Moorea

Ideal stay

3-4 nights

The vibe

Dramatic, lush, gently paced

From our guides

1. 01

   Belvedere lookout

   A viewpoint above Opunohu Bay taking in both of Moorea's twin bays and the jagged peaks behind them, best visited early before the crowds.

2. 02

   Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay

   Two dramatic fjord-like bays ringed by volcanic peaks, easily explored by car along the coastal road in a single morning.

3. 03

   Lagoon snorkelling with rays

   Shallow sandbanks in Moorea's lagoon are a reliable spot to swim alongside stingrays and blacktip reef sharks in warm, clear water.

4. 04

   Pineapple plantations

   The island's interior grows much of French Polynesia's pineapple, with roadside stalls selling juice, jam and fresh fruit.

5. 05

   Three Coconut Trail

   A hiking route linking Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay through the mountainous interior, more strenuous than the coastal roads suggest.

6. 06

   Ferry crossing from Tahiti

   A thirty-minute ferry links Moorea to Tahiti, with views of the island's silhouette growing more dramatic as you approach.

1. Fly to

   Papeete (PPT)

   Nearest airport to Moorea, about 25km away as the crow flies.

2. Then

   To Moorea

   Moorea has its own small airport (MOZ), a few minutes from the north coast, but most people arrive on the ferry from Papeete on Tahiti, about 30 minutes.

3. On the ground

   Getting around

   One coast road rings the island, so a hire car, scooter or bicycle for a day covers Opunohu Bay and the Belvedere lookout; the climb to the lookout is steep and best driven.

Public transport: Very limited: an infrequent island bus meets some ferries, so hire cars, taxis and hotel transfers do the work.

Family pensions, self-catering bungalows and a handful of resorts with overwater rooms. Supermarket shopping and hire cars are the norm rather than all-inclusive.

• Best base overall

  Hauru Point and Tiahura, north-west

  The lagoon-front strip with beaches, snack trucks, boat trips and most of the places to stay. It is the busiest side, though busy on Moorea is still very calm.

  Find stays in Hauru Point and Tiahura, north-west →
• Best value

  Cook's Bay, Paopao and Maharepa

  Around the eastern bay, with pensions, shops and the ferry quay nearby. There is no real beach here, so you swim from pontoons or drive round to the sand.

  Find stays in Cook's Bay, Paopao and Maharepa →
• Best with children

  Temae

  Near the airport with the island's best natural white beach and shallow lagoon water. Very few restaurants within walking distance, so a car or half-board matters.

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• Quietest

  Haapiti and the south-west

  Small pensions and rental houses on the least developed coast, with surfing off the pass. You are a long way from shops, and evenings are entirely self-organised.

  Find stays in Haapiti and the south-west →

Worth knowing before you book: Pensions are small and fill for July, August and the Heiva festival, and most want payment in cash or by transfer rather than card.

Getting there

A short ferry or domestic flight connects Moorea to Tahiti's international airport, making it an easy add-on to a wider French Polynesia trip.

Timing

May to October is the dry season with the clearest water; November to April is warmer and wetter with a higher chance of showers.

Getting around

A hire car is the best way to see the island properly; the coastal road loops the whole island and connects all the main sights.

Budget travellers

Guesthouses and smaller pensions offer a genuinely cheaper alternative to overwater bungalows without losing access to the same lagoon.

Snorkelling

Bring your own gear if you have a preferred fit, though boat trips to the ray and shark sandbanks usually supply it.