New Caledonia Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Pacific.

Area
18,575 sq km (7172 sq miles).

Population
220,000 (official estimate 2000).

Population Density
10.6 per sq km.

Capital
Nouméa.
Population: 196,836 (1996).

Government
French Overseas Territory since 1957.  

Language
French is the official language, but there are approximately 30 different Melanesian languages. English and Japanese are also widely spoken.

Religion
Vast Christian majority, with 59 per cent Roman Catholic.

Time
GMT + 11.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style, two-pin plugs are in use.

Head of Government
Marie-Noelle Themereau since 2004.

Head of State
President Jacques Chirac, represented locally by High Commissioner Daniel Constantin since 2002.

Telephone
Country code: 687. There is a 24-hour service for international calls. International calls are bookable at the post office or through hotels. Most hotels have direct dial facilities.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies.

Internet
Public access is available in several Internet cafes and at cyber points (computers available for public use in local businesses/ISPs).

Media


Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes up to one week.

Post office hours: The post office, located on rue Eugène Porcheron, is open Mon-Fri 0745-1115 and 1215-1530.

Press
• Newspapers are published in French and include Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes (daily) and L’Hebdo, Les Infos and Télé 7 Jours (weekly).

Radio
• RFO Nouvelle Caledonie is publicly run.
• Private stations include NRJ Nouvelle Caledonie, Radio Djiido and Radio Rythme Blue.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
8 May 1945 Victory Day.
17 May Ascension.
14 Jul Bastille Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
24 Sep New Caledonia Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
11 Nov Armistice Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
31 Dec New Year’s Eve.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
8 May 1945 Victory Day.
1 May Ascension.
14 Jul Bastille Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
24 Sep New Caledonia Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
11 Nov Armistice Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
31 Dec New Year’s Eve.

Contact Information:

Diplomatic Representation
New Caledonia is a French Overseas Territory; addresses of French Embassies, Consulates and Tourist Offices may be found in the France section.

New Caledonia Tourism South
Street address: 20 rue Anatole France, Immeuble Nouméa-Center, Place des Cocotiers, Nouméa, New Caledonia
Postal address: BP 688, 98845 Nouméa Cédex, New Caledonia
Tel: 242 080.
Website: www.nctps.com

Office of the High Commissioner
Street address: 1 avenue du Maréchal Foch, Nouméa, New Caledonia
Postal address: BP C5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
Tel: 266 300.

South Pacific Tourism Organization
Street address: Level 3, FNPF Place, 343-359 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji
Postal address: PO Box 13119, Suva, Fiji
Tel: (639) 330 4177.
Website: www.spto.org

New Caledonia Tourism South in France
7 rue du Général Bertrand, 75007 Paris, France
Tel: (1) 4273 6980.
Website: www.nctps.com


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