Tahiti

Introduction

Tahiti 2007

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Tahiti is the largest and most populated (just under 200,000 inhabitants) island of the Windwards Islands of French Polynesia. It is located in the Society Islands archipelago in the northwestern region of the country. The capital is Papeete.

Geography

Tahiti measures over 1,000 square kilometres and contains two round parts centred around volcanic mountains. The parts are connected by a narrow isthmus. Mount Orohena is the highest mountain at 2,241 metres above sea level. The northwestern part is Tahiti Nui (big Tahiti). Here you will find Papeete, the airport and many hotels and beaches. Tahiti Iti (small Tahiti) is much more quiet. You can drive around Tahiti Nui and there even is a rougher road across the interior. Tahiti Iti has some roads along the coastline as well, but you can not drive around.

Cities

• Papeete

Weather

Located almost entirely within the tropics, the climate of Tahiti is tropical. The average temperatures are around 28 to 32 degrees Celcius during the day and still well above 20 degrees at night. The hotter months are between November and April and this is also the wet season (which peaks in January) with much more rain compared to June to September. Also, occasional tropical storms hit the islnd during this time, though certainly not every year.

Getting There

By Plane

International
Faa'a International Airport (PPT), 5 kilometres southwest of Papeete, handles all international flights to and from French Polynesia. The national carrier, Air Tahiti Nui, flies to Auckland, New York, Los Angeles, Osaka, Paris, Sydney and Tokyo.

Other airlines flying into PPT include Air France (from Los Angles and Paris), Air New Zealand (Aukland), Hawaiianair (Honolulu), Air Tahiti (Rarotonga), Aircalin (Nouméa) and Lan Chile (Hanga Roa, Santiago de Chile).

Domestic
There are two airlines operating scheduled domestic air services.

• Air Moorea - Moorea-Temae.
• Air Tahiti - Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Mataiva, Tikehau, Rangiroa, Manihi, Ahe, Arutua, Kaukura, Takaroa, Takapoto, Kauehi, Katiu, Makemo, Anaa, Raroia, Hikueru, Hao, Tatakoto, Pukarua, Reao, Mangareva.

By Boat

Tahiti - Moorea vv
There are ferries and catamarans travelling between Tahiti and Moorea several times daily. It takes between half an hour and an hour to travel between Tahiti and Moorea, depending on which company you go with. The car ferries, such as those run by Mo'orea Ferry, are slower than the high-speed ferries, which take only passengers, motorcycles and bicycles. The Ono-Ono has at least four crossings daily. The Aremiti 5 and the Moorea Express travel between Tahiti and Moorea six or more times daily between 6:00am and 4:30pm and this takes only 30 minutes.

Outer Islands
There are also services, often combined with cargo, to more outlying islands, but on an less frequent basis, sometimes even only once a month. Boats usually leave from Papeete. Destinations include the Marquesas Islands, Austral Islands, Tuamota Archipelago, Bora Bora and even as far as the Gambier islands (Mangareva). An brief overview of the boats travelling to island further afield include:

• The small cargo ship Maupiti Tou Ai'a goes to Maupiti from Papeete once a week, leaving on Wednesday evening, arrives at Maupiti the following morning, and returns to Pape'ete on Friday.
• Vaeanu operates the Pape'ete-Huahine-Ra'iatea-Taha'a-Bora Bora return trip, leaving Pape'ete on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:00pm and from Bora Bora on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
• Hawaiki Nui also travels the Society Islands circuit, and has two departures a week (Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00pm).
• The Aremiti 3 travels from Papeete on Monday and Friday for Huahine and Ra'iatea.
• About 10 ships operate through the Tuamotus. Rroutes and fares vary, so it's best to check with the offices for the individual ships. They include the Dory, Cobia I, Rairoa Nui, Saint-Xavier Maris-Stella, Nuku Hau, Mareva Nui, Vai-Aito and the Kura Ora. All these ships, except for the Dory, go to the Gambier Archipelago. The Nuku Hau sails to the Gambier Archipelago via the Tuamotus. The Taporo V sails through the eastern Tuamotus and the Gambier Archipelago once or twice a month.
• The Aranui and the Taporo IV go to the Marquesas, stopping in the Tuamotus en route. together, they go about 2-3 times a month.
• Services to the Austral islands are limited. The Tuhaa Pae II (snathp@mail.pf) goes three times a month, stopping at Rurutu and Tubuai on every trip and other islands less regularly.

Check the ferry link about all possibilities.

Getting Around

By Car

You can rent cars on Tahiti and a 4wd is only recommended when visiting some inland tracks. Fares are high, but as you don't need a car for more than a few days, it is not that bad, especially if you are with 3 or 4 people to share costs.
Motorcycles, scooters and bikes are for rent as well.

By Bus

Tahiti offers buses and minibuses on fixed routes, and are relatively cheap.

Sleep