Driving in Wallis and Futuna means keeping to the right, and you will almost certainly need to drive: there is no public transport and there are no taxis, so a hire car is needed. Wallis has a coastal drive of about 35 km, while Futuna's roads are poorer, with dirt roads to key sites.
Practical ·
Driving in Wallis and Futuna: Roads, Rules and Hire Cars
Driving in Wallis and Futuna: traffic keeps right, there are no taxis or buses, Futuna roads are rougher, and hire firms operate on both islands.
01
Do you need a car?
Yes, in practice. The tourism board states that there is no public transport and no taxis, and that a hire car is needed. Taxi boats do exist, but they are for the lagoon islets and Alofi, not for getting about by road.
Plan to collect your car on arrival if you can. One Wallis hire firm, Haviti Location in Mata'Utu, has a desk at the airport.
02
Which side of the road?
Traffic drives on the right, as in France, because the territory is a French overseas collectivity. If you are used to driving on the left, give yourself time on a quiet stretch before you reach the capital.
We have not found official guidance on speed limits, licence recognition or insurance, so we do not state any. Ask your hire company what licence it needs and what its insurance covers before you pay.
03
Roads on Wallis
A coastal drive round Wallis is about 35 km, a manageable distance for a day's driving. Some distances are useful to know. Talietumu is about 9 km southwest of Mata'Utu, Lausikula Guesthouse is listed as 4.3 km from Lake Lalolalo, Auberge Tanoa is about 5 km from Hihifo Airport, and Hotel Fiafia on Futuna is listed as 11 km from that island's airport. Lake Lalolalo lies in the southwest of Wallis, off Route 1 between Mala'etoli and Ahoa. During the Second World War American forces built a port at Gahi, a 70-bed hospital and roads on Wallis, and a road was cut through the forest around Lake Lalolalo that was regarded as sacred.
Halalo has the fuel depot, but we do not hold a list of filling stations or fuel prices, so ask your hire company where to refuel and how it expects the car to be returned.
04
Roads on Futuna
Futuna's roads are poorer than those on Wallis, with dirt roads to key sites. Since Cyclone Tomas in 2010, the main coastal road has been cut at Pointe des Pyramides, also called Uga Magalua. Check the state of the road before you set out, and allow more time than the distance suggests.
If you search in French, conduite Wallis is the term; the points to remember are the same: right-hand traffic, a hire car and care on rough surfaces. We hold no local list of road rules for Wallis, so ask your hire firm.
05
Where to hire a car
On Wallis, the tourism board lists Haviti Location, LS Location, Eden SARL, Fuga'Uvea Location, Siokivaka and Wallis Voyages, which also offers guided tours. On Futuna it lists Corail Renting at Tavai in Sigave, Hasard Location at Malae in Alo, Loc Auto Futuna at Taoa in Alo, and SB Travel at Leava. Rates and contact details change, so check the board's transport page and ask each firm directly. We do not quote prices.
06
Weather and access
Cyclone season runs from November to April. Cyclone Tino in January 2020 flooded roads and damaged homes on Wallis, with no deaths reported, so wet weather can affect roads in that season. Access for reduced-mobility visitors is limited.
Ask your hire firm about current road conditions on both islands before you set off, particularly after storms.
Questions people ask.
- Which side of the road do they drive on in Wallis and Futuna?
- Traffic drives on the right. The territory is a French overseas collectivity, so the convention matches mainland France.
- Are there taxis or buses?
- No. The tourism board says there is no public transport and no taxis, so a hire car is needed. Taxi boats serve the lagoon islets and Alofi.
- How long is the road round Wallis?
- A coastal drive round Wallis is about 35 km. Futuna's roads are poorer, with dirt roads to key sites.
- Can I hire a car on Futuna?
- Yes. The tourism board lists Corail Renting, Hasard Location, Loc Auto Futuna and SB Travel on Futuna. Contact them directly for current terms.
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