Moorea Tahiti – Big tick off the bucket list!

Moorea Tahiti- Big tick off the bucket list!

I was giddy with excitement leading up to this trip and now reality has sunk in that I am in one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. I had to pinch myself when I woke up to this view.... And now I'm finally here experiencing it for myself, the tranquil crystal clear turquoise lagoon waters of the island of Moorea Tahiti. The attraction toward Moorea comes as no surprise, the island is a geographical wonder, just simply stunning. Eight jagged mountains peak through the misty clouds and rise from its translucent lagoon, creating a distinctive and rugged beauty of the island. Its no secret the French Polynesian islands, Bora Bora and Moorea are famous for its luxury resorts, over water bungalows, romantic settings, honeymooners haven, pristine waters,and a paradise unlike any other.   The islands of Tahiti are also renowned as one of the most expensive and luxurious destination in the world. I choose Moorea simply as it was cheaper and easier to get to versus it's sister island of Bora Bora. How to get to Paradise: If you are flying from Australia you have the choice of Air Tahiti Nui fly from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane thanks to interline agreements/code share with Qantas, Air New Zealand and Emirates via Auckland or fly with Air New Zealand via Auckland to Papeete. All flights from Auckland arrive late afternoon or evening into Papeete and you will need to overnight in Tahiti Papeete. I found this a little frustrating there were no flights or ferry transfers that operate at night to Moorea or Bora Bora. I am very impatient and I just wanted to get there and I had a limited timeframe for a holiday and all I wanted to do is get to your little piece of paradise and unwind. Where to stay in Papeete - Tahiti? I would recommend to stay at the Le Meridien Tahiti or the Intercontinental Tahiti resort and spa. Airport transfers and taxis are not cheap and taxis are more expensive at night and charge a surcharge for night services. I found a great local private transfer company which was much cheaper. Here is the email contact - Carls Cabs - reliable service and much cheaper than normal cabs. email: carls.cab@mail.pf Flights time from Papeete to Moorea is approx 10-15 mins - book with Tahiti air OR you can take the fast ferry which takes approximately 30 mins to reach the beautiful island of Moorea. Fast Ferry from Papeete to Moorea link : https://www.aremiti.net/en/booking Magical Moorea: There are many beautiful resorts to choose from for your stay on the magical island of Moorea. We stayed at the Sofitel Moorea La Ora Beach resort. I would also recommend the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa or the Intercontinental Moorea Resort and spa where you can meet the resort's three pet dolphins at the Moorea Dolphin Centre. I would highly recommend the Sofitel La Ora Beach resort, as it enjoys a secluded waterfront setting located on the best and longest stretch of white sandy beach of Moorea, convenient location on the eastern side of the island called Tema’e or Tao’atea public beach and close to the port and village near by with local restaurants. 114 lagoon bungalows float in the lagoon and tucked away on the sandy beach are 113 garden and beachfront bungalows. 10 Top Tips and Must Do's in Moorea Tahiti.

1. Explore the Island: If you're a little adventurous and don't mind some wind in your hair. I would recommend hiring a scooter for your stay if you want to get out and explore the island at your leisure and not pay a fortune. Taxis are quite costly. To give you an example we booked a taxi to take us to dinner to a restaurant down the road and it cost about $70 AUD one way for a 10-15 minute drive from the resort. Scooters are fun, and it's safe to drive around the island as there is little traffic.... You can hire scooter from scooter rental shops at the port. Or if you want the luxury of air-conditioning hire a car from Europcar. It is about 60km around the island. Happy scootering and exploring!!!

2. Hiking Treks that will take your breath away: Put your hiking boots on and get adventurous! To get a greater appreciation of how magnificent this island really is you need to go to Belvedere Lookout and take the time to trek through the rainforest to higher lookout out points where you can marvel the spectacular view of mountains and where the rainforest meets the aqua marine lagoon waters. There are the 2 hiking tracks which start from Belvedere Road. Take the track on your right for the Three Coconuts Pass Hiking track, it takes you through gorgeous terrain which lies between Mount Tohi’e’a and Mount Mou’a’roa. The view and or the steep steps to get this shot at the top of the lookout will take your breath away. 3. Dining with a Difference: One of the best dining experiences I had in Moorea was at the crepe restaurant and bar at the Hilton Resort and Spa. You have to dine here..This is a must do..the restaurant is located over the water amongst the lagoon suites in the Hilton resort. “Toatea Crepes restaurant and bar" was a real highlight of my trip. The savoury and sweet crepes were delicious and while you eat you can watch the reef sharks and rays cruise around in the water beneath you. I was so excited and was fascinated by how many larger reef sharks were cruising around waiting to be fed by the restaurant staff at 7pm every night. This is a dining experience with a difference you will remember for a lifetime.   4. Best Beaches: Grab a good book, your big sunglasses and floppy hat and make sure you hit the shores of Les Tipaniers beach .. It's hidden gem behind a quaint little beach hotel " Hotel Les Tipaniers" . Walk down the path along the hotel to access beach and you will come to this beautiful beach and a waterfront restaurant. Feeling active ..You can hire canoes to explore the nearby Islands were they feed the stingrays or explore around the two islands of Fareone and Tiahura Islet and the snorkelling is fantastic. If you are a kite surfer this is the best place launch your kite, if the winds are right and get out for a run out on the crystal clear waters of Les Tipaniers beach. 5. Get your Adrenalin Pumping : For the thrill & adventure seekers…there is a lot to tick off your list. Fantastic Diving. The best water clarity and best shark dives, thats if you want to be surrounded by 15-20 reef sharks at any one time. There is scuba dive centre at Les Tipaniers beach or at the Sofitel resort the scuba team there were amazing. From the Sofitel lagoon its a quick 15 minute comfortable boat ride out to the reef from the resort. The dives were crystal clear conditions but not as colourful and abundance in coral and marine life but plenty of sharks. You can also tandem sky dive from Moorea for approx $550-$600 per person and what a magnificent view. Check out the site for booking mailto:contact@tahiti-parachutisme.com. For surfers the southwest end of the island is one of the best areas for surfing. There are about 5 well known surf spots around the island. Haapiti had the best break. It will take about a solid 20 minute paddle out from the pier out the front of Haapiti surf lodge.     6. Stingray Encounter: Feeding and swimming with the stingrays was the ultimate highlight of the trip. We hired a private boat with a guide from the Sofitel hotel. Only a 20 minutes jet boat ride to a small island called Ahi islet and home to a small private resort and restaurant where we anchored and swam and fed the stingrays but we didn’t expect to be circled and surrounded by a frenzy of reef sharks. The Stingrays were huge and such beautiful and peaceful creatures and so playful. They were like excited puppies who wanted to play and they felt so soft and smooth. It was such a unique experience. This is a "must do" when visiting Moorea. It was so amazing I had to add two videos to of this unforgettable experience! One of the Shark Frenzy and the second of our stingray encounter and you can see how peaceful and playful the stingrays are in this beautiful part of the world. Watch and enjoy!   7. Snorkel Safari: Take a day to snorkel the day away... Explore the sheltered lagoon and sheltered reefs out from the Sofitel beach. Good tip - take your own snorkel equipment or at least your own googles and take your own blow up lilo. It is the best way to relax and float around the aqua waters and great photo ops. 8. Local Shopping: Visit a local pearl shop and purchase a wide array of beautiful pieces of jewellery, black petal earrings and necklaces and single pearl set rings as a nice souvenir. There are a few tourist markets at the port where the cruise ships dock in Cooks Bay. 9. Capture the Culture: Watch a traditional Polynesian dance show - offered free most nights at all luxury resorts. Or you can visit the Tiki Village Theatre 10. Dining in Moorea: Best restaurants close to the Sofitel resort - Le Mahogany - French and Chinese cuisine it was so good we dined there twice. Moorea beach cafe had lovely food and right on the waters edge. Both restaurants offer a free shuttle service at set times for hotel guests. Moorea is simply magical and a must see….I could go on and on about this stunning destination but you need to experience it for yourself. Tick it off your bucket list! visit www.tahiti-tourisme.pf for more information on Moorea Tahiti.  

Feel free to share