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Island Hopping in French Polynesia

Posted on July 08, 2008 by: Traveler

  • About to land on Rangiroa. Lagoon on left, ocean on right
  • Bungalow at Miki Miki Village, Rangiroa.
  • Boys silhoutted along retaining wall near Miki Miki Village.
  • Blue Lagooon, Rangiroa.
  • Swimmimg with sharks outside Blue Lagoon, Rangiroa.
  • Reef of Tetamanu Village, Fakarava.
  • Bungalow at Tetamanu Village, Fakarava.
  • Motu excursion from Tetamanu Village, Fakarava.
  • Relaxing after a strenuous motu walk
  • My Tropigal
  • Feeding the Napoleon Wrasse at Tetamanu Village, Fakarava.
  • Sofitel Maeva Beach Club hotel, island of Tahiti.
  • The beach at the Sofitel Maeva Beach Club.
  • Danielle standing in front of Araphoho Blowhole along coast road of Tahiti Nui.
  • Cascade of Afareifu Waterfalls, along coastal road of Tahiti Nui.
  • TopDive Resort infinity pool area, Bora Bora.
  • View from outside reef of Bora Bora looking toward Mt. Pahia.
  • Along coastal road of Bora Bora.
  • Over-water bungalow of TopDive Resort, Bora Bora.
  • Inter-Island puddle jumper. We took these between all islands except when we hopped on the Armiti Express (ferry ride) from Papeete, Tahiti to the wharf on Moorea
  • Hidden peaks of Raiatea.
  • Departing from the Hawaki Nui Hotel for a boat tour circumnavigating the island of Tahaa.
  • Pulling up to the Coral Garden (a
  • Polynesian Dalmation; motu of Tahaa.
  • Garden bungalow at Les Tipaniers Hotel, Moorea.
  • TopDive shuttle from Les Tipaniers to dive shop, Moorea.
  • Opunohu Bay, Moorea.
  • My souvenier from Roo Nui.
  • Danielle's souvenier from Roo Nui.
  • Bye-Bye French Polynesia, were out of here.

Closest City: Papeete
State:
Country: French Polynesia

When planning our honeymoon, I thought what better place than French Poly to take my Tropigal (Danielle). But, the more I read about planning our self guided "Adventure", the more I wanted to do. The end result was a 23 day, seven island tour of Rangiroa and Fakarava in the Tuamotu Archipelago and then back to the islands of Tahiti, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahaa, and Moorea in the Society Island Group.

We started with an puddle jumper to the island of Rangiroa where we stayed at Miki Miki Village. Our hosts, Michael and Pauline were excellent providing great food and locking on a tour for us to the Blue Lagoon. We rode bikes from Avatoru to Tiputa passes and ate at the Kia Ora Hotel. Our scubadiving started with TopDive, an operator who, in my opinion had the biggest presence at all the islands we visited.

Our next stop on the island of Fakarava took us to the southern portion of the island where Tetamanu Village sat nestled in the palms.  The only way to describe Tetamanu is Paradise. You do what you want, when you want... just make sure to listen up for the lunch and dinner bell (every guest sits down together). We went on motu excursions but mostly relaxed. Anabelle and Sane built the resort from scratch and they operate the dive center on the grounds.

On the island of Tahiti, we rented a car (only stickshift) and circled the coast road stopping at waterfalls and blowholes and then came back to relax at the Sofitel Maeva Beach Club.

Next stop, Bora Bora. We stayed at the gorgeous TopDive Resort (they have dive operations on Rangiroa, Fakarava, Moorea and obviously here). We splurged for an over water bungalow and were not disappointed. We rented bikes and circled the island (about a 20 mile route), relaxed at the infinity pool, and of course experienced the pelagic sealife (ie. Sharks).

Raiatea and Tahaa are encircled by the same reef (think hourglass when looking at it from the air), but their climate couldn't be any different. We didn't see the peaks of Raiatea for three days, but on a tour around the island of Tahaa, the sun burned bright. We stayed at the Hawaiki Nui Beach Club (named for the famous Polynesian boat race).

On Moorea, we stayed in a "Garden" bungalow at Les Tipaniers Resort. We dove through TopDive, of course, and took small bike rides to Cook and Opunohu Bays as well as to nearby shopping where we bought a two foot tiki statue. At Roo Nui's Tattoo, Danielle and I got our favorite souvenier...one that will be with us for life (as if I could ever forget the beauty we experienced).   

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French Polynesia, Tuamotus, Society Islands

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Member Comments:

  •  

    rickyrod24 Said...
    Awesome pics Traveler. Going on the "To Do" list. Nice job.

     

  •  

    Kelsoluski Said...
    I wanna do this!!!! (minus the scuba diving!)

     

  •  

    Kelsoluski Said...
    I hadn't seen pics of you guys getting your tats yet, super-cool!

     

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