Tahiti - a Holiday in Paradise

By Richard Moore

Tahiti is located half way between Australia and the American continent

In 1789 a small British ship called the Bounty was caught up in a mutiny where the Master's Mate Fletcher Christian overpowered Captain William Bligh and abandoned him and his loyal crew to their fate in a longboat.

Christian and his mutineers then set off for the fabled island named Tahiti while Bligh was left to complete one of the most amazing feats of navigation and sailing in history by getting his eight-metre boat back to safety - a voyage of some 3600 miles.

The mutineers spent time on Tahiti. Some were captured while others fled for Pitcairn Island with their Tahitian wives.

Tahiti though loomed large in European minds as an island of tropical pleasures and this attracted the attention of two famous men in writer Robert Louis Stephenson and painter Paul Gauguin.

Today Tahiti still attracts tourists by the droves with its natural beauty and the stylish influence of the colonial French.

Tahiti is the main island in French Polynesia and it lies about seven hours flying time east of Sydney - about halfway between Australia and South America.

It looks a little like a fat chicken leg with the rounder portion being known as Tahiti Nui (Big Tahiti) and the boney part Tahiti Iti (Little Tahiti).

The capital, Papeete, is the seat of government for the islands and so has all the main amenities you could want - as well as quaint boutiques and shops where you can pick up black pearls.

At the famed Central Market, just off the picturesque tree-lined waterfront, you can get a real handle on traditional Tahitian crafts and wares.

Take a seven-hour circle of the island, dine at the hillside Belvedere restaurant, have a private tour featuring Paul Gauguin and visit a museum devoted to his work, discover the local traditions, or go hiking in stunning valleys.

Papeete offers a lot but it may be for the real adventure in Tahiti you head off the main island and out into the less-populated zones. A true paradise of the area is Bora Bora, a stunning atoll just under 300 kilometres northwest of the capital.

Islands and atolls, black pearls and brilliant sunsets - Tahiti is a place of incredible beauty

A direct flight takes about an hour and as you approach the island you will be gobsmacked by the colours and its idyllic setting. Few places on Earth can match it for sheer beauty.

On Bora Bora you can hire cars, bikes and scooters to tour around the place and indulge in some wonderful diving, boat excursions or even try your hand at shark feeding.

Closer to Tahiti is Moorea, only a 10-minute flight although a ferry will give you a picturesque one-hour journey that will allow you to marvel at beautiful bays and mountainous cliffs. Rainforests cover the hills, together with pineapple plantations, and there are stunning hidden waterfalls to be discovered.

Folk have raved about Moorea's Tiki Village's Tahitian Show that allows you to kick back by a lagoon, eat a tremendous feed and watch the locals performing. Roadside shops are the way to go on Moorea and you can pick up all sorts of indigenous items for use as gifts when you get home.

For lush tropical scenery a visit to Huahine could be worthwhile. Made up of two islands - yes, Big Huahine and Little Huahine - it is about 175 kilometres Northwest of Tahiti. The islands are made one by a narrow body of land that lies within a protective barrier reef. Beautiful beaches, massive trees and some exceptionally picturesque photo opportunities make this slumbering idyll a worthwhile visit.

If beauty is your thing then Manihi atoll can be pencilled into your itinerary. Not only is it a transparent lagoon of blue-green water, it is also the home of the black pearl industry. The main things on Manihi are water-based and with such perfect water why would you want to do anything else? Boating, diving, fishing - you name what you want and you'll get it.

Now before you get too excited about a visit to Tahiti it should be said that it is not cheap. Residents pay no taxes and so - there are taxes on everything brought into, on to, or used on the islands.

The currency is a Pacific Franc and I am still trying to work out a rate for it...

Like many parts of Australia the seasons are divided into two - warmer and cooler. These equate pretty well to our Wet and Dry seasons and the warmer months - between 22 and 32 degrees Celcius - bring more rain. Temperatures in the cooler times range between 18 and 22 degrees. In June, July and August the weather can be pretty changeable because of the tradewinds, so bear that in mind when booking.

Being formerly a colony of France, Tahitians speak French, their native language and English.

Drive on the right hand side of the road - the opposite to Australia - and you should have few problems. Just remember this when turning corners (it can get messy) or when taking off in a hurry - I have forgotten myself. Getting between the islands is via ferry or plane and on the islands you can hire scooters, bikes, take Le Truck or your own car. Something to do would be to hop aboard some of the massive catamarans that zip between Moorea and Tahiti. It's best to avoid taxis as they are exorbitantly priced.

To visit Tahiti and French Polynesia you need a valid passport, although Australians, Western Europeans and Scandinavians are allowed to stay for up to three months without a visa. Canadians, Americans, Kiwis and others only get a month. There is some justice on the world!

What can we say other than Bien Venue, or welcome to Tahiti.

Things to Do in and around Tahiti.

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