South Pacific Diesel and Provisioning Prices

[DefinitelyMe]

Hi all,

we're in French Polynesia now (Marquesas) and looking to move on towards New Zealand over the coming season. Trying to figure out what to expect re: food prices in the Cooks, Tonga and Fiji. Also diesel prices so we can figure out where we should fill up. Any recent knowledge to share?

Cheers!

[Paul L]

Duty free in Papaette was the best deal we had crossing.
Plus GST free in NZ was good.

[DefinitelyMe]

Cool thanks very much. Do you know if the price in Papeete is the same as in Marquesas?

Any other info from anyone else?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by DefinitelyMe

Cool thanks very much. Do you know if the price in Papeete is the same as in Marquesas?

Any other info from anyone else?

Not sure, but the duty free certificate was free at customs in Papaette. When we were in the Marquesas there was an additional fee from an agent to the duty free certificate (us$80 or so), so we waited.

[boatman61]

American Samoa for the cheapest fuel in the S Pacific..

[matauwhi]

G'day, Mate. Diesel price today here in New Zealand $1.21NZD/Liter or roughly $3.30 USD / gallon based on today's exchange rate. Beef mince was on special this week at $8 NZD / Kilo or roughly $2.60 USD / pound. Also scored some nice lamb loin chops for $12NZD/kilo or $3.90 USD / pound.

You have to work to find bananas under $2NZD/Kilo or $0.65 USD /pound. Trust that helps to give you some insights. Safe travels as you continue the progress down here. All the best. Cheers.

[DefinitelyMe]

Cheers guys; all great info. Papeete it is. Yes that info regarding fees for getting the duty free fuel here in Marquesas is still current. I'm not sure exactly what the figure was that the guy quoted me but it basically only makes sense if you're buying a large quantity. Maybe a few boats could get together and split the cost but I didn't enquire about that and it might not be allowed. Thanks again.

[chouliha]

Originally Posted by DefinitelyMe

Cheers guys; all great info. Papeete it is. Yes that info regarding fees for getting the duty free fuel here in Marquesas is still current. I'm not sure exactly what the figure was that the guy quoted me but it basically only makes sense if you're buying a large quantity. Maybe a few boats could get together and split the cost but I didn't enquire about that and it might not be allowed. Thanks again.

Find someone with a certificate and tag along to obtain the discount. Have them pay for you and then reimburse them away from the station. We helped out friends all the time in this manner.

The reason the agents charge for the certificate is it requires them to either taxi or drive to the port. Time and travel........

If you use Tahiti crew to check in the fuel certificate is part of the package.

Good luck

Chuck

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by chouliha

Find someone with a certificate and tag along to obtain the discount. Have them pay for you and then reimburse them away from the station. We helped out friends all the time in this manner.

The reason the agents charge for the certificate is it requires them to either taxi or drive to the port. Time and travel........

If you use Tahiti crew to check in the fuel certificate is part of the package.

Good luck

Chuck

Or you can ask for a package without the fuel cert for less.

[chouliha]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Or you can ask for a package without the fuel cert for less.

That is no longer available

Chuck

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by chouliha

That is no longer available

Chuck

We didn't use Tahiti Crew, we used
Polynesia Yacht Services a couple of years ago. It was less expensive than the PPJ deal at the time for our situation.

[DefinitelyMe]

Thanks. I guess I was looking for something a little simpler but also mroe comprehensive, like a comparative list of costs in French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa etc.

Is there a website somewhere that does fuel cost comparisons? I vaguely remember seeing one somewhere once........

[Tetepare]

I don't remember current diesel prices, best bet is to buy when you think the price is good and quality is excellent.


You can get diesel (as in, from a pump, not from glass bottles) in Papeete, Moorea, Raro, (don't know about Aitutaki), Viti Levu: Suva, Pacific Harbor, Nadi, probably others; Taveuni, Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, not sure about Ha'Apai group.


BTW Papeete is about the most expensive place in the Pacific for everything.


As far as other provisions, every town has a market. Fish and vegetables and fruit is always inexpensive. The further you are from a major town, the lower the prices are. There are "real" grocery stores in Suva and Nadi, and you can get most regular provisions in the above named places.