Easter Excursion to Noumea

[Flyinfish]

Thanks for your report! I'm going myself mid-May, spending a week and dividing my time between Noumea and Ile des Pins.

 

[Lynda2475]

Thanks for your report! I'm going myself mid-May, spending a week and dividing my time between Noumea and Ile des Pins.

This is a good choice I think, no swiming bans at the Ile de Pines and looks like about 2-3 days of beachy things to do there. If I return i will go straight to Ile de Pins then have two days back at Chateau Royal on return.

 

[SYD]

This is a good choice I think, no swiming bans at the Ile de Pines and looks like about 2-3 days of beachy things to do there. If I return i will go stright to Ile de Pins then have two days back at Chateau Royale on return.

Did you end up day tripping to the DT? I assume not with coughpy weather.

I would have thought Le Meridien is better than Chateau Royale but could be a coin toss?

The Hilton is functional and better outside school hols but set back from the water is a drawback.

 

[Lynda2475]

sorry to hear about the bad weather!

Thankfully weather did a 180 come Friday and it felt like a completey different place. Although it was a constant 27C the whole time, once the sun arrived the place began to shine.

Super early start on Friday, we had to get up, pack-up, grab breaky, check-out and store luggage as bus was picking us up at 7:15am for our day trip to Amedee Island.

In hindsight, if we had opted to not take the free transfer, we could have had an extra 30-45mins sleep and just driven to the marina, as the boat didnt leave until just after 8am.

Bye bye Noumea



We travelled with Home - Amedee Island but I found out later other guests from the Chateau Royal had gone via Catamaran (which had all snorkeling gear included, and a marine biologist on board).

It was a very smooth ride and took about 50 minutes to get to the island, but the crew were very slow to dock the boat (makes you appreciate the efficiency of the port douglas crews when you do outer reef or island trips in Qld).



Passengers were given different coloured wrist bands which determined what glass bottom boat tour you were on (tehre were separate sailings in French and English). There were approx 200 on board so 5 different sailings.





Catamaran option in the distance



We saw turtles swiming alongside the pier as we were disembarking.





Note the Mary D boat company run the souvenier shop which also sells drinks and admission for the light house, They take cards (even for the $2 lighthouse entry).

But they dont have any water gear for rent; and they dont mention anywhere that another company runs the nearby shed which rents snorkel gear, kayaks or SUPs - price list says AU$15 for 3 hours and it is cash only (but take AUD or CFP). Not that it mattered because for whatever reason they were not open despite perfect conditions. Im guessing maybe because it was Good Friday?

Noting this was the only place whole trip we saw that didnt take cards, we never withdrew any cash paying by card everywhere. Also every restarant/cafe we asked to split bill payment had not problem doing so.

 

[Lynda2475]

We decided to tackle the light house first up before it got any hotter.



~200ish steps to the top



The views were great, once you caught your breath


Just after I took the below photo two turtles surface to breath and we could easily see them from this height.





Then we headed to the beach to chill and go for a swim.

Most on the boat had brought their own snorkel gear, and lucky for me there were some friends who all had gear but one of their party chickened out about going further into the water than knee hight so they kindly let me use their fins and mask for a quick look at the turtles. Because it was impromtu (i.e. whilst I was swimming) I didnt have my water proof cameron on me, it was in my bag with friend who had settled into a beach chair. There were 4 large green turtles circling the area near the pier during high tide.

Dont risk not being able to hire gear, bring your own or rent back in Noumea. IF you do risk it make sure you have cash.

 

[Lynda2475]

After snorkel/swim and some deck chair time drying off and enjoying the view it was time for the included buffet lunch. Again I failed to take any photos, sorry.

On entry were offered a fresh orange juice or an alcoholic fruit punch (I passed because it has watermelon and I have an intolerance to melons). There was a separate included bar which had white/red wine, beers, tea and coffee.

All the food was pre-portioned into individual servers in little paper containers, and you just took what you like. There was Coleslaw, Root Vegetables cooked in coconut milk (sweet potato, taro, potato, pumpkin). tuna ceviche, green beans & zuchinni, pulled pork in bbq sauce, seared swordfish, chicken chow mein, rice and mussles. Plenty of left overs so going back for a seconf helping not a problem.

The desserts were a passionfruit panacotta (star of the day), dark chocolate mouse, madeilines and a mountain of fresh cut fruit you told the server what you wnated and they playted it - watermelon, pineapple, 3 different types of passionfruits, papaya, kiwi, grapes, apple, rock melon and oranges.

After lunch there was a show of polynesian/melanesian dancing - two girls and a guy (including fire eating and fire pole throwing).




Back to the beach to chill before our glass botoom boat trip (again I failed to remember to take any pics), they feed the fish to attract them under the boat, more turtles. Then more chill time until depature.

It was nice there was no rain and very few clouds. Just before we left the sea snakes were starting to return to land after feeding to find a warm spot for the night.

 

[Lynda2475]

Boat got back to the pier around 5pm, we got dropped back at the Hilton, picked up our luggage (I some how managed to leave my sunglasses there), loaded up our car and set off to check into our second hotel Chateau Royal Beach Resort and Spa.


From the moment we arrived we knew it was a huge step up on the Hilton. The foyer was light and airy, the staff more welcoming and immediately apologetic re the govenrment decision to close the beach.

Because of the late decision to chnage from Double Tree to Hilton + Chateua Royal, we could only book a 1 room suite. So two single beds.




The rainfall shower was great, and no water on the floor unlike the Hilton.


We had a partial ocean view


After freshening up we went to Stone Grill Anse Vata for dinner. It is a reasonably price steak resurant, where your steak is served raw on a hot stone and you cook it to your liking. It was novel and very tasty.

I forgot to take a pick before I had started to cut it up so apologies for the bad picks.

 

[Lynda2475]

On Saturday were glad to awake to another sunny day after a sleep in and a late breakfast.

Here is the beach in front of the hotel. Lifeguard was on duty even though swimming not allowed. This is the beach were the Aussie guy was killed earlier this year by a bull shark.



This is the way you would walk to Le Meridien.



Hotel pool is much larger than the Hilton and has a swim up bar in the afternoons.









The spa has a huge indoor spa pool, it was chockers with ladies (and one guy), to allowed to take pictures in there but here is the promo shot

These bulldogs guard the staircase to the resturant

 

[Lynda2475]

Did you end up day tripping to the DT? I assume not with coughpy weather.

No we didnt, because it was unclear if swimming was allowed there or not. Weather was perfect on Saturday when we could have gone but we opted for a sleep in, lazy breakfast, some shopping, a zoo visit and pool time.

The zoo is inexpensive and you will understand why as they have very few animals (some deer, wild boar, rabbits, squirrel monkeys, donkeys, bats and Lemurs) and lots and lots of birds (parrots of all kinds, crows, pelicans, ducks, storks, owls); and lots of walks through gardens and chidlrens playgrounds.

It was a nice walk to burn off breakfast, but certainly not a must see. The one novelty is that you can do a guided Segway tour of the zoo, as it is quite spread out. We passed them several time (all aussies); but my friend was too chicken to ride a segway as was worried about inhury.



View back towards town:



Grabbed a quick lunch, then back to Geant to buy some tatsy treats as souveniers before heading to the hotel pool to cool off.

 

[Lynda2475]

Feeling lazy we decided to eat dinner at the hotel resturant La Pirogue it turned out to be a fantastic choice

 

[Lynda2475]

I would have thought Le Meridien is better than Chateau Royale but could be a coin toss?

I didnt visit Le Meridien, but I really liked the Chateua Royal - it felt new and clean. Service was exemplary and in the evening and night people sit on the deck chairs on the lawn and socialise listening to live music (you can have drinks and bar food delivered to your chair/table).

The Hilton is functional and better outside school hols but set back from the water is a drawback.

At the Hilton people stayed in their own room/balcony except kids in the pool. There arent really any gardens or beach areas to just chill. It is closer to walk to the Anse Vata restutants, but still a ways fromt he Lemon Bay ones, but because we had a car we liked the resort feel of the Chateua Royal.

At Chateua Royal, I met some lovely people and had a nice chat whilst swimming, they few kids were supervised by their parents and at end of the much larger pool.

 

[GrahamBRI]

Because of the late decision to chnage from Double Tree to Hilton + Chateua Royal, we could only book a 1 room suite. So two single beds.

Out of interest, why did you change from Double Tree?

 

[Lynda2475]

Sunday was another stunner weather wise (if we had flown in on Thursday and left on Monday we would have only had one lot of rain and no complaints).

After packing up our room we went for a walk on thebeach, then decided to splurge on the buffet breakfast which was much nicer than the Hilton (of course still over priced).

I neglected to take picks of the hot food area but they had: mushrooms, frilled veggies (capsicum, onion, zuchinni), Bacon (cripsy and soft). mini sausages (chorizo I think), scrambled eggs that were not runny and a omeletee/cook to order egg station.

Plus:



Baked Ham because it was Easter Sunday






Only mchine coffee but it was probably the best coffee machine coffe Ive had, you had to do two cycles for the larger cup (one forthe normal size cup) and I found mixing a cappucino with a cafe au lait made a drinkable drop. They also had to go cups so you could take another when you left.

 

[Lynda2475]

Checked out, loaded the car and headed to the airport. Uneventful easy drive in the sunshine. Parked the car, took photos to prove no damage), dropped the keys and only one person in front at check in.




No one was manning the depatures gate yet, so a quick look through the soubenir store, finsihed our water and then were first through security, passport control and up into the lounge.

 

[Lynda2475]

Boarding was prompt, with priority called first. Only 8 passengers in J.

1A, 1D, myself (2F) and 3F all had shadows. There was a couple in 2AC and two girls (approx 5 & 7) in 3 A&C (their father was in 3F).

4 DEF (front row of Y) was also empty (at least on take-off) some people moved there soon after.

PDB offered either Champagne or Sparkling Water.

1D was an American DYKWIA type who complained that he couldnt make a phone call after boarding (like Qanats control his cell coverage) and then pressed his call button alot once or twice for them to get things for hm form overhead bin, as he couldnt be bothered standing up to grab his own neck pillow.

Immediately after take-off a seconf drink offer made and paket of pretzels & almonds given.

Last views of the lagoon as as we flew out:






Lunch choices were portk filet with snow peas mashed potato and apple gravy (see below) or Beef Mussaman. Of ocurse 1A was a vegetarian so they had to go and find him a Y vego pasta.

The pork was quite tasty and tender despite apperances but the persion love cake was very dry I only ate 1 mouthful. The Koko Black easter bunnies were a nice touch.



Smooth flight, arrive over the easter suburbs beaches and landed directly, no circling.




All in all it was a pleasant 4 night stay. Was thankful to have had the car especially on Wed and Thursday where the weather was far from ideal so walking 1-2km to lunch/dinner was not an option.

Was very underwhlemed by the Hilton and would not stay again as the bathrooms very dates and water leakage issue. I like the Chateu Royal and would stay again (preferably in my own room with a king) and would like to either take the boat or fly to the Isle of Pines as being a water baby I want some easy beach time.

We had no issues with our debit/credit cards being accepted everywhere (except the close gear rental store on Amadee), our lack of french was also not an issue, only had to say bonjour or merci and they could tell we were english natives and spke to us in perfect english.

Having accidently left my sunglases at Hilton, I called and they said they had been found but when I got there they were some cheapo immitation aviators not my glasses, so now have to find myself some new ones before my next trip.

 

[Lynda2475]

Out of interest, why did you change from Double Tree?

There were no over water bungalows availabel on the dates I had booked only garden/beach view bungalows (i think this is the real attraction being able to swim with turtles below your burre) and the reviews of the food (only buffet) at the DT were less than stellar. Opinion seemed to be you would spend alot of time on the boast transferring back to Noumea to have better dining options.

Also when my work friend decided to tag along, she would have had to sleep on sofa bed as the DT doesnt offer any twin rooms. We are both getting too old to be slumming it on the couch.

If t was outside of school holidays and I could pick up an over water bungalow for $350 a night as is sometimes possible i might stay 1 night in future, but it was less expensive and more flexible to stay in noumea itself this trip (and just as well given the horrible weather the first few days as at least tehre is some indoor stuff in noumea i.e. aquarium, cultural centre, cinema, spas etc).

 

[RooFlyer]

where your steak is served raw on a hot stone and you cook it to your liking.

How do you stop it cooking? Or do you move it across to another plate?

 

[Flyinfish]

What did you bring back from Geant?

 

[Lynda2475]

How do you stop it cooking? Or do you move it across to another plate?

Yeah they give you the plate with stone and steak on it, which has a section for 1 side and a sauce of choice, then another plate to move you steak onto and a 3rd with the second side.

I had already moved my steak to the spare plate and started slicing it and eating when i remembered I hadnt taken a photo so dropped it back on the tile and cooked it a little bit more t get the shot.

The guy at the table next to use ordered the double eye fillet it was about 7cms thick, he cooked it very medium rare.

 

[Lynda2475]

What did you bring back from Geant?

Imported French biscuits, madelines. mini cakes, mustard and pate. All gifted to family members this morning. I didnt bring any cheee because I didnt want to have to declare anything on return.

My friends bought a bunch or biscuits and cakes too, plus sardines, jam, sauces, pate, nougat and easter chocolates.

We didnt buy any other souvenirs - no one really needs another fridge magnet or key ring lol.