Tahiti French Polynesia 9 Tahiti
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Tahiti POP 185,000 Why Go? Pape’ete ...........................51 While Tahiti isn’t the white-sand island of your holiday Around Tahiti Nui ...........65 brochure, it is the heart of French Polynesia, and it would be West Coast .....................65 a shame to bypass it. Waterfall-laden, shadowy mountains; South Coast....................68 unpretentiously beautiful black-sand beaches; and a dis- tinctly Polynesian buzz make Tahiti a gem in its own right. East Coast .......................71 While exploring the lively backstreets and strolling the Tahiti Iti ...........................73 waterfront of the pint-sized capital Pape’ete is a must, it’s the outdoor action and cultural off erings that woo visitors to extend their stay. Explore the mystical, mountainous inte- Best Places to rior on a 4WD tour, learn to dive in the translucent lagoon, Stay wander fl abbergasted amid archaeological sites, and from July to October go whale-watching or hike across the fecund » Vanira Lodge (p 75 ) interior. In July catch the country’s most spectacular festi- » Fare Suisse (p 58 ) val, the percussion and dance-heavy Heiva. And don’t miss » Le Méridien Tahiti (p 66 ) Tahiti Iti – this peninsula on the southeast of Tahiti, so far only known to surfers, is one of the hidden gems of French » Green Room Villa (p 75 ) Polynesia. » Intercontinental Resort Tahiti (p 58 ) When to Go Best Places to Eat Tahiti enjoys a year-round tropical climate, but it’s most popular during the dry season, from May to October. » Place To’ata Snacks The weather is cooler and you can expect sun and clear (p 59 ) skies – perfect for outdoor activities, including hiking. The » Place Vaiete Roulottes rainy season begins in November and continues until the (p 61 ) end of April, with frequent heavy showers and occasional » Le Lotus (p 60 ) storms. The island has a rather busy social calendar year- » Blue Banana (p 67 ) round, but in July Pape’ete is in full swing with the Heiva. » La Plage de Maui (p 76 ) Diving and surfi ng are popular year-round; the whale- watching season runs from July to October. 49 0 10 km 0 6 miles TAHITI TAHITI Mahina Ferries to Papenoo Mo'orea (25km) Pira'e Arue Pape'ete Tiarei Faa'a Faa'a Papenoo International Mt Marau Valley Mahaena Airport (1493m) Puna'auia Mt Aorai Hitiaa Diadème (2066m) (1321m) Mt Orohena (2241m) Faaone T a h i t i N u i Lake Pa'ea Vaihiria Whale- watching Taravao Phaeton Afaahiti Bay Pueu Papara Papeari Tautira Atimaono Toahotu Mataiea T a h i t i I t i Mt Teava Vairao (1306m) Mt Ronui (1332m) Fenua Aihere Teahupoo Cliffs Te Pari S O U T H P A C I F I C O C E A N Tahiti Highlights 1 Exploring by 4WD the lush 4 Sipping an ice-cold 6 Taking a boat excursion and craggy interior along the coconut while perusing the past the road’s end at Papenoo Valley (p 70 ) colourful Marché de Pape’ete Teahupoo to visit the remote 2 Huffi ng to the top of (p 54 ) Fenua Aihere (p 75 ) Mt Aorai (p 69 ) for the 5 Watching the best of 7 Witnessing 30-tonne sensational views the best shake their hips at humpbacks on a whale- 3 Catching local vibes the Heiva festival’s dance watching trip (p 66 ) while eating at the roulottes competitions (p 60 ) in (mobile food vans; p 61 ) on the Pape’ete waterfront in Pape’ete.