Shopping in New Caledonia - outlets, shopping streets and boutiques

For tourists from Europe, New Caledonia is a place somewhere at the edge of the world, so many of them are surprised and disappointed when they arrive in Noumea and see a European city. There is a simple explanation to this fact – New Caledonia is a French overseas territory, so the influence of the republic is visible everywhere. There is nothing strange in the fact that there are many Europeans in Noumea, and many of them want to enjoy their typical lifestyle. In this city, they will find clean streets, numerous shops and outlets, restaurants and cafes, charming waterfronts, and comfortable recreation areas. Nevertheless, this is a tropical country with its own peculiarities, an exotic piece of Europe close to the equator in the southern latitude of the endless ocean.

New Caledonia has its own currency – the South Pacific Franc (Cour de Franc Pacifique or CFP). There are 500, 1000, 5,000, and 10,000 franc notes. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 francs. Cash is the primary payment method on the islands, but there are exchange offices even in small towns. Simply plan your budget to avoid situations when you suddenly run out of money and the only exchange office is closed because of some trivial reason. That is why, when traveling outside the capital region, especially on smaller islands, make sure you always have cash with you. The capital usually offers more payment methods – it is possible to pay with bank cards almost everywhere, withdraw money in banks and large hotels. There will be no problem exchanging euro, US and Australian dollars.

It is allowed to carry inwards and outwards any money sums, but amounts of more than 909,000 francs must be declared. The rules regarding food and belongings are stricter. It is better not to take many expensive personal items to the country because travelers can import goods worth no more than 30,000 francs. Do not take several perfume bottles because it is allowed to have no more than 50ml of perfume. Leave tea and coffee at home and buy them here. That being said, when planning a vacation in New Caledonia, tourists need to remember that local prices are significantly higher than in neighboring island countries. Some products are even more expensive than in Europe. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Fans of shopping do not need to go anywhere else because they can find everything they need in Noumea. The capital is the only big settlement that looks like a modern and vibrant city. This is also the epicenter of cultural life in Grande Terre and neighbor islands. To tell the truth, New Caledonia imports the majority of items from other countries, continental ones included, so there are not that many exclusive goods in local shops. If you want to buy something really genuine and authentic, pay your attention to items produced by local artisans. As a rule, locally manufactured items are not the ones that people need in their everyday life (these items are usually imported from Europe), so the prices are usually not cheap.

When searching for souvenirs and gifts to friends and family that symbolize this tropical country, first pay your attention to amulets and jewelry made of jade, items carved from bone, and jewelry made of seashells and corals. All these items are made by the indigenous people of the islands – the Kanaks. There are many souvenirs for sale in local markets, but tourists need to take into consideration one important thing – do not bargain. Just like in Europe, bargaining is not common in the country. There is also an old tradition that makes the “no bargain” rule inviolable. According to it, the Kanaks are obliged to give something back for every gift they get. When returning the favor, they need to give something of similar value. This tradition may be hard to understand for Europeans, but it is simple and comprehensible for Melanesians. Do not try to understand it and simply accept this part of the local lifestyle. If you want to buy something, pay the price asked or do not buy anything at all.

Melanesians make up the majority of the population on Mare Island. They are mostly engaged in growing avocados and fishing. Mare Island is an important supplier of fresh food for Grande Terre. Of course, there are gorgeous beach areas on the island, but in order to take a piece of this paradise-like place home, tourists usually visit local artisans to purchase authentic souvenirs. Vacationers can see many totems in New Caledonia. These are wooden idols partially dug into the ground. These totems can vary in size, but they are usually human-sized and bigger. However, masters make smaller totems as souvenirs. If you haven’t noticed them, ask local merchants – most probably, they have small totems for sale. If bodies of these figurines look disproportional, simply remember that the style of these artworks emerged in ancient times. People saw the world this way many centuries ago. Modern Melanesians and Polynesians simply follow the old tradition. Tourists can purchase traditional figurines and jewelry on other islands of New Caledonia.