14 of the Best Things to Do in Moorea
Moorea is a tropical paradise that embodies the charm of the Tahitian Islands and makes a perfect getaway for adventure-seeking travelers. Whether you’re looking to spend your vacation relaxing on a beach or keeping a full schedule of activities, you will find plenty of unique things to fill your days on the French Polynesian island of Moorea. Continue reading to learn about 14 of the best things to do in Moorea, involving everything from shopping to swimming with sharks!
1. Go to the Top of Magic Mountain
Just one angle of the beautiful 360-degree view from the top of Magic Mountain.
Possibly the most popular activity to do in Moorea, Magic Mountain boasts incredible views! The entrance to Magic Mountain is located on a private drive, which is very steep and is not accessible to the public by car. We mistakenly tried to enter the private road, but there’s no need to worry because there are several ways to visit Magic Mountain.
You can hike the entire road up by paying a small fee into the drop box provided at the entrance or go with a tour group. ATV tours are a fun and popular method used to visit Magic Mountain. You can also schedule a tour on a four-wheel-drive truck. There are multiple options for tours that go up to the lookout with varying price ranges. We had a great time booking this tour through Viator.
2. Explore Belvedere Lookout and the Nearby Trails
Bring your own love lock to add to the romantic tradition at Belvedere Lookout.
Belvedere is another must-see spot on Moorea. Visiting the lookout places you deep into the mountains and gives you a look inside the forest in Moorea. This is another activity that you can do via ATVs, but unlike Magic Mountain, you can drive to Belvedere. You will see large exotic trees and a parking area to access trails along the way up. At the final parking area, you can find a map displaying additional hiking trails. Please note that although Belvedere Lookout is accessible by car, the paved road can be thin in some areas and you will need to be careful due to ATV groups and tour vans.
3. Swim with Sharks and Stingrays at the Lagoonarium
Blacktip Reef Sharks at the Lagoonarium.
The Lagoonarium is an underwater sea life extravaganza. You won’t want to leave your scuba mask at home for this experience! A visit to the Lagoonarium involves a 3-minute water taxi ride to a tiny island just off the coast. You have the chance to attend their morning or afternoon feeding session that draws in sharks, stingrays, and all types of fish.
There’s a current in the water, so lines are provided to hold onto while you swim. I recommend bringing your own snorkel, or at least some goggles. You can click here to visit their website and view hours and pricing. The parking lot and ticket purchase area are easily accessible just off the main road and tickets were cash-only.
Before this vacation, I’m not sure that I would have enthusiastically spoken about the chance to swim with sharks but the Lagoonarium ended up being the highlight of the trip! If you aren’t a diver but still want to see lots of sea life, I recommend a visit to the Lagoonarium.
4. Try Fresh Juice and Pineapple Liquor
Jus de Fruits de Moorea is a distillery and gift shop with fresh juices, wine, and fruit liquors. We visited as part of a tour, but the Intercontinental staff also recommended that we go for the free juice and liquor samples. Pineapples are grown in the nearby valley and are well represented in the available liquors. The drinks make for great souvenirs to bring back for friends and family!
Another notable place to get some fresh juice is Moorea Tropical Garden, which is also a restaurant. Moorea Tropical Garden harvests vanilla and a variety of tropical plants. The restaurant is located high on a driveway that may be difficult to access by car. We visited Moorea Tropical Garden as part of our Magic Mountain Tour and received samples of noni fruit and homemade jams.
5. Dive and Snorkel
Moorea has so much aquatic life, you can expect to be amazed whether you choose to snorkel or dive, or both! Reed went diving with Scubapiti Diving Center and saw multiple sea turtles, endless coral, and a 6ft blacktip reef shark! Reed has a lot of experience diving in the Caribbean islands and was very impressed with the abundance of coral in Moorea. I stuck with snorkeling around the Intercontinental and was pleased with the variety of fish I saw. These included several species of angelfish, parrot fish, boxfish, etc. I also snorkeled stingrays and eels (about 1 ft long) that were white with small spots. Here’s a link to more information on diving in French Polynesia provided by PADI Travel.
6. Eat and Relax at Coco Beach
Coco Beach is the perfect place to spend an afternoon eating great food and relaxing on a beach! We were offered a free water-taxi ride from the Intercontinental, but you can also take the taxi at its main stop right next to the IHG Resort for a small fee.
Coco Beach is an outdoor grill restaurant and provides a chance to sit near the beach and swim in the shallow lagoon where stingrays often frequent. We spent our first day on Moorea here and had so much fun snorkeling with the fish and rays and walking along the quiet beach. The burgers, fries, and ice cream were all delicious!
7. Discover Moorea by Car
You will get great views of the mountains while driving around Moorea.
Moorea has a main highway (2-lane paved road) that circles the entire Island. What better way to see the sights than by spending a day driving around Moorea! Stop by the grocery store and pick up some snacks, or have lunch at a restaurant along the side of the road. We really enjoyed eating at Allo Pizza. The entire Island can be circled in about an hour and a half, so you will have plenty of time to stop at a beach or visit a market along the way. Driving is the same as in the U.S, with the steering wheel on the left side.
8. Dine Over the Lagoon
Are you looking for a memorable and romantic dining experience? The Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa has a Creperie located right over the pristine lagoon. The outdoor restaurant opens in the evening and offers large-sized savory and sweet crepes. You can eat sorbet while watching the sharks swim by, now that’s an unique dinner date! You don’t need to be staying at the resort to use the restaurant. Just give them a call or visit the front desk to make a reservation.
9. Visit Toatea Lookout
Toatea Lookout is an easy stop on the main road that circles Moorea
Toatea Lookout is a simple stop just off the side of the road, but you won’t want to miss this photo-op! You can gaze out at the overwater bungalows of the Sofitel and admire the beautiful blue lagoon. The Island of Tahiti can also be seen from the lookout. Definitely add this stop into your plans if you intend on driving around Moorea.
10. Chill on a Beach
The beach at Hotel Les Tepiniers
A beach vacation must involve resting on a beach at some point! Moorea has some of the most pristine beaches with bright sand and calm water. There is so much coral in Moorea that you can bring your snorkel along to view fish during your beach time. Temae Beach is the popular public beach in Moorea, although all the beaches are excellent!
11. Shop for Pearls
Tahiti is known for the finest black south sea pearls. Black pearls can range in colors from green to purple and even light gray. The local Jewelry stores sell the highest-quality pearls or you may find more affordable options at a market or gift shop.
12. Experience Polynesian Dance
The big resorts on Moorea will offer evening dinners where you can view a Polynesian dance show at the end of the night. If you’re a guest at the Intercontinental, you can still view the show even if you did not book the dinner. We were one of several people who gathered just behind the tables to watch the show. We also paid to see a performance put on by Tiki Village, although I don’t recommend this because the Intercontinental performances were much better.
My favorite dance performance was one at Fa’a’ā International Airport. If seeing a performance is very important to you, I recommend spending money on a dinner at one of the large resorts. I felt that with seeing the performance at the airport, I didn’t really need to pay to watch a Polynesian dance performance elsewhere.
13. Learn about Turtle Rehabilitation and See the Dolphin Center
The Dolphin Center is connected to the lagoon
The Intercontinental Resort and Spa Moorea have both and Dolphin Center and a Turtle Care Center. The Dolphin Center provides the traditional dolphin encounter experience where you can interact with a dolphin while they do tricks. The Dolphins have a habitat that is within the lagoon and are well-cared for by veterinarians and the resort staff. We watched them get fed in the morning and they are the most beautiful animals! You can learn more about the Moorea Dolphin Center here.
The Turtle Care Center accepts sea turtles that residents bring in due to injuries. The resort offers 20-minute informational tours explaining the sea turtle species, their life cycle, and habitat. I didn’t realize it at first, but after listening to the guide, I could see how some of the turtles had deformities with their shells while others were blind due to trauma. While I visited, there was a school group also touring the center. This is such a neat service to be provided by a resort! You can click here to learn more about the Turtle Care Center.
14. Get Active at the Tiki Park and Visit the Pineapple Fields
You will find informational signs (in French and English) with trails information in Opunohu Valley.
Tiki Parc Moorea offers family-friendly zip line and ropes activities in Opunohu Valley. The park is located in the center of Moorea and is surrounded by Pineapple fields and wonderful views of the mountains. Although I didn’t visit the park, I went to the valley so see the pineapples and was impressed by the informational signs provided to locate bike and walking trails. You can click here to visit the Tiki Parc Moorea website and get pricing.
So Much to See and Do
Moorea is a beautiful Island and provides so many opportunities for outdoor adventure. Whether you’re into solely water activities, or want to explore trails in the rugged mountains, there are abundant outdoor pursuits for travelers of all ages to enjoy. Please feel free to drop a comment or send us questions about your upcoming trip! We hope you have a wonderful time on Moorea just as we did!
