sunglasses and clothing on Isle of Pines, Lifou, Champagne Bay and those other small islands.

Vila is the only place to buy genuine items at the numerous large duty free shops and also the local handcrafts. For instance, we were there 12 months ago and was looking for Bombay Sapphire Gin. It was $40.50 back here in Dan Murphy's, $38 in the Duty free on the ship and we got it for $16 in Vila. That was for a 1 litre bottle too. The others were all 750 mls.

I dont know what Fiji is like as we havent been there but I dont reckon it could beat Vila prices.

John

You can get pearls in Noumea. I got a set of black ones for myself and multi-coloured for my Mum. From what I recall they were about 1000 Francs each.

You donot have any duty free shops at Isle de Pines. It is a beautiful spot just to laze on the beach. It is also worthwhile taking a trip on the mini bus for $15 to see the sights. This was my favourite island of all for the lovelybeachand sand.