10 Fascinating Facts about Moorea and French Polynesia
No matter which island you visit, it’s easy to fall in love with French Polynesia. Some of these facts can apply to all of French Polynesia, while others are specific to Moorea.
Far Away From the Rest of the World
French Polynesia is far from neighboring major airports and feels like you’re wonderfully far away from the rest of the world. It’s roughly a 5.5-hour flight from the International airport in Papeete to Auckland and about an 8-hour flight from Papeete to LAX. You can also tell how isolated you are by looking at the beautiful night sky.
We would watch the stars each night outside the bungalow.
Has Its Own Time Zone
French Polynesia is in the time zone called Tahiti Time and does not observe daylight savings time. If visiting from the US, you may find yourself to be pretty tired in the evening while in Tahiti.
With a view as beautiful as the Toatea Lookout, you’ll find it easy to recover from jet lag. You can see the big Island of Tahiti in the distance.
French Polynesia Language and Culture
The official languages of French Polynesia are Tahitian and French. Many people speak English, but you can expect to hear French especially if you plan to adventure outside of resorts. Polynesian dance is unique to the islands, as well as the official flower of Tahiti, the Tiaré flower. You can find information on the history and culture of French Polynesia here.
Tahitian Gardenia or Tairé flower
Crystal Clear Lagoon Water
I didn’t really understand until I got to Moorea, but the water is not rough and appeared to be calm and quiet on all of the beaches we visited. The calm water is naturally caused by the large coral reefs that border the island which formed over a very long period of time.
The beach at Hotel Les Tepiniers
Active Aquatic Life
The Sealife in Moorea and Tahiti is not known for being shy! You can visit the Lagoonarium for shark encounters and you will likely run into some stingrays while swimming on your own.
Snorkeling with sharks at the Lagoonarium in Moorea
Small Island
You can drive the road that borders Moorea in just over an hour. The 37 miles (60 kilometers) road can be toured in about half a day with stops at beaches, restaurants, and lookout points. Moorea is small but is fun to drive with a paved highway and beautiful views. Many other roads on the island are unpaved.
We loved renting a car and driving around Moorea
Lush Mountains
Moorea has rugged mountains and it is said that some have never been summited. The highest mountain in Moorea is Mount Tohivea, at 3,960ft. Visitors who are not interested in trekking through the jungle can admire the mountains from Belvedere Lookout. Another beautiful viewpoint is from the top of Magic Mountain. Both are frequent stops on day-tours of the island.
Belvedere Lookout
Free of Poisonous Land Animals
For people who fear snakes, Moorea may be the perfect destination! The most vicious animal you will find on land may be the mosquitos or a mean chicken. You can click here to learn more about the land animals you can find on Moorea.
Grow Their Own Pineapples
If you’re looking for non-beach activities, you can check out the pineapple fields in Opunohu Valley. Here you can find bike trails and a zip line park. There’s a nearby distillery that makes pineapple liquor and offers tastings.
Opunohu Valley.
Tahitian Pearls
French Polynesia is known for pearls that range from dark gray, blue, purple, and green. The South Sea is the only area in the world known to naturally produce dark colored pearls. Tahitian pearls range in price depending on the size, luster, and quality and are sure to remind you of the beauty and uniqueness of the islands.
A Perfect Island Destination
There’s so much more to see and do in French Polynesia! Moorea is an ideal island to visit for a few days worth of activities combined with relaxation. You can add to your trip by staying on more than one island to see even more of French Polynesia. For more information on traveling to Tahiti and the Island of Moorea, check out our other posts:
