Australian Dollars okay in South Pacific?

[Pet]

Hi- We are cruising on the Voyager of the Seas next year calling at 5 South Pacific Islands (New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu). Grateful for advice on whether the majority accept Aus $ or only the local currency?

 

Many thanks :):)

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Vanuatu will happy take Australian Dollars in most places.

 

New Caledonia - You might need to get some South Pacific Franc (CFP), as they will only take Australian Dollars in the cruise terminal in Nouméa, but it depends on where in New Caledonia you are going, as some of the islands might take Australian Dollars.

 

Fiji you will need to get some Fiji Dollars, as they wont take Australian Dollars.

[Aus Traveller]

We have been to the ports you mention around 30 times over the years. In Fiji and in Vanuatu we have only ever used AUD. In Fiji when you are negotiating the price mention that you are quoting AUD not FJD because the local currency is worth less than AUD.

 

In Noumea it will depend on what you want to do. If you want to travel on the local bus, or go to the Aquarium or the Gardens, you will need Pacific Francs. Tours on sale in the cruise terminal are all quoted in AUD and items on sale in the terminal are quoted in AUD. We found that many shops selling touristy items quoted AUD.

[Haoie]

Going on the Radiance in a few months and I need some AUD as well.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Hi- We are cruising on the Voyager of the Seas next year calling at 5 South Pacific Islands (New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu). Grateful for advice on whether the majority accept Aus $ or only the local currency?

 

Many thanks :):)

 

Pet, in Noumea there is an ATM at the Casino supermarket diagonally across the road from the terminal where the shuttle buses drop you.

 

In Fiji there are plenty of ATMs but they all charge a fee to withdraw cash.

 

Not sure about Vanuatu - will know in a month or so.

[MicCanberra]

We have found that with anything we have purchased either AUD or the credit card was suitable. Note that if using the AUD the exchange rate may not be that favourable and change may be given in the local currency.

[MicCanberra]

Going on the Radiance in a few months and I need some AUD as well.

 

If you buy now it may be good for you as they are practically at parity.

[happysnapper]

Recently holidayed in Vanuatu and most of the smaller places and the markets will only take local currency. Taxis and buses will take AUD but exchange rate is not good. Tour Companies and Duty Free (which is not far from where the ship docks) will take credit cards. Goodies in town is the place to exchange AUD.

On a South Pacific cruise we only took AUD and change it as required in each port, except for the smaller islands where they will love you paper (plastic)AUD.

Edited August 16, 2016 by happysnapper

[Aus Traveller]

Recently holidayed in Vanuatu and most of the smaller places and the markets will only take local currency. Taxis and buses will take AUD but exchange rate is not good. Tour Companies and Duty Free (which is not far from where the ship docks) will take credit cards. Goodies in town is the place to exchange AUD.

On a South Pacific cruise we only took AUD and change it as required in each port, except for the smaller islands where they will love you paper (plastic)AUD.

That is the opposite of what we have found on probably 35 visits to Port Vila. We even bought some medication at the pharmacy with AUD. Market stalls quoted the price in AUD. I am wondering if they happily accept AUD when a ship is in port, but otherwise ask for local currency. I am putting this forward as a suggestion. We only ever buy a few bits and pieces, and it doesn't matter if the exchange rate is really good or not.

 

We negotiate the price for a taxi in AUD and know that the drivers expect AUD$15 to get to town (for the taxi not pp), but will happily offer to take passengers back to the ship for AUD$10.

[happysnapper]

I would say many of the locals in Port Vila are happy to accept AUD but we did find the local (fresh markets) and smaller shops wanted Vatu, which we had no trouble getting. We where there for 2 weeks so it was easier all round to convert our $s.

Edited August 17, 2016 by happysnapper

[LuckiePuris]

I have in my signature a link to a port summary I've prepared which has info on currencies for the ports and also info on what you can see and do when you're there.

 

In summary,

Vanuatu - small AUD

New Caledonia - South Pacific Francs (with the exception of in Noumea some restaurants and the cruise ship terminal tours)

Fiji - Fijian dollars

 

I always take that local currency because the last thing I would want to happen when traveling is that I miss out on an activity or souvenir because I don't have the currency.

[Aus Traveller]

I notice that a couple of people have said that visitors need FJD for Fiji. I am surprised that they found that. We have been to Fiji probably 30 times over the years and have always used AUD mainly because we do not know in advance how much we will want to spend.

 

In Suva we have bought things on several occasions from a couple of different pharmacies, in Jack Department Store, Prouds department store, Tappoo department store, the liquor shop at the top of the Tappoo building, taxi drivers and of course in a lot of different market stalls. They have always accepted AUD without any hesitation. We have on occasions received a few FJD in change because the lowest denomination of AUD we can use is a $5 note, but when we purchase in another place, we pay part in FJD and part in AUD. They calculate it out and when we check it, they have always calculated it correctly. :) In some places (like Jacks) they keep AUD to give the correct change.

 

In Port Denarau and Nadi we used AUD in the Jacks stores and other shops in the Port Denarau complex - even the take away chicken place for lunch and taxi drivers. For the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, the driver paid in FJD and we gave him the money in AUD.

 

Sorry to go into so much detail, but I want to make the point that our experience comes from more than one or two (or even five) visits to Fiji. :)

Edited August 19, 2016 by Aus Traveller

[Haoie]

So Suva should have no problems with AUD at the big stores?

 

On a similar note - any good duty free places in Suva near the pier?

[peter.kath@hotmail.com]

Depends what you want to buy.

There are some stores selling genuine watches and electronics in the Main Street. Check the prices at home and on board ship first they will negotiate.

The Troppo shopping centre has perfumes but they were no cheaper then the ship.

 

 

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[Aus Traveller]

So Suva should have no problems with AUD at the big stores?

 

On a similar note - any good duty free places in Suva near the pier?

We have always used AUD at the big stores unless we bought something expensive. We then used our credit card.

 

If you are thinking about items like alcohol etc, then "no". The only duty free shop is at the International airport at Nadi. I once priced 1 litre of vodka that we could buy in Port Vila for AUD$17. In Suva it was $82.50.:eek:

 

The main shopping area of Suva is only 10 minutes walk from the pier. There are no duty free shops as such, but if you buy expensive items (jewellery, watches etc.) you can claim back the VAT tax (like our GST) when the Customs Officers come on the ship late in the afternoon. They usually set up in the main atrium near the Customer Service Desk. They will refund the tax in FJD, but the next desk will have staff from the ANZ bank who will convert it for you. As usual, you will lose a bit in bank fees. :D To use this tax refund scheme you have to purchase from a hand-full of shops that participate in it and they give you paperwork. You take this, and (most important) the item you bought, the receipt and your passport to the Customs Officers. This tax refund scheme does not operate at Port Denarau or Lautoka. To qualify for this refund, the item (or items from one shop) have to be at least FJD $500.

 

The bank fees in converting currency is why we do not convert AUD to FJD before the trip. If you think you will only spend $50 or so, the bank fee is disproportionately high and I do not believe you will get an item cheaper by having local currency. On the many many occasions we have purchased items, they convert the ticketed price using that day's exchange rate, then ask for that amount in AUD.

[mrs and mrs]

That is the opposite of what we have found on probably 35 visits to Port Vila. We even bought some medication at the pharmacy with AUD. Market stalls quoted the price in AUD. I am wondering if they happily accept AUD when a ship is in port, but otherwise ask for local currency. I am putting this forward as a suggestion. We only ever buy a few bits and pieces, and it doesn't matter if the exchange rate is really good or not.

 

We negotiate the price for a taxi in AUD and know that the drivers expect AUD$15 to get to town (for the taxi not pp), but will happily offer to take passengers back to the ship for AUD$10.

 

This has been our experience as well.:)

Wasent interested in receiving change,just rounded it up,:)

[Haoie]

Huh doesn't seem quite worth it. I was actually thinking about alcohol only. And since my next one doesn't visit Vila, I may just need to get it all onboard.

 

That or Tonga?

[Aus Traveller]

Huh doesn't seem quite worth it. I was actually thinking about alcohol only. And since my next one doesn't visit Vila, I may just need to get it all onboard.

 

That or Tonga?

There are two options - Noumea and Apia in Tonga (assuming your cruise goes there).

 

Noumea - Marlenes duty free has prices nearly as good as Vila, but we have found that their selection and stock can be very limited (or very very limited). Marlenes has set up a second shop closer to the cruise terminal than their main one that has clothes etc. I haven't been to the new one, so someone else here can post the directions or you can ask in the cruise terminal.

 

Tonga - We have bought wine at Farmer Joes, but I cannot recall if the prices on spirits were very good. I suspect not, because they are not duty free. Just a liquor store. The first time we went there we were told it was "a couple of blocks". At the time we were in the main street (about half an hour's walk from the ship). Three-quarters of an hour later we were still walking. We found Farmer Joes, but paid for a taxi back to the ship afterwards. We had had enough exercise for the day.:)

 

I think buying on the ship could be the best option. Check out if you get an extra discount in the first couple of days.

[Haoie]

No stops in Noumea this time, not Apia either. So, guess I'll spend that OBC I'm due on booze haha.

 

Does anyone also have some sample DF prices for alchohol on RCI?

[The_Big_M]

I think Absolut vodka was around $26USD mark for a litre last year.

[Haoie]

Not much better than retail if it's that much!

[Opua Kiwi]

Not much better than retail if it's that much!

If you are using non-refundable OBC to purchase, it is a LOT better than retail.