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The Australs & the Gambier Archipelago

Includes  Why Go? The Australs...... 194 Isolated and straddling the Tropic of Capricorn, the mag- ...... 194 nificent and pristine are arguably French ...... 197 Polynesia’s most underrated destination. The climate here is temperate, but everything else befitting a tropical paradise ...... 198 is here: flower-filled jungles, sharp peaks, outrageously blue The Gambier water and genuinely friendly people. The islands here have Archipelago...... 201 had less of a history with Europeans and less influx from the Mangareva...... 201 outside world, so have kept their culture alive. If, after visiting the Australs, you still feel the urge for more off-the-beaten-track adventures, consider travelling to the Gambier, where visitors are an absolute rarity. All the Best Places makings of an island holiday paradise can be found in this to Stay jaw-droppingly beautiful archipelago, but it’s so far away (about 1700km southeast from Tahiti) and expensive to get ¨¨Manotel (p196) to that it remains one of the best-kept secrets in French ¨¨Teautamatea (p196) ­Polynesia. ¨¨Raivavae Tama (p199) ¨ ¨Maro’i (p202) When to Go ¨¨During the dry season (May to October), the climate is Best Outdoor significantly cooler than in other parts of the country. Experiences ¨¨With average daily temperatures around 20°C, which can drop to a low of 15°C at night, the June to September period ¨¨Walking to the top of Mt is not the best time to visit if you’re hoping to laze around on a Hiro (p199) beach, but is an ideal time for hiking. ¨¨Exploring caves (p195) ¨¨The islands are hottest in January and February. in Rurutu ¨¨The Australs have two important religious festivals: the ¨¨Swimming off Motu Piscine Tere, which is held in early January, and the Me, which is (p198) celebrated in May. ¨¨Lagoon touring in Tubuai ¨¨The whale-watching season runs from July or August to (p197) October. ¨¨Horse riding (p197) on the ridges of Rurutu ­ - - - Ru Gambier

apricorn see inset) (1000km; (Bass 250 miles 400 km Rocks) Archipelago

Tropic of C (Rapa) Rapa Iti . Vertical limestone . Vertical Marvelling at the Marvelling Taking a lagoon and a lagoon Taking

s Taravai to island tour in the Gambier. (p201) 6 5 l Saint- Cathédrale imposing Rikitea. of Michel (p201) Motu Piscine a r t SOUTH OCEAN PACIFIC Map (p199) See Raivavae

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h POP 2400 bogglingly abundant jungle. While there’s bogglingly While there’s abundant jungle. there are a few fringing reef, very little The island’s geology it unique; makes Theisland’s largest Pacific’s rutu is one of the South (makatea) atolls raised line the coast, with caves pockmarked cliffs interior is a fertile,while the volcanic mind- AD 1000 and AD 1300. The 1300. and AD 1000 AD to came islands second half during the attention European 18thof the century. Bounty on to establishcessfully tried themselves contactand the with Europeans Tubuai, lateuntil the limited was world Western 19th and 20th centuries. This long period, more(or missionaries English which during held representatives) native frequently their re Protestantism ensured that has sway, mains strong to this day. Rurutu

Mt Taita T - Tubuai Mt Taita caling Watching the Watching S (p197) and feasting your your and feasting (p197) of views on 360-degree eyes the lagoon. 4 3 magnificent Rimatara magnificent habitat natural in its lorikeet (p200). on Rimatara See Rurutu Map (p196) Totegegie Rurutu Aukena 20 km Akamaru Rikitea The Gambier Archipelago 10 miles Cathédrale Ana Aeo Saint-Michel (425m) Mt Mokoto Kamaka -hopping in the Rimatara

Australs & The Gambier Highlights Mangareva xploring the surreal xploring the surreal

E Motu Australs were the last of the Polynesian the last of the Polynesian were Australs Taravai Mt Duff (441m) 0 0 1 2 The Ana Aeo of cave limestone on Rurutu. (p195) What you shouldn’t expect, shouldn’t you What though, is a radiant Raivavae lagoon and lagoon Raivavae radiant picnicking on idyllic Motu (p198). Piscine Maria Island THE AUSTRALS The History were arrivals the first islands to be settled; between from Tahiti come believedhave to thriving nightlife. Thesenightlife. thriving quietare islands. There of are no resorts, just a smattering family-run guesthouses where­welcoming meals local-style visitors can sample delicious interact with their hosts.and genuinely buai and the alluring coastline of Rimatara. Fly south towards the Tropic of Capricorn of the Tropic towards Fly south the blustery to find Archipelago, Austral yet grow peaches enough to cool it’s where palms for bananas, coconut warm enough On these lagoons. coral-laden and turquoise, fertile islands, you’lloutrageously somefind culture mostthe of Polynesian authentic Best theyof all, Polynesia. French all of in limestonethe from wonderfullyare varied, Bora–like Bora and the of Rurutu caverns of Tu to the windy bays of Raivavae lagoon

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