Oceania > New Caledonia > Noumea
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Quick Ratings
Price band:
Noumea is in car rental price band: 8/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Noumea?
No. Car rental is very expensive by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Noumea between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 6/10
Non car score:4/10
Balance: 6
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
So for any visitor who just wants to fly into Noumea, put their feet up in a beach hotel, and of course spend a few hours looking round the amazing Tjibaou centre, then there really is no need for a car, because the main international airport is close enough to town for local taxis to suffice. With new Caledonia still having such a strong French influence, local buses are also perfectly reasonable, but don’t expect urban French standards with real time displays!
[why num=”201″]
However, to only stick around Noumea simply wouldn’t be doing New Caledonia justice, hence we would strongly recommend getting hold of a hire car and driving around this stunning island. Allow up to 6 hours to head all the way up to the top non-stop, and then a little bit more again to head down the eastern side. There really aren’t that many driving roads here, but it would be a bit of a stretch to do all this full circuit in a single day!
Why not? Visiting Noumea without a car
Why don't you need a car in Noumea ?
Many visitors will also want to continue island hopping by plane, and this might mean a relatively short stay in Noumea before heading on elsewhere. Local flights within New Caldeonia use the smaller Magenta Airport in Noumea, whereas international flights use the large Tontua Airport, some 50km away.
[james]
Noumea is the one place in the world where I would love to go if he was given a blank airline ticket, but this capital of New Caledonia really is such a long way from anywhere that few Europeans or North Americans will have heard for it, unless they are French, because New Caledonia is a French overseas territory with local autonomy.
The most striking image of Noumea is one which might be familiar to anyone with an interest in architecture, and this is the Tjibaou Cultural Centre. This vast imposing complex, which was built to celebrate the local Kanak culture, is the only one of the late French President Mitterrand’s massive “Grand Projects” to be built outside Metropolitan France. This set of buildings was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, who first made his name by co-designing the Pompidou Centre in Paris (also a Grand Project), with British architect Richard Rogers. He has also since designed The Shard in London.
[jamesend]
So our car hire advice verdict is that getting a rental car in Noumea is far from essential, but it’s probably still worth doing.
Ratings: How does Noumea compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Noumea? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Noumea, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Noumea? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Noumea (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Noumea? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Noumea airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Noumea car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 6
2019 - 8
2021 - 6
Average score - 7
Notes:
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Noumea ?