It contains new information in the Summary and under Health (in May 2012, local authorities issued a dengue travel hawaii epidemic alert and increased dengue prevention measures). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
Cyclone season in New Caledonia is from November to April. However, tropical storms and cyclones may occur in other months. See Additional information: Natural disasters, travel hawaii severe weather and climate for more detailed advice.
In May 2012, local authorities issued a dengue epidemic alert and increased dengue prevention measures following travel hawaii an unusually high number of confirmed dengue cases in the Noumea region of New Caledonia. The mosquito-borne virus chikungunya has also been reported travel hawaii in New Caledonia. For more information see the Health section .
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs travel hawaii and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest French French Embassy travel hawaii or Consulate for the most up-to-date information.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies travel hawaii of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement travel hawaii passport while overseas.
You should avoid protests travel hawaii and demonstrations as they can become violent. There has been political tension regarding symbols of identity, including the choice of a flag for New Caledonia. You should avoid overt displays of the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation travel hawaii Front), French and other local flags.
The incidence of crime is low in New Caledonia. travel hawaii However, petty theft, car theft and break-ins do occur. You should exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would in Australia.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian travel hawaii law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate travel hawaii as soon as possible.
Local authorities have raised concerns about the adherence to safety standards by tour operators, especially for adventure sports such as diving and yachting. Check operators' credentials and safety equipment beforehand and ensure your travel insurance policy covers your planned activities. All registered dive companies carry basic treatment equipment to meet PADI standards and many require participants to have insurance travel hawaii cover for diving.
When you are in New Caledonia, be aware that local laws and penalties, including travel hawaii ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
New Caledonia is an Overseas Country within the French Republic and French law applies, including the principle of 'Garde � Vue' according to which a detained travel hawaii person may not have immediate access to a lawyer or their consular representative. 'Garde � Vue' is a period of detention under French law that is loosely equivalent to 'assisting police with their enquiries'. Depending on the gravity of the circumstances and charges travel hawaii under consideration, it can vary from a few hours to three days.
Under French law, failing to offer assistance to 'a person in danger' is illegal. This means that if you fail to stop upon witnessing a motor vehicle accident, fail to report such an accident travel hawaii to emergency services, or ignore appeals for help or urgent assistance, you may be charged. Penalties include a suspended prison sentence and a fine. The law does not apply in situations where to answer travel hawaii an appeal for help might endanger your life or the lives of others.
French Customs and Border Police operating in New Caledonia are very strict on importation of counterfeit (non-genuine) goods. If found in your possession, the counterfeit goods will be confiscated and you will be fined an amount equivalent to the assessed purchase price of the genuine item. Detection methods include conducting searches travel hawaii of arriving tourists.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery travel hawaii of foreign public officials, terrorism, child pornography, and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas travel hawaii may be prosecuted in Australia.
travel hawaii Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism and child pornography laws. These laws provide severe penalties for up to 25 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in child sexual exploitation while outside of Australia.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included travel hawaii in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information travel hawaii about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. travel hawaii The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
The standard travel hawaii of medical travel hawaii facilities in New Caledonia is good for uncomplicated conditions and treatment. Noumea's central hospital can handle routine and emergency matters but complicated conditions require evacuation to Australia.
Medical and hospital costs in New Caledonia are extremely high. For example, travel hawaii an intensive care bed in Noumea could cost up to A$4,000 per day. Ambulance transfers, travel hawaii even for short distances, can cost A$1,250 or more. A helicopter evacuation from one of the islands to Noumea will cost in excess of A$6,500. An aeromedical evacuation from Noumea to Australia can exceed A$40,000. Passengers on cruise travel hawaii ships are routinely evacuated travel hawaii to Noumea for hospitalisation. Cruise passengers are strongly encouraged to take out travel insurance appropriate to their circumstances.
There is only one hyperbaric (decompression) chamber in New Caledonia, located in Noumea. Many of the popular dive sites are located on other islands and it may take several hours to reach facilities in the event of an accident. All registered dive companies carry basic treatment equipment to meet PADI standards and many require participants to have insurance cover for diving.
Outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease dengue fever are common, especially during the warm wet months of February to May. In May 2012, local authorities issued a dengue travel hawaii epidemic alert and increased dengue prevention measures following an unusually travel hawaii high number of confirmed dengue cases in the Noumea region of New Caledonia.
It is strongly recommended you take precautions against being bitten travel hawaii by mosquitoes, including using insect repellent, wearing long, loose fitting, light-coloured clothing, and ensure your accommodation is mosquito proof. travel hawaii Seek medical advice if you have a fever. For further travel hawaii information see the World Health Organization's factsheets on dengue fever and chikungunya fever .
Small outbreaks of leptospirosis are common travel hawaii with more serious outbreaks travel hawaii occurring from time to time, particularly during March to May. Local authorities travel hawaii recommend wearing closed-in shoes when walking, avoiding travel hawaii swimming in rivers, not playing in muddy water, storing food in enclosed containers, not drinking straight from cans (using a straw is recommended) and removing rubbish from around homes. For information on leptospirosis, see the World Health Organization website.
If you are travelling to New Caledonia, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register travel hawaii with the Department of Foreign Affairs travel hawaii and Trade. You can register online or in person travel hawaii at any Australian Embassy, travel hawaii High Commission or Consulate . The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance travel hawaii or a family issue.
Cyclone season in New Caledonia is from November travel hawaii to April when flooding, landslides and disruptions to services may occur. However, tropical storms and cyclones may occur in other months. The direction and strength of tropical cyclones can change with little warning.
New Caledonia has a four-level travel hawaii cyclone alert system: PRE-ALERT (potential cyclone activity in the vicinity of New Caledonia, take preparatory measures), ORANGE (cyclone may be of interest to New Caledonia in the next 18 hours, cease activity and seek shelter), RED (cyclone travel hawaii is imminent) and GREY (cyclone has passed, people can leave their shelter). In the event of an approaching cyclone, you should identify your nearest safe location.
travel hawaii Flights in and out of affected areas could be delayed travel hawaii or suspended. Available flights may fill quickly. The cyclone could also affect access to sea ports in the region. In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe cyclone may not be available to all who m
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