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Travel - Internal
AIR: Domestic flights are run by Air Calédonie (TY), maintaining regular services from Nouméa to airfields on the island, and the other smaller islands. The principal local airport is Magenta Airport, 6km (4 miles) from Nouméa city centre. From here, Air Calédonie operates regular flights to Touho (east coast), Koné, Koumac, Belep (west coast), and to the neighbouring Ile des Pins and the Loyalty Islands: Maré, Ouvéa, Lifou and Tiga. The airport has been extended in order to increase capacity. Light aircraft and helicopters are available from Air Calédonie and other companies for charter; Aviazur operates air taxis.
Approximate flight times: From Nouméa to Ile des Pins is 25 minutes; to Lifou is 50 minutes; to Maré is 50 minutes; to Ouvéa is 45 minutes; to Tiga is 45 minutes; to Koné is 35 minutes; to Touho is 1 hour 5 minutes; to Koumac is 1 hour 40 minutes and to Belep is 2 hours 35 minutes.
SEA: An inter-island, high-speed catamaran ‘Betico’ runs regularly to Ile des Pins and Loyalty Islands from Grande Terre; for further details, contact Armement Loyaltien, Quai des Caboteurs, Centre ville, BP 2217-98845, Nouméa Cedex (tel: 260 100; fax: 289 897). Boats can be hired or chartered to visit smaller islands.
ROAD: The road network consists of 5000km (3125 miles) of paved and unpaved roads. Traffic drives on the right. Petrol costs the same at all petrol stations. Bus: Buses are available throughout the island. There are regular services in Nouméa which run every 15-30 minutes from 0500-1900. Two new tourist services were introduced in March 2001. The Green Line travels between Kuendu Beach, the city centre and other beach resorts. The Blue Line travels to Tjibaou Cultural Centre. A tourist day pass can be bought for CFPfr600 which allows the visitor unlimited travel on the buses for one day. Taxi: Charges are for time and distance. There is a surcharge after 1900 and on Sundays. Car hire: Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Rentacar, AB Location and local companies all have representatives in the capital. Bicycle hire: Bicycles, motorcycles and motorscooters may also be hired. Documentation: International Driving Permit is required. Drivers must be aged 21 or over (in some cases, 25 or over).
TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Nouméa to other major localities/villages in New Caledonia.
| Air | Road | | Bourail | - | 2.10 | | Hienghene | - | 5.10 | | Koné | 0.35 | 3.30 | | Poindimie | - | 4.10 | | Thio | - | 2.00 | | Tontouta | - | 0.45 | | Touhó | 1.05 | 4.40 |
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