Destination Guide

CHERRY’S GUIDE TO
Tahiti
Things to see, do, eat and enjoy. And a few handy hints.
Tahiti is the pearl of the South Pacific.
This jewel of a destination offers more than just
it’s beauty. It is the economic, cultural and political
centre of French Polynesia and is the largest island.
The most popular islands to visit are Tahiti, Bora
Bora and Moorea which are part of the Society
Islands, but the country also incorporates the
Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Marquesas
Islands and Austral Islands.
This idyllic island paradise incorporates 118 islands
spread across 5 archipelagos. Choose from high
mountainous islands or coral reef atolls.
There is more to this destination than just
stunning blue waters, gleaming white sand
and vibrant green nature. French Polynesia is a
cultural melting pot with a mix of strong traditions
and culture, delectable cuisine and friendly locals.
This destination is perfect for honeymooners, and
resorts cater exceptionally well to this market,
but it is also an excellent choice for more mature
couples wanting some relaxation time, stressed
executives needing to chill out and it’s even
suitable for families with several resorts offering
kids clubs and family friendly facilities.
Best Time To Go
Tahiti enjoys fairly consistent weather all year
around. The average temperature is consistently
around 26°C. In terms of pricing, high season
is from 1 May to 31 October, although some
resorts change their prices starting 1 April. The
low season covers 1 November to 30 April. Low
season is generally the wet season, so you will
experience rain during this time, although Tahiti
gets less rain and more sun that Hawaii during
the low season. It is rare for Tahiti to experience
a cyclone, although they do get the occasional
storm during the wet season. The last powerful
cyclone to hit Tahiti was over 30 years ago.
Tahiti Best Bits
Cuisine: If you’re a lover of French food, Tahiti
is the perfect destination! There are a great range
of options from fancy restaurants to casual cafes
to roadside food vans to choose from. You’ll find
plenty of variety from Chinese to French, American
to Japanese, and Polynesian to Italian.
Pearls: Tahitian pearls are world renowned,
especially the Black Tahitian Pearl. You’ll find them
much cheaper buying them in Tahiti than at home.
One of the best places to make a pearl purchase
is Champon Pearl Farm, which sells bespoke pearl
jewellery. Visit www.tahiti-pearl-online.com
Cook’s Bay: This pretty stretch of water on
Moorea is worth a look. With it’s backdrop of Rotui,
this Bay is peppered with restaurants, shops and
hotels. A nice way to spend an afternoon.
Scuba Diving: For those wanting to learn to
dive, there are plenty of PADI schools. For the
more experienced diver there are many dive sites,
with varying degrees of difficulty and experiences.
All year you’ll see deep sea sharks, lagoon sharks,
dolphins, tortoises, rays, barracudas, eels and
plenty of varieties of tropical fish. If you’re visiting
July to November, you’ll spy some humpback
whales as well.
Hiking: It is essential that you hire a guide if
you’re planning on hiking in Tahiti. This ensures
you meet all the security regulations, as well as
provide you an itinerary, equipment and useful
local knowledge. There are hundreds of registered
hiking routes on Tahiti Island and Moorea alone, so
you will be spoilt for choice.
Sailing: This is a fabulous way to see this
archipelago, and there are many mooring places
and nautical facilities. You can rent a sailboat
easily, with or without a crew. There are also many
cruises that visit the area.
Surfing: Although Tahiti is known for its big
wave surfing, there are surf breaks suitable for all
levels of experience. May to August is when you
get the best waves. For smaller waves, you get
the summer swells from October to March. The
islands of Tahiti and Moorea only have reef breaks,
so you’ll need access to a boat to reach these
excellent waves. Most resorts offer this service.
The Teahupoo region has the most amount of surf
breaks, with 7 spots within a short distance, and
there are swells all year around.
Tahiti Tips & Tricks
Getting There
Visitors flying in from Australia’s east coast can
fly direct into Papeete from Auckland flying
Air Tahiti Nui. You will generally have to stay
overnight in Papeete and then catch your
onward island flight or ferry the next day. The
return journey you will also require a night in
Papeete due to the flight schedules.
Getting Around
You can travel between islands by scheduled
flights, charter flights, seaplane, helicopter or by
using the catamarans and ferry boats that cross
between Tahiti and Moorea several times a day.
To get around on the island of Tahiti, there are
buses and taxis, and car rentals are available.
Depending on what island you are staying on,
there is usually a choice of bikes, horses and taxi
boats to get you around. Riding a bike around
Bora Bora is a great option.
Money
The local currency is the French Pacific Franc,
abbreviated to CFP or XPF. Although US dollars
are widely accepted in most tourist places, we
suggest you to exchange your home currency into
French Pacific Francs upon arrival either at Tahiti
international airport or at any bank of Papeete.
Bank notes come in denominations of 500, 1000,
5000 and 10,000, and coins in denominations of
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.
Tipping & Etiquette
Tipping is not expected, however it is appreciated if
the service is outstanding. Bargaining or haggling is
not customary in Tahiti, even at the markets.
Visas
Australian passport holders don’t require a
visa for stays less than 3 months for leisure
purposes. Please always check your specific visa
requirements with the appropriate embassies or
consulates before making travel arrangements.
Language
The official language is French, although English
is spoken widely in all tourist areas. Traditional
Tahitian is still spoken in some areas. Our tip is to
learn a little French before you go – a little effort
will impress the locals.
Water
Tap water on Bora Bora or Papeete is safe to
drink, but you’ll need to check with your hotel on
other islands.
Sightseeing
We strongly recommend booking your sightseeing
excursions before you leave home. There are
some amazing experiences to be had, such as
the Ultimate Shark and Ray Watching Tour, which
always book out well ahead of time. And don’t be
afraid to do something indulgent like a day on a
yacht – this is a once in a lifetime destination, so
make sure you experience all it has to offer.
Overwater Villas
When you picture Tahiti, you’re probably
picturing those beautiful overwater bungalows.
They certainly are a unique experience, but
there’s a couple of things to keep in mind. If you
love the thought of hearing the water lapping
against the foundations all night, then this is the
accommodation type for you. If you think this will
keep you awake all night, save the money and go
for beachfront accommodation.
Cherry Hint: Take your own MP3 device and
Bluetooth speakers – there’s nothing like watching
the sun go down from your bungalow with your
favourite tunes in the background!
Board & All-Inclusive Packages
Tahiti isn’t known for all inclusive meal and
drinks packages like you will find in the Maldives.
Generally accommodation comes with breakfast,
and you can pay additional to have dinner
included. If you’re staying on a resort island, this
is usually the most cost effective way to go. If
you’re staying on Moorea, for example, where you
can leave the resort for meals, you may like to
just stick with breakfast. Generally in Tahiti there
aren’t many resorts offering all inclusive packages
that include all meals and alcoholic beverages.
Weddings & Honeymoons
It is legal to marry in Tahiti, with certain
conditions being met. Same sex marriages are not
allowed in Tahiti. Many resorts provide beautiful
traditional Polynesian ceremonies. To get all the
information you need to be married in Tahiti,
visit www.tahiti-tourisme.com/weddings/how-totahiti-wedding.asp
Plan a Multi-Destination Holiday
From Tahiti you can fly direct with Air Tahiti Nui to
the Cook Islands or Samoa. So why not enjoy two
destinations?
Favourite Places to eat
Bloody Mary’s (Seafood): PK 4 Paofai Bay,
Amanahune, Bora Bora. Call 677286. bloodymarys.
com. Daily 9.30am-9pm. World famous seafood
restaurant. You’ll often spot a celebrity or two.
Set on the sand, this rustic place is a bit kitch, but
worth a visit.
Le Grillardin (French Gastropub): Rue Paul
Gauguin, Papeete 98713. Call 40430990.
restaurantlegrillardin.com. Tue-Sun. Delicious
French fare with desserts that can’t be missed.
Le Souffle (French): 54 Rue Paul Gauguin, Papeete
98713. Call 40570017. Mon-Sat lunch & dinner.
The name gives away the speciality, and they are
amazing. Friendly service and excellent wine list.
The Lotus Restaurant (French): InterContinental
Tahiti Resort & Spa, Faa’a 98702. Call 40865125.
Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner. Good quality dining
on the waterfront. Watch the fish swimming by.
Le Lotus de Pizz (Pizza): 3 Pontoons, Orohiti
Marina, Punaauia 98717. Call 87303303.
latourdepizz.org. Roadside pizza food truck that
offers home delivery.
Le Market Coffee (French Bistro): Rue Edouard
Ahnne. Call 40456070. Popular with locals, this is a
good value bistro and child friendly.
Blue Banana (French Polynesian): PK 11. 1 Cote Mer,
Punaauia. Call 40412224. bluebanana.in-tahiti.com.
Lovely little open air restaurant set on a lagoon.
English is not widely spoken by the staff and
service can be patchy, but the food is good and
reasonably priced.
Resorts For Families
These are just a few of our preferred resorts for
families. Ask a Cherry consultant for options that
specifically suit your requirements.
Four Seasons Bora Bora
www.fourseasons.com/borabora
Le Meridien Bora Bora
www.lemeridien-borabora.com
St Regis Bora Bora
www.stregisborabora.com
InterContinental Resort & Spa Moorea
www.intercontinental.com/Moorea
Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa
www.spmhotels.com/resort/moorea
Resorts for Honeymoons &
Special Occasions
These are just a few of our preferred resorts
for honeymooners and couples. Ask a Cherry
consultant for options that specifically suit your
requirements.
Le Meridien Bora Bora
www.lemeridien-borabora.com/
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa
www.hilton.com/Moorea
Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort
www3.hilton.com/en/index.h
Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island
www.sofitel.com/Bora_Bora
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort
www.sofitel.com/Bora_Bora
Sofitel Moorea La Ora Beach Resort
www.sofitel.com/Tahiti
Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa
www.spmhotels.com/resort/bora-bora
Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa
www.spmhotels.com/resort/moorea
Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora
www.bora.hotelmaitai.com/
Resorts for Surfing
InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso
Spa: www.intercontinental.com/BoraBora
These are just a few of our preferred resorts for
surfing. Ask a Cherry consultant for options that
specifically suit your requirements.
InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa
www.intercontinental.com/Moorea
InterContinental Resort & Spa Moorea
www.intercontinental.com/Moorea
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
www.fourseasons.com/borabora/
Hilton Moorea
www.hilton.com/Moorea
St Regis Bora Bora
www.fourseasons.com/borabora/
Manava Suite Resort
www.manava-suite-resort-tahiti.com/
1300 15 91 15
E. [email protected]
T. +61 7 3848 6966 F. +61 7 3102 9375
PO Box 2471, Chermside Centre
Queensland 4032, Australia
A special thanks to our Tahiti wholesale
partner, Omniche Holidays, for their
contribution to the content of this guide.
Travel agent licence QLD3531599
A member of Helloworld & AFTA
Guide updated 1 September 2015