Doc Holiday: Best things to do in Noumea for travellers with limited mobility

There's no shortage of things to do in Nouméa, even if you can't walk long distances.

Several years ago, I took my elderly father on a cruise around New Caledonia.

Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions.

We have a shore visit in Nouméa but we’re unsure of how to spend our time as a member of our group cannot walk distances. Any ideas?

Several years ago, I took my elderly father on a cruise around New Caledonia and we found the Tchou Tchou Train to be one of the best excursions going for those with reduced mobility. With regular departures right beside the cruise terminal, the train takes a two-hour guided tour around Nouméa’s highlights, from the Ouen Toro lookout to Faubourg Blanchot, which is home to a wealth of colonial houses. Although the train can be booked through your cruise line, it’s significantly cheaper (less than half price) to book the experience directly, and you can do this well ahead of your cruise through Discover New Caledonia.

Another option is to jump on a shuttle or taxi to Baie des Citrons (Lemon Bay), a pretty seaside strip dotted with atmospheric restaurants and bars (heads up: it’s also a great spot for those who wish to have a splash while in town). Here, under the shade of swaying palms, you can easily while away the hours with a decadent meal or a few drinks. If you want to dine somewhere truly special, you may wish to consider Le Roof, which serves classic French fare in an overwater bungalow. Just be warned that the meal, while memorable, isn’t what we would call budget-friendly. Top tip? Leave room for dessert (even if it’s a quick taxi stop) at Les Petits Choux; it has the best lemon meringue tarts you’ll ever taste in this lifetime.

Since you have limited time, I recommend booking a private city tour through Viator.

I have an eight-hour daytime stopover at Jakarta airport. How can I might spend the time, preferably out of the airport?

Before we get into options, it’s important to note that if you’re going to leave the airport, you need to apply for either an Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) or a Visa on Arrival (VOA), which will set you back around $50. Depending on the day of the week, you’ll want to factor in how long it will take you to clear customs and how bad the local traffic will be (Fridays, the Islamic holy day, are particularly gridlocked). Remember, too, that you’ll also need to be back at the airport three hours before your departing flight. This means your eight-hour stopover has now essentially become a three- to four-hour stopover.

Since you have limited time, I recommend booking a private city tour through Viator. There’s a private four-hour guided tour (priced from $103) that takes in Jakarta Old Town, Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta Cathedral, Merdeka Square and more, and it includes pick-up and drop-off at the airport. Another option is to create your own private tour through Jakarta Car Service. All you have to do is select up to five points of interest, whether you’d like a guide or just the driver, and the team will create a personalised itinerary based on your requirements.

If you decide you’d rather stay within the confines of the airport after all, you could either check into Jakarta Airport Hotel, located above Terminal 2E, or spend a few hours in Plaza Premium Lounge. A three-hour pass costs just over $80 and includes meals, complimentary Wi-Fi and comfortable sofa seating.

If you’d like the flexibility of being contactable 24/7 through WhatsApp and Messenger, I recommend buying a local eSIM when you get to your destination.

How do I set up WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to use overseas? I already use both of these in Australia.

If you’re planning to turn off data roaming on your phone (to avoid sky-high roaming charges) and use available free Wi-Fi as you travel, there’s no need to do anything – you can use the apps whenever you find a solid connection at a hotel or restaurant. If you’re travelling around mainland Europe, you’ll even find Wi-Fi at local train stations.

However, if you’d like the flexibility of being contactable 24/7 through WhatsApp and Messenger, I recommend buying a local eSIM when you get to your destination. With a local eSIM, your WhatsApp account remains associated with your “home” (regular) number, so you can continue to use the app as you normally would. Just note that you may need to re-verify your account first, and to do this you must have your usual SIM card in your phone as well as your phone or SMS service enabled.

If you have any issues or questions, speak with your service provider before you travel.

Originally published as Doc Holiday: Best things to do in Noumea for travellers with limited mobility