Whether you're craving fine French cuisine, luxury accommodation, tropical adventure or blissful relaxation, the hawaiian islands of Tahiti really are a true haven of delight for any traveller.
Tahiti: Choose your paradise
Where can you prefer to be – enduring our chilly mornings, rainy days and grey skies or lazing under the sun, pristine and turquoise waters of the Pacific paradise with irresistible French food and elegance?
When both you and your loved one have to choose from hiding under the duvet or lying on a beach, the “tres exotique” option wins every time – particularly when Air Nz can get you on the beach with only a five-hour flight from Auckland.
Two cultures collide round the Islands of Tahiti (also referred to as French Polynesia). Turquoise waters and Pasifika heritage blend effortlessly with French culture and cuisine to help make the 118 islands a haven for water lovers, foodies, explorers or anyone who just desires to chill.
Tahiti often means the ultimate word in luxury or even an affordable-yet-stylish Pacific escape within the most spectacular and various environments on the planet.
Your holiday could be tropical adventure or blissful relaxation. Remain in overwater bungalows, snorkel using the local wildlife, swim with sharks, shop for cultured pearls, possess a cruise, enjoy an island picnic.
Pick your paradise. On idyllic Moorea, eco-friendly Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa nestles between two bays beneath mountains which melt in to a crystal lagoon. Stylish bungalows and overwater units are decorated in contemporary Polynesian style. Moorea Lagoon Spa offers a selection of treatments as well as the resort boasts really the only overwater eatery in French Polynesia.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui is situated on the private island – Motu To’opua, where guests laze round the longest private stretch of soft white-sand beach or relax in spectacular overwater villas, six bars and restaurants, or hilltop Hine Spa. Ultimate indulgence: a personal champagne picnic around the beach made by resort chefs.
A true gem
One in the Pacific's best-kept secrets, Tikehau is really a crown of coral islets that form a 26km lagoon. The name means “peaceful landing”, perfectly translated in to the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort nestled in the wild coconut grove on the pink sand beach. Choose from 24 suites and overwater bungalows, and 13 beach bungalows; chill in the bar and restaurant in the “fare pote” (communal house) through the infinity pool.
No prizes for guessing that you’re never definately not an amazing underwater experience in one of the world’s top snorkelling and diving destinations. Tahiti's warm waters (average water temperature 27C, 30m visibility), teem with more than 1000 species of marine life from flirty clown fish to more than 20 kinds of sharks and also the humpback whales, which arrive between July and November.
You'll just walk into the nice and cozy, still waters from the lagoon off a sandy beach to snorkel among coral beds. Moorea's Coral Gardens, Bora Bora, Taha'a and Raiatea islands are famed for their beautiful reefs and volcanic mountains while Rangiroa is the world's second largest coral atoll, so large that the smaller lagoon has formed inside it. Nowhere Lagoon helps make the perfect day-trip.
For divers, Moorea and Bora Bora offer perfect sites (and lessons) for novices, in addition to spectacular deep ravines for anyone seeking challenging. Advanced surfers heard for big-wave reef breaks such as the world-famous Teahupo’o; gremlins and grommets will discover lots of easy beach breaks.
Sound too energetic? Catch a ride inside a traditional outrigger canoe, relax on the sunset cruise, paddle a kayak or hire a jet-ski.
Relax and recharge
With its special blend of French and Pasifika culture, two worlds collide in the delicious way. In Papeete you’ll see Tahitians cycling past with baguettes, buttery croissants, deli meats along with a number of cheeses within their baskets. French-style eating belongs to the islands’ culture, nevertheless it has become entwined with Polynesia's breadfruit, coconut, bananas, taro, umara (yams), papaya, pineapple, fish and pork.
You'll find exceptional French Polynesian cuisine at Sofitel Moorea’s K Restaurant, planning to win Tahiti’s first Michelin star, L’Auberg'in, Le Cocos and L’O a la Bouche.
Traditional dishes are delicious and easily available. Look for poisson cru, raw fish marinated in lime juice and served with finely chopped tomatoes, onions, cucumber and coconut cream. The best junk food is casse-cro^ute, a meat and salad sandwich in the crusty baguette; at village feasts, don't go past suckling pig roasted over a wide open fire or in an ahi maa earth oven.
Every evening, the waterfront of Papeete becomes a festival of flavours as food trucks (les roulottes) serve street food towards the sounds of live music. The Municipal Market is a pleasurable spot to search for fresh food, flowers and souvenirs.
Head towards the Robert Wan Pearl Museum, over the road from Paofai Gardens waterfront park, to admire, find out about and perhaps purchase the renowned cultured pearls.
YOU Travel is able to help to make your own bespoke Tahitian experience. We're totally focussed on creating holiday experiences that fit you, instead of attempting to fit you to definitely an off-the-shelf holiday. That means we take the time to listen carefully regarding the you are looking for in the holiday.
For a lot of the many exciting adventures in Tahiti, go to youtravel.co.nz
