I lived for a year in Moorea! According to me, one of the most beautiful places on earth. The diversity of the landscapes and of the activities is impressive, everything is gorgeous (paradise on earth) and the people are so nice. If you have specific questions please do not hesitate (marieceline.piednoir@gmail.com). I only wrote the main info below because I could have spent days writing about Moorea. I’ll add some images when I’ll have a chance but in the meantime you can scroll down (a lot, sorry) on my IG @mc_followsthesun.
ACTIVITIES:
Adopt a coral with Coral Gardeners
Go diving: with Moorea blue diving
Do the tour of the island on a scooter
Rent kayaks and go to the motu.
Have lunch at “coco beach”
Go to the “sharks and rays spot” with the kayak. PLEASE do not do feeding, it disturbs the animals’ behavior. The kayak place will hopefully explain it all
Get lost in the “champs d’ananas” (middle of the island). Insane viewpoint here
Take a pic of the famous inclined coconut tree
Belvedere viewpoint: insane. Many hikes leave from there
SO many insane hikes… (see below)
Snorkeling and experiencing paradise at Temae beach
Dolphins / rays / sharks tour. You can book with Corallina, they are super nice If it’s the season: humpback whales tour!
BEACHES:
Public Beach - Temae / Sofitel: most beautiful snorkeling. Go to the very very far left of the beach, swim until the reef and then you just drift and see corals, turtles, rays…
Public Beach Ta'ahiamanu: just insane
Tipaniers: wow
HIKES:
Drapeau de Temae:
Start: In Temae, park at the OPT office in front of the entrance to the road leading to the beach. Just on your left after the way done the hill from Vaiare.
When you face the office, hidden on the right, there is the start to the path. You need to climb 1-2m to see the start of the path.
Climb: 1h
Difficulty: medium
Pros: beautiful view on Temae, on the lagoon, and on Tahiti!
Tips: This can be an option for a sunset hike.
Rotui:
Start: When you come from Vaiare, the start is approximately 150m after the Hilton, on the left, just in front “Village Faimano”. You take the small road and 100m later you can see a red flag or red arrows marking the start. It is a private property but the owner is nice and let people pass by.
Climb: 3h
Difficulty: high
Pros: Insane views. The challenge and the sensations on the edges!
Tips:
long pants.
Cover your head from the sun
Lots of water.
People with vertigo should NOT go.
You can climb the first third, until the big tree. One hour climb and no vertigo. Gorgeous view already.
You cannot park at the Hilton or on private property you need to park on the road.
Col des trois cocotiers:
Start:
from the Belvedere or from the Lycée agricole.
It depends if back and forth or loop
Climb: 2h
Length: 6.6km (link: https://www.alltrails.com/fr/trail/french-polynesia/moorea/three-coconut-trees-pass)
Elevation gain: 274m
Difficulty: Middle
Pros: changing scenery. A small waterfall. Gorgeous view at the top.
Tips:
The hidden POV
Back and fort or loop: https://www.alltrails.com/fr/trail/french-polynesia/moorea/marae-titiaroa-belvedere-3-cocotiers-loop?ref=result-card
Way marked all along but 15 min après une bambouseraie, ne pas manquer une bifurcation à gauche
Montagne magique:
Start: When you come from Vaiare, just before arriving to Papetoai, after a big communal hall, in front of “Tipanier Iti”. There is a Fruit/snack roulotte and the woman is the owner of the path. You have to pay 200CFP to enter.
Climb:
Difficulty: easy
Pros: super easy way, concrete road. Nice panoramic view at the top.
200CFP
Mouaputa:
Start: 200m after the Afareaitu hospital (park in front of it), turn right into a road and keep on. At some point the road lead to a waterfall on the right/front and to the left a road goes up, this is the start of the trail.
Climb: 2-3h
Length: ??
Elevation gain: 511m
Difficulty: high (lots of ropes)
Pros: a real sports session with the ropes. Insane view from the top, panorama on the island, the Rotui, the lagoon, the bays etc
Tips:
Lot of water
Gloves for the ropes
There is a waterfall just at the start of the path (you take right and not left), perfect for a swim after
NEVER do the hike when rainy or the ground is muddy.
there is parking in front of the hospital
RESTAURANTS:
Coco Beach: the best one… just insane. You need to call to book and they pick you up here in boat
La Macaroulotte: deserts
Nini’s burgers: the goat cheese veggie burger is delicious
Carameline for more reasonable prices and good deserts! Homemade icecreams
A l’heure du sud: super nice “roulotte” with veggie options
Moorea Beach Cafe: Really nice for sunset but expensive. Good cocktails.
Kaveka: gorgeous view. Perfect for sunset too. Nice staff
Manava: for the happy hours! Call to know the updated hours
Sofitel: for the happy hours and the dance show. Call to know the updates
Allo Pizza: best chevre-miel EVER
Tropical Garden: what a view! And delicious food. Not the easiest to access.
Taoahere Beach House Snack: beautiful view and on the lagoon directly
Tipaniers: what a view… insane
Sunset restaurant: great view
Sea You soon: really good pizza
Vaiare Pizza: good pizza and some days live music. Call to know the updates
WHERE TO SLEEP:
Many options and it will depend a lot on your budget! Have a look at Airbnb too and do not hesitate to call the “pension” directly because some of them are not really referenced in the tourist search engines.
ACCESS:
There is a FERRY from Tahiti to Moorea (pleeeeease do not take the plane from Tahiti to Moorea, it is ridiculous).
There are 2 main companies:
Terevau
Arimiti
Both are equivalent.
RENT A CAR: you have many agencies at the ferry arrival but I would recommend booking online in advance. A scooter is also a great option for Moorea.