et si tu veux rencontrer le peuple kanak, casse pas la tete, fait ta vie, tu vas voir les jeunes sont curieux avec les voyageurs a l`arrache et l`hospitalitee est leurs points fort, on est pas en australie ici, surtout au nord est de la grande terre(entre houailou et ouegoa) les kanaks sont chez eux. Mais tu veras la situation en caledonie et pas aussi simple que ca, ya aussi les caldoches(les descandants des bagnards) et les zoreils(comme toi et moi, les metro) et quand tu te ballade dans louest du pays, c`est surtout aux caldoches qu`appartient la terre...Jai compris petit a petit que la caledonie est une terre de mixitee et(on peut toujour rever)de tolerance.
Je sait pas ce que tu trouveras pendant ton voyage, mais jespere que comme moi, il taidera a comprendre un peu plus le fonctionnement de l`humain, quil soit bon ou mauvais...
Et si tu passe a lifou(une des iles loyautees) vas a la plage de peng rencontrer guy et enga, des etres humains comme j`en ait rarement vu...(tu peut pas les louper ils sont les seul a habiter sur cette plage)
Aller ciao l`ami, et laisse ton lonely planet de cote pendant ce voyage, ici cest la parole qui compte...
Au fait, tu veux tinstaller en caledonie ou juste faire un tour, parce que cest vrai quand tu tinstalle ailleur qua noumea, cest pas evident de faire son trou, pour moi cetait facile, je fesait que passer...
De rien mon gars😉
Et pis que tu veuilles tinstaller ou pas, tu vas surement arriver comme tout les zoreils a lauberge de jeunesse de noumea, qui est dailleur bien sympa...mais tu veras que noumea et completement different du reste du pays, pour ma part je naime pas trop cette ville...
Comme le dit si bien Ranto, te casse pas la tête, les choses ce passeront comme elles doivent ce passer.
Un truc qui ma fait ouvrir les yeux et qui mon changé l'esprit c'est l'hospitalité des locaux, ils ont beaucoup plus de liberté que nous et ils sont beaucoup moins renfermé que nous (sur ce domaine). Un exemple tout simple, les mariages, nous avons eu la chance de participé à la cérémonie, de partager leur table, leur coutume. Jamais de la vie en zoreillie on invitera quelqu'un qu'ont connait pas a la table d'honneur, encore un autre exemple on était a la tribu de Poya pour y passer le weekend (allez y, ça vaut le détour). C'était un jour de fête, le prêtre était venu félicité les confirmées (un truc comme ça, j'suis pas a fond la dedans). Et bien on nous a invitée a la tablea du chef pour partager le bougnat avec eux .....
Des exemples comme ça je pourrais en citér beaucoup.
L'ésprit tribu est très fort, après c'est a toi aussi de faire des efforts pour comprendre l'importance d'une coutume.
bonjour
j'ai vécu 7 ans en nouvelle Calédonie, et j'ai adoré....en général, le comportement des populations dépendra le plus souvent de ton comportement vis à vis d'eux. De mon côté, étant déjà d'un mélange eurasien, je passais partout .......mais surtout le respect de l'être humain que tu rencontres est le plus important.
Avant d'y aller, étudie bien leurs coutumes, leur histoire........et sois naturel, tu verras ainsi que tout se passera à merveille pour toi.
Les mélanésiens sont réservés de nature, ils ne te regardent pas dans les yeux directement quand ils te parlent car ils sont timides mais s'ils te font confiance, ( cela dépendra de ton comportement ) tu feras partie de leur famille et ils auront un grand respect pour toi.
Bien sûr, Nouméa est différent de la Brousse et des îles. tu dois aussi connaître ce qu'est "la coutume " c'est un ensemble de règles ..... par exemple quand tu vas dans une tribu, il faut te présenter au chef du village, lui apporter un "manou" ( un morceau de tissu ou paréo avec de l'argent ou, cigarettes....), ainsi tu seras accepté dans la tribu.
tu peux prendre un billet valable, 1 an et tu verras si l'île te plaît....je pense un minimum de 3 mois pour t'imprégner des différnetes populations ( Vanuatais, mélanésiens, caldoches, wallisiens..........qui habitent ce coin de paradis encore préservé.
a+
helene
Il est important de percevoir combien votre propre bonheur est lié à celui des autres.
Il n'existe pas de bonheur individuel totalement indépendant d'autrui
Dalai¨Lama
je pars le 31/12 ça approche je vais à l'auberge de jeunesse en arrivant pour quelques jours
Peux tu me conseiller pour faire le tour de l'ile; les tribus ; les deplacements ; les tarifs ; en gros et je crois qu'il y a un tarif pour visiter les iles loyautes 3 ou 4 et l'ile des pins avec le billet Paris Nouméa j'y serai pour une quarantaine de jours stp passes moi vite les combines enfin l'essentiel de ce que je dois savoir ; visiter ETC.......a bientot de te lire et merci
salut Kak
pour infos à tes questions :
l'auberge de jeunesse est hyper bien située, en plein centre ville, quand tu arriveras à l'aéroport de Tontouta, tu peux prendre un bus, en sortant de la douane vers la droite, tu demandes à un bus....qui te déposeras en plein centre ville, puis tu demanderas la direction de la F.O.L, c'est à côté d el'auberge de jeunesse
( il vaut mieux réserver à l'avance pour l'auberge).
quand tu n'es pas résident en NC, tu as la possibilité en présentant ton passeport et ton billet d'avion d'avoir un pass avantageux de plusieurs coupons afin de visiter les îles et tu peux même rajouter des gîtes :
Air Calédonie, BP 212, 98845 Nouméa cedex, tél : 687 25 21 77 : e mail : vente@air-calédonie.nc
site intenet : www.air-calédonie.nc
agence du centre ville Nouméa: 39/41 rue de verdun, immeuble "le Manhattan"-tél : 687 28 78 88 - fax : 687 28 03 89 ( l'agence se trouve à côté de la cathédrale, à 5mn de l'auberge de jeunesse )
air calédonie dessert Lifou, Maré, ouvéa ( les îles louyauté ) + île des Pins.
l'île des pins, tu peux y aller en bateau ( BETICO ) car tu as du temps, c'est à quelques heures de Nouméa : le gîte nataiwatch est bien situé : sur la plus belle baie de kuto-kanuméra et le camping est génial, ou alors si tu veux plus de confort, tu prendras un bungalow, franchement en camping c'est aussi génial, il y a des tables, des lumières sont encastrées dans les arbres, .....à Visiter, VAo, promenades en pirogue dans la baie d'Upi ( tu vas sur la palge et tu demandes....), Tour d el'île ne minibus ou en vélo, avec le gite Manamaky, tu pourras faire une journée d'excursion vers l'atoll NOKANHUI avec repas, grillades, langoustes, riz au coco, c'était génial... la célèbre piscine d'Oro ( 1/2 journée minimum ) et aussi aller boire un verre ou manger une glasse au bord de la piscine du Meridien de l'île des pins, si tu as envie d'un peu de luxe.....
ne pas oublier d'apporter masques et tuba
La société SUDILES assure plusieurs rotations hebdomadaires sur les loyauté par le catamaran à grande vitesse " NGV BETICO" d'une capacité de 360 passagers répartis en 3 classes : temps de traversée : 3h30 pour Maré, 4h30 pour Lifou, 5h30 pour Ouvéa
tu as aussi la cie maritime des îles, 2 av henry lafleur, quai des caboteurs, nouméa : tél: 687 27 36 73 - fax : 687 25 92 93 : e mail: cmisa@lagoon.nc, cargo de transports de marchandises et de passagers, effectue une rotation chaque semaine pour les îles loyauté: le temps de voyage est beaucoup plus long qua'avec le NGV
Ouvéa : la plage fait toute l'île, sympa, bllade en vélo car c'est plat ( 3 jours suffisent ....pour ma part )
Lifou : j'ai aimé aussi, plus grand qu'ouvéa et beaucoup de choses à voir, plongée dans les grottes......1 5 jours c'est bien
Maré : île plus sauvage
ile des pins : superbe, 4-5 jours, j'adore avec ses pins colonnaires
toutes les îles sont différentes
loc de voiture à nouméa pour faire la grande terre : 1 semaine, c'est bien, tu verras suivant tes envies : Point rouge, ADA, AB ( j'ai eu loué avec ADA et je n'ai jamais eu de problème ou arnaques....
il y a un office de tourisme de NC à Paris, tu pourras demandé de la documentation
la grande terre :
Nouméa-Bourail- Koné ' au dessus de Koné, tu as la possibilité de dormir dans un village, tente ou case, Pouébo, hienghène ( aller à l'office de tourisme de Hienghène et dormir dans des cases dans des villages typiques de la vallée de Hienghène, tu ne crains rien. ) poindimié, ponérihouen.
et le sud de la grande terre : Yaté, le parc de la rivière bleue ( mais avec la location de voiture, les agences te déconseillent d'y aller, terre rouge, bosses.....) voira vec l'agence de location si c'est possible d'y aller.
voilà, tu trouveras sûrement des coins qui te plairont qui ne sont aps sur cette liste, à toi de voir suivant tes gouts......
as tu un guide, style le lonely planet.....
voir aussi s'il y a des changements dans le sinfos que je te donne, ils datent de l'année dernière
a6+
j'espère que cela t'aura aidé
helene
Il est important de percevoir combien votre propre bonheur est lié à celui des autres.
Il n'existe pas de bonheur individuel totalement indépendant d'autrui
Dalai¨Lama
Avis de recherche › Nouvelle-Calédonie · 0 replies
Je recherche 2 personnes rencontré à Lifou (commune de We) Dick et Ivette je serais vraiment ravie d'avoir de leurs nouvelle car j'ai perdu leurs coordonnées…
Travailler, étudier et vivre à l'étranger › Nouvelle-Calédonie · 1 reply
Je pars le 05 avril pour habiter en nouvelle caledonie je voulais avoir des petites info si qql avait deja vecu cette experience et eventuellement prendre…
Our daughter has gone to Sydney, and we’d love to spend the end-of-year holidays with her.
The plan is to leave from Paris or Brussels and break up the trip with a 3- or 4-day layover to "split" the journey in two.
Then head back to Sydney, explore the East Coast in a van, celebrate Christmas and New Year’s in Sydney, and finally return to France with another layover.
My questions:
Which city should we choose for the layover (we’ve already visited Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and would like to see a different city)? Both on the way there and back?
Which agency should we rent a van from?
What sites should we visit on the East Coast?
If you’ve done this kind of trip before and have any tips or advice, I’d love to hear them.
Hi everyone! I’m planning a long trip of two and a half months and could use some input to fine-tune my itinerary. I already have a good idea of the dates and how the climate will vary depending on where we are in Australia. Feel free to share your thoughts!
**Zone 1: DARWIN – August 17 to 22 (6 days)**
Activities & visits: Crocosaurus Cove, Kakadu Park scenic flight, 3-day excursion to Kakadu, Litchfield, and Katherine National Parks
Flight to Alice Springs on the 23rd
**Zone 2: ALICE SPRINGS – ULURU – August 23 to 30 (8 days)**
Car rental
Activities & visits: Alice Springs (1 day), West MacDonnell Ranges (1 day), Watarrka National Park, Uluru (3 days)
Flight to Cairns on the 31st
**Zone 3: CAIRNS – August 31 to September 9 (10 days)**
Car rental from the 31st to the 6th
Activities & visits: Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest, Mount Quincan, Herberton Historic Village, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef
Bus to Townsville on the 10th
**Zone 4: TOWNSVILLE – NOOSA – September 10 to 26 (17 days)**
Activities & visits: Magnetic Island
Bus to Airlie Beach on the 13th
Activities & visits: Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef
Car rental from the 17th to the 20th
Activities & visits: Eungella National Park
Overnight bus from Mackay to Hervey Bay (20th to 21st)
Activities & visits: K’gari (Fraser Island)
Bus to Noosa on the 25th
Activities & visits: Noosa National Park
Bus to Brisbane on the 27th
**Zone 5: BRISBANE – September 27 to October 1 (5 days)**
Car rental from the 29th to the 1st
Activities & visits: Brisbane, Glass House Mountains, Springbrook National Park, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Bus to Coffs Harbour on the 2nd
**Zone 6: COFFS HARBOUR – October 2 to 4**
Car rental from the 3rd to the 4th
Activities & visits: Dorrigo National Park
Overnight bus to Sydney (4th to 5th)
**Zone 7: SYDNEY – October 5 to 9 (5 days)**
Car rental from the 7th to the 9th
Activities & visits: Sydney, Blue Mountains, Jenolan Caves
Overnight bus to Melbourne (9th to 10th)
**Zone 8: MELBOURNE – October 10 to 16 (7 days)**
Car rental from the 13th to the 16th
Activities & visits: Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road
Flight to Hobart on the 17th
**Zone 9: TASMANIA – October 17 to 23 (6 days)**
Car rental from the 17th to the 23rd
Activities & visits: Hobart, Tasman Peninsula, Freycinet National Park, Natureworld
Flight to Perth on the 23rd
**Zone 10: PERTH – October 24 to 27 (4 days)**
Activities & visits: Rottnest Island, Wave Rock, Perth
Flight to Paris on the 28th
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the scattered info out there and I'm struggling to organize my solo trip to French Polynesia. I'm all about snorkeling—no hiking for me—so it's all about the water, water, water... I'd love to meet whales (what's the best season?), stay with locals or in budget guesthouses (I'm pretty low-key, no worries about comfort), and most importantly, be as close to the coral reefs as possible (all day long...).
I'm retired, so I've got plenty of time...
If you can help, it would mean the world to me.
Thanks everyone! !
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to this region in November. My initial plan was Adelaide-Darwin by van, but I'm worried about those critters. I'm now considering staying in hotels instead, but for the Red Centre, camping is more practical... if we overlook those pests.
What do you think? Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m reaching out because I’m finally living my dream later this year, and I could really use your advice!
On December 26th, I’m flying to Tahiti, then Moorea, and finally Bora-Bora.
Since I’ll be staying in Bora-Bora for several days, I’d love to take a day trip to another island: either Maupiti or Tahaa-Raiatea (my top picks...).
My issue is that the schedules for getting to Tahaa and then to Raiatea don’t quite work for me. Here are the two options I’ve looked into:
**Option 1: Day trip to Tahaa-Raiatea**
- Morning departure at 7:00 AM to Tahaa from Vaitape (I’ll be staying on a motu, so I need to check if there’s a shuttle connecting the motu to Vaitape early enough).
- Arrival at 8:15 AM in Poutoru, Tahaa. Tour of the island, visit to a vanilla plantation.
- Hire a "private" boat to Raiatea around 12:00–1:00 PM.
- Tour of Raiatea.
- Departure at 4:00 PM from Uturoa (Raiatea) back to Bora-Bora.
**Option 2: Day trip to Maupiti**
- Morning departure from Bora-Bora at 8:30 AM.
- Arrival in Maupiti at 10:05 AM. Visit the island and the motus.
- Return in the evening at 4:00 PM.
My questions:
- Will I have enough time to explore Tahaa-Raiatea from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM?
- Car rental? Bike rental? For all three islands...
- Time lost during rentals?
- Distance between rental shops and the ports where I arrive?
- For Tahaa and Raiatea, should I hire a guide? Would that be better organized, meaning no car rental needed, to save time or explore the island on my own?
- Finally, what do you think of these three islands and their points of interest? Which would you choose between Maupiti and Tahaa-Raiatea?
If you can shed some light on this, I’d be so grateful!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and advice!
Hello! We’re heading to the Marquesas in July-August and I’d love to know if it’s possible, for a fee, to do a leg of the journey on the Aranui—like from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, or Nuku Hiva to Ua Pou, or even Ua Pou to Ua Huka? Sure, there are shuttles twice a week with Codim connecting these islands, but the schedules won’t be known until two months in advance, and I need to book flights and hotels much earlier than that. So, what’s the best way to handle this?
Looking forward to your replies—thanks in advance!
Elisabeth Marcel
babeth.marcel@yahoo.fr
Hi there,
I’d like to go to French Polynesia.
I found round-trip flights for 650 € with Air Caraïbes.
That seems really cheap—anyone here who can tell me about this airline if you’ve flown with them before?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone. I’ve got a round-trip ticket to Perth for 4 weeks. Is it better to stay on the west coast the whole time?
Or should I grab a round-trip to the east coast?
Or even head over to NZ as well?
Thanks for your tips.
We’re crossing New Zealand next April and we’re wondering which to choose between exploring Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
The first is more well-known, famous, and popular, a UNESCO natural heritage site, while the second can be just as spectacular—bigger, harder to access, and less touristy.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve blocked out 3 weeks at the end of March/beginning of April, arriving in Sydney and departing from Adelaide while following the coast.
Kangaroo Island is a bit of a question mark for me. If I go, I can dedicate 2.5 days to it. Is it worth the time and the cost? I’ve read plenty of travel journals highlighting the landscapes and wildlife, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of that along my route anyway. I’m not factoring in the financial side (which isn’t negligible for KI), but I’d rather not be disappointed. What are the real added values of KI, especially since the island has been affected by fires? I’ve also come across people online calling it a tourist trap. For example, I ruled out Phillip Island because it felt too organized and structured. Sorry if I’m opening Pandora’s box here!
Hi! I just spent a month in New Caledonia (backpacking/tent) and I know some of you were looking for info on accommodations and itineraries, so feel free to reach out if you want me to share my little experience. Just to say—New Caledonia is AMAZING!!!
Hi there,
I just got back from two weeks in Fiji, and I noticed the forum discussions here are a bit outdated (the most recent ones are from 2017).
So feel free to ask if you'd like an update!
Hi,
I’m heading to Viti Levu, the main island, for a few days’ vacation.
I usually rent a two-wheeler to keep some independence.
On several forums, people advised against it—first because it’s not really the local culture, and also because of the road conditions and local driving habits.
But I’m a bit wary of English-language forums where the typical vacation is just airport-resort-airport with a taxi in between.
Can you confirm if it’s really that risky compared to, say, Southeast Asia? What are the alternatives? Buses, taxis?
Thanks!
I’m planning and budgeting a trip to Australia for August 2026, lasting 40 days.
Here’s the current itinerary:
Arrival at Port Macquarie Airport in New South Wales and return from Cairns Airport in Queensland.
- South West Rock
- Cap Ridge Park
- Springbrook Park
- Stradbroke Island
- Maleny
- Noosa
- Rainbow Beach
- K’Gari
- Gladstone
- Heron Island
- Airlie Beach
- Townsville
- Magnetic Island
- Cairns
- Cape Tribulation
My main issue is transport to cover all of this.
The first leg is already tricky—I haven’t found a way to rent a car in Port Macquarie and drop it off in South West Rock.
And if we keep the vehicle until Cleveland (8 days) before taking the ferry to Stradbroke Island, it’s already around 1000 €.
- Are there any systems where we could buy a vehicle in Port Macquarie and be sure it’s bought back at the end of the trip in Cairns?
- Do you know of any Australian online car rental sites?
As for trains, they’re not really an option for our stay in New South Wales.
In Queensland, I found the Queensland Rail Travel website with a Brisbane–Cairns line, but trains don’t run every day.
- Do you know of any other train companies in Queensland that connect coastal cities from Brisbane to Cairns?
For flights, I checked Queensland with Qantas, and most routes require a stopover in Brisbane, which wastes a lot of time, and the prices are still high.
Do you know of any low-cost airlines for domestic flights in Australia?
2025 is shaping up to be amazing, as I’m lucky enough to be planning a 6-week trip to Polynesia.
I wanted to buy the *Guide du Routard* (my favorite), but I discovered there isn’t one for this destination. And the *Lonely Planet* is from 2022, which I feel is already a bit outdated.
So I’m looking for other resources: in your opinion, what’s the best paper guide, and most importantly, what online resources have you used to prepare a trip to Polynesia?
My wife, our 3-year-old son, and I are planning a trip along Australia’s East Coast, leaving in early October and returning in mid-November. The plan is to do a 4-week road trip in a campervan, then settle down for about ten days.
The question I’m asking myself is: which way should we go? From Sydney to Cairns or the other way around? Despite all the documentation I’ve read, I’m still struggling to decide the best direction based on the climate at that time and swimming conditions.
Up north, the weather will be warmer, and the water too, unlike the south. However, in the north, there are swimming restrictions, especially because of jellyfish, whereas in the south, there seems to be less danger (apart from sharks, maybe). Are there many protected beaches in the north where we can swim safely?
Also, I should consider that in the south, the Great Barrier Reef no longer protects the beaches, so I imagine there are fewer calm spots for swimming?
I’d love any tips or advice you can share, and thanks in advance!
Hi there,
for a 6-month trip to Australia and NZ starting in NOVEMBER, I’d like to visit PNG and the Solomon Islands. Has anyone already explored these two countries?
How can you travel solo there—transport, accommodation, banking, safety—and what’s the best way to get there from AUS?
Thanks for any tips! Are there any French-language sites about these destinations?
Cheers,
jps
Hi there,
I’m leaving on March 4th for Australia from Réunion Island, landing in Perth, then a road trip down to Melbourne before flying out to Vietnam on April 15th.
I’d like to visit Perth and the surrounding area, then head southwest to Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, and back to Perth to catch a flight to Adelaide. From there, I’ll make my way to Melbourne.
1/ What do you think of this itinerary?
2/ For flights, are there any domestic airlines worth prioritizing for good prices?
3/ I’m planning to rent a car after exploring Perth and the area—I’m traveling solo. Any rental companies you’d recommend, as well as nice hotels, B&Bs, or hostels?
4/ Any tips, good deals, or info are welcome—don’t hesitate to share!
Thanks in advance.
I’m planning a solo trip from April 16th to June 2nd!
I have to work for 3 weeks in Papeete when I arrive in French Polynesia, so I can only explore on the weekends (3-day weekends). For my first weekend, I’ll visit Tahiti; my second weekend will be dedicated to Moorea, and the last weekend to Huahine.
After my work period, I’ll continue with my vacation and keep exploring:
Maupiti - 4 nights
Raiatea - 3 nights (including a day trip to Tahaa)
Bora Bora - 3 nights
Rangiroa - 4 nights (could do 3)
Tikehau - 2 nights (could do 3)
Fakarava - 3 nights
For activities, I’m mostly interested in discovering the islands, hiking, and observing wildlife.
I’m not a diver, but I plan to do a beginner’s dive once I’m there. I love snorkeling, though, and I’m wondering if I’m spending too much time in the Tuamotus, which are famous for diving from what I’ve seen.
For travel between the islands, I’ve already looked into the Bora Tuamotu Max pass, which seems like the best option, but I’d love advice on replacing it with one or more ferries.
What do you think? I’m struggling to finalize my itinerary.
We’ll be in Adelaide from February 24th to March 4th and we’d like to spend 3 days and 2 nights on Kangaroo Island.
Any recommendations?
We always travel with simple accommodations
Hi everyone, we're heading to Australia next month. We have 7 days to go from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. Should we visit Kangaroo Island or not? We can't decide! Thanks for your advice.
We really want to see kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to NZ at the end of January.
It’s peak season—do you think it’s necessary to book activities in advance (like a cruise to Milford Sound), or is it not essential?
Thanks
We’ll be in New Zealand starting March 15th. We’re considering renting a car from Christchurch to Auckland. We’ve read that a lot of ferries have been canceled—is that true? Would it be better to rent one car in the South Island and another in the North Island? Thanks, and happy New Year!
Hi,
When I hear our French friends talk about them, they’re the most beautiful islands in the world.
For those of you who’ve traveled extensively, is that really the case?
Are the prices for accommodation, even basic ones, justified? Isn’t a room in a family-run guesthouse at 150/200 € a bit much?
Are there other islands in Polynesia (non-French) that are just as "paradise-like" but more affordable?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
