Island Dreaming of French Polynesia

Paradise exists … and its found in the Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between the east coast of Australia and California.

French Polynesia is well suited to families. The climate is great, finding food that kids will actually eat is no problem and the sparkling lagoons are a play-ground for all ages.

The hardest part is choosing which island to relax on ... Here are five of the best!

Tahiti is the island your international flight will land in and home to iconic surf breaks, black sand beaches, and waterfalls. It’s probably not the island whose photographs inspired you to visit French Polynesia, and as a result, many people head straight to the outer islands missing out on all the wonderful things about Tahiti.

Pepenoo Valley

Credit - Tahiti Tourisme & Gregoire Le Bacon

TAHITI HIGHLIGHTS

Teahupoo

Teahupoo is home to the Tahiti Billabong Pro, an iconic surf competition held every may that attracts the best of the best from surfers all over the world. Non-surfers can appreciate the beauty of this unique beach and besides, it’s fun watching the surfers in action.

Pape’ete

The capital city is not huge as far as cities go but Pape’ete is a great place to get supplies and stroll the waterfront. Our favourite place? The markets!

Waterfalls

Jump on a tour or hire a car and find them yourself! Faarumai Waterfalls are a popular choice for tourists as they’re easy to find and beautifully dramatic.

Arahoho Blowhole

When the swell is big enough, huge sprays of water shoot out from the blowhole with a big ‘’wooosh’’ sound.

Watching the surfers head out at Teahupoo

Credit - Jessica Palmer

Why We Love Tahiti

Tahiti is divided into two “circles” connected by an isthmus. The larger being Tahiti Nui (Big Tahiti) and the smaller being Tahiti Iti (Little Tahiti).

We love Tahiti for its Polynesian vibe, black sand beaches with mountainous backdrops and the amazing laid back village feel once you leave the capital of Pape’ete.

Mo’orea is picture perfect and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t rub their eyes in disbelief when first laying eyes on its mountainous peaks and sparkling lagoon.

Overwater bungalows in Mo'orea

Credit - Tahiti Tourisme & Lei Tao

MO’OREA HIGHLIGHTS

The Lagoon

Mo’orea’s lagoon is stunning and a lagoon tour is a great way to experience it. Excursions usually involve a stop at two bays, shark feeding and a picnic and snorkel on a beautiful motu.

Hauru Point

Hauru Point has one of the best beaches on the island with an offshore Motu that you can reach by swimming or kayak.

Opunohu Valley

Opunohu Valley has some of the most important Marae (sacred historical sites) in French Polynesia. The oldest surviving structures date back to the 13th century!

4WD Tour

A 4wd tour of the island is fun! Families can expect to visit Afareaitu Waterfalls, vanilla and pineapple plantations, archaeological sites and the fruit-juice factory.

Lagoonarium Village

A short boat ride carries you to a tiny Motu with a stunning reef. There are a wide variety of fish with two daily feeding sessions that attract even more. Families can relax on the Motu when they need a break from swimming and snorkelling.

Snorkelling in Mo'orea

Crdit - Tahiti Tourisme & David Kirkland

Why We Love Mo’orea

We love Mo’orea because it’s incredibly beautiful and unlike the other islands, families can travel there in 45 minutes by a large ferry from Tahiti, a significant cost saving when compared to air-travel between islands.

Raíatea is home to the second largest town in French Polynesia (after Pape’ete in Tahiti) and shares its lagoon with a smaller island, Taha’a. Neither island gets many tourists, making Ra’iatea ideal for families wishing to truly get away and explore French Polynesia.

Watching the little fish swim around his feet on Motu Ofetaru

Credit - Jessica Palmer

RA’IATEA HIGHLIGHTS

The Motus

Visiting Moto Ofetaru is an amazing day trip involving turquoise water, white sand & coconut trees. The water is shallow enough for younger kids to enjoy and there is great snorkelling. You will need to pack your own lunch and hang it in a tree away from the motu’s many cats and chickens.

The Circle Island Road

Hiring a car to drive the 98km sealed circle island road is a wonderful day out. With mountains on one side and lagoon on the other, you’ll start seriously considering how to pack up your life and start a new one here.

Island Tours

Jumping in on an island tour is a great way to pack it all in one day. The tours often focus on the island of Taha’a but generally include snorkelling in a coral garden, a visit to a pearl and vanilla farm and lunch on a beautiful Motu.

The Lagoon

Snorkelling and diving in Ra’iatea is amazing and the island has become the yacht-charter centre of French Polynesia. Bare-boat charters are available as well as fully skippered luxury offerings.

Boats in the harbour

Credit - Tahiti Tourisme & Audrey Svoboda

Why We Love Ra’iatea

We love Ra’iatea for its lush green interior, affordable guesthouses and beautiful Motus (tiny islands). Ra’iatea doesn’t really have beaches but the Motu’s within the lagoon make up for it!

Huahine is noticeably less resort dominated than Bora-Bora and actually consists of two islands, Huahine Nui (Big Huahine) and Huahine iti (Little Huahine). Huahine Nui is more developed and Huahine Iti has the best beaches and lagoons.

Huahine Lagoon

Credit - Tahiti Tourisme & Gregorie Le Bacon

HUAHINE HIGHLIGHTS

Fish Traps

The V-shaped fish traps have been here for centuries and are just fascinating. The tips of the V shapes point towards the ocean and as the fish are pulled towards the sea by the tide, they become trapped at the point of the V where they are then harpooned or netted.

Archaelogical Museum

Huahine has a small archaeological museum set in an open traditional house. Housed inside are interesting traditional tools and many other bits and pieces of history. Around the site are Marae, some dating back to the 16th century.

Blue Eyed Eels

The Blue Eyed Eels live near the village of Faie and are considered sacred. When the sunlight hits them, you will notice their amazing porcelain blue eyes that almost appear to glow.

Lagoon Tour

Head out with an organised lagoon tour or hire your own outboard. There are beautiful coral gardens, untouched Motus and some of the best and most consistent surf breaks in French Polynesia. Although we didn’t scuba-dive here, I’m told it’s magnificent!

Relaxing

Huahine is really just about bouts of relaxing in between enjoying the lagoon. It has a village feel and is just perfect for families who love the ocean, outdoors and quiet but don’t need to be in a city to have a good time.

Sunset at the Royal Huahine Resort

Credit - Jessica Palmer

Why We Love Huahine

We love Huahine because it's delightfully sleepy and has epic sunsets. It's a beautiful drive to hire a car and circle both of the islands via the sealed road.

Bora Bora is it! It’s the island featured on social media and in your travel agents brochures. Whether you’re staying in an ultra-luxurious over-water bungalow or a value-for-money pension (guest house), you’ll realise very quickly what all the hype is about when the island comes into view from the airplane.

Intercontinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort

Tahiti Tourisme & Stephane Mailion Photography

BORA BORA HIGHLIGHTS

The Lagoon

What can I say ... it’s stunning at every angle and whether you want to snorkel, sail, dive or just swim in the shallows, you will fall in love with Bora-Bora’s lagoon.

Island Night

Experiencing an island night at one of the large brand-name resorts is a must on Bora Bora. Expect a great meal and lots of hip shaking, coconutbra wearing, drumming and ukulele fun. It’s very professional and utterly entertaining for all ages.

Snorkelling

Bora Bora’s water is great for families! The water is clear with spatterings of coral and fish at every turn.

The Island

A 4WD tour of the mountainous island is a great way to take in all the American WWII historical sites and local archaeological stops. Alternatively, it’s just as fun to hire a pushbike and casually pedal your way along the coastal road.

Snorkelling with turtles in Bora Bora

Credit - Tahiti Tourisme & Gregoire Le Bacon

Why We Love Bora Bora

We love Bora Bora because it lives up to the hype. Bora Bora is spectacular, small, mountainous and engulfed in a stunning turquoise lagoon that has to be seen to be believed.