New Caledonia Shopping and nightlife

Shopping in New Caledonia

New Caledonia has the best shopping in the South Pacific if you're looking for designer goods as many of the brands aren't available on other islands in the Pacific. In Nouméa, boutiques sell fashionable French clothes, mainly casual but sometimes haute couture. Other purchases include luxury French goods such as perfume, jewellery and footwear, and silk scarves, sandals and handbags from France and Italy can also be found. Duty-free items are also sold. Local items include curios made of shells, coral, woodcarving, ceramics, hand-painted materials and aloha shirts.

Shopping hours

Mon-Fri 0730-1100 and 1400-1800, Sat 0730-1100.

Nightlife in New Caledonia

Early evening marks the start of Happy Hour, which generally takes place between 1700 and 1830 in Nouméa’s various karaoke and piano bars. There are plenty of discos and a few casinos situated in the Anse Vata and the Baie des Citrons areas. Nightclubs in Nouméa are lively with both European and local floorshows and music is a pulsating mixture of Pacific and international rhythms. For a less strenuous night out there are also several cinemas, which show French films.