This story first appeared in edition 4 of Family Holiday Destinations’ digital magazine under the title ”Island Dreaming”.
Island Dreaming of a Holiday to French Polynesia? Here Are Five of The Best!
Paradise exists … and its found in the Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between the east coast of Australia and California. A holiday to French Polynesia is well suited to families. The climate is great, finding food that kids will actually eat is no problem and the sparkling lagoons are a play-ground for all ages. The hardest part is choosing which island to relax on. Here are five of the best!
The Island of TAHITI
Credit – Tahiti Tourisme & Gregoire Le Bacon
Tahiti is the island where your international flight will land and home to iconic surf breaks, black sand beaches and stunning waterfalls. It’s probably not the island whose photographs inspired you to holiday in French Polynesia and as a result, many people head straight to the outer islands missing out on all the wonderful things about Tahiti.
Tahiti Highlights Include …
Teahupoo
Teahupoo is home to the Tahiti Billabong Pro, an iconic surf competition held every May that attracts the best of the best from surfers all over the world. Non-surfers will appreciate the beauty and raw power of this unique beach and besides, it’s fun watching the surfers in action.
Pape’ete
The capital city is not huge as far as cities go but Pape’ete is a great place to get supplies and stroll the waterfront. Our favourite place? The markets!
Arahoho Blowhole
When the swell is big enough, huge sprays of water shoot out from the blowhole with a big ‘’wooosh’’ sound. Like most blowholes, it’s just fun to watch!
Waterfalls
Jump on a tour or hire a car and find them yourself! Faarumai Waterfalls are a popular choice for tourists as they’re easy to find and beautifully dramatic.
Why we Love Tahiti for a Holiday to French Polynesia…
Tahiti is divided into two “circles” connected by an isthmus. The larger being Tahiti Nui (Big Tahiti) and the smaller being Tahiti Iti (Little Tahiti). We love Tahiti for its Polynesian vibe, black sand beaches with mountainous backdrops and the amazing laid back village feel once you leave the capital of Pape’ete. Make sure you don’t skip Tahiti on your holiday to French Polynesia!
The Island of Mo’orea
Credit – Tahiti Tourisme & Lei Tao
Mo’orea is picture perfect and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t rub their eyes in disbelief when first laying eyes on its mountainous peaks and sparkling lagoon. Mo’orea is a highlight of any holiday to French Polynesia!
Mo’orea Highlights Include …
Lagoonarium Village
A short boat ride carries you to a tiny Motu with a stunning reef. There are a wide variety of fish with two daily feeding sessions that attract even more. Families can relax on the Motu when they need a break from swimming and snorkelling.
Hauru Point
Hauru Point has one of the best beaches on the island with an offshore Motu that you can reach by swimming or kayak.
Opunohu Valley
Opunohu Valley has some of the most important Marae (sacred historical sites) in French Polynesia. The oldest surviving structures date back to the 13th century!
Credit – Tahiti Tourisme & David Kirkland
4WD Tour
A 4wd tour of the island is fun! Families can expect to visit Afareaitu Waterfalls, vanilla and pineapple plantations, archaeological sites and the fruit-juice factory.
The Lagoon
Mo’orea’s lagoon is stunning and a lagoon tour is a great way to experience it. Excursions usually involve a stop at two bays, shark feeding and a picnic and snorkel on a beautiful motu.
Why we Love Mo’orea for a Holiday to French Polynesia…
We love Mo’orea because it’s incredibly beautiful and unlike the other islands, families can travel there in 45 minutes by a large ferry from Tahiti, a significant cost saving when compared to air-travel between islands. The islands are known for not being particularly wallet-friendly so this is a huge bonus for your holiday to French Polynesia.
The Island of Ra’iatea
Credit – Tahiti Tourisme & Audrey Svoboda
Ra’iatea is home to the second largest town in French Polynesia (after Pape’ete in Tahiti) and shares its lagoon with a smaller island, Taha’a. Neither island gets many tourists, making Ra’iatea ideal for families wishing to truly get away and explore French Polynesia.
Ra’iatea Highlights Include …
The Circle Island Road
Hiring a car to drive the 98km sealed circle island road is a wonderful day out. With mountains on one side and lagoon on the other, you’ll start seriously considering how to pack up your life and start a new one here.
Island Tours
Jumping in on an island tour is a great way to pack it all in one day. The tours often focus on the island of Taha’a but generally include snorkelling in a coral garden, a visit to a pearl and vanilla farm and lunch on a beautiful Motu.
The Motus
Visiting Moto Ofetaru is an amazing day trip involving turquoise water, white sand & coconut trees. The water is shallow enough for younger kids to enjoy and there is great snorkelling. You will need to pack your own lunch and hang it in a tree away from the motu’s many cats and chickens. Beautiful motus are a highlight of any holiday to French Polynesia!
Why we Love Ra’iatea for a Holiday to French Polynesia…
We love Ra’iatea for its lush green interior, affordable guesthouses and beautiful Motus (tiny islands). Ra’iatea doesn’t really have beaches but the Motu’s within the lagoon make up for it!
The Island of Huahine
Credit – Tahiti Tourisme & Gregoire Le Bacon
Huahine is noticeably less resort dominated than Bora-Bora and actually consists of two islands, Huahine Nui (Big Huahine) and Huahine iti (Little Huahine). For the best beaches and lagoons, head to Huahine Iti but for more development, head to Huahine Nui.
Huahine Highlights Include …
Fish Traps
The V-shaped fish traps have been here for centuries and are just fascinating. The tips of the V shapes point towards the ocean and as the fish are pulled towards the sea by the tide, they become trapped at the point of the V where they are then harpooned or netted.
Archaelogical Museum
Huahine has a small archaeological museum set in an open traditional house. Housed inside are interesting traditional tools and many other bits and pieces of history. Around the site are Marae, some dating back to the 16th century.
Blue Eyed Eels
The Blue Eyed Eels live near the village of Faie and are considered sacred. When the sunlight hits them, you will notice their amazing porcelain blue eyes that almost appear to glow.
Lagoon Tour
Head out with an organised lagoon tour or hire your own outboard. There are beautiful coral gardens, untouched Motus and some of the best and most consistent surf breaks in French Polynesia. Although we didn’t scuba-dive here, I’m told it’s magnificent!
Relaxing
Huahine is really just about bouts of relaxing in between enjoying the lagoon. It has a village feel and is just perfect for families who love the ocean, outdoors and quiet but don’t need to be in a city to have a good time. Relaxing in tropical paradise will be a highlight of your holiday to French Polynesia!
Why we Love Huahine for a Holiday to French Polynesia…
We love Huahine because it’s delightfully sleepy and has epic sunsets. It’s a beautiful drive to hire a car and circle both of the islands via the sealed road.
The Island of Bora Bora
Credit – Tahiti Tourisme and Stéphane Mailion Photography
Bora Bora is it! It’s the island featured on social media that’s inspired you to holiday in French Polynesia. Whether you’re staying in an ultra-luxurious over-water bungalow or a value-for-money pension (guest house), you’ll realise very quickly what all the hype is about when the island comes into view from the airplane.
Bora Bora Highlights Include …
The Lagoon
What can I say … it’s stunning at every angle and whether you want to snorkel, sail, dive or just swim in the shallows, you will fall in love with Bora-Bora’s lagoon.
Island Night
Experiencing an island night at one of the large brand-name resorts is a must on Bora Bora. Expect a great meal and lots of hip shaking, coconut bra wearing, drumming and ukulele fun. It’s very professional and utterly entertaining for all ages. Experiencing an island night is a must-do on any family holiday to French Polynesia!
Credit – Tahiti Tourisme & Gregoire Le Bacon
Exploring
A 4WD tour of the mountainous island is a great way to take in all the American WWII historical sites and local archaeological stops. Alternatively, it’s just as fun to hire a pushbike and casually pedal your way along the coastal road.
Snorkelling
Bora Bora’s water is great for families! The water is clear with large spatterings of coral and fish at every turn.
Why we Love Bora Bora for a Holiday to French Polynesia…
We love Bora Bora because it lives up to the hype. Bora Bora is spectacular, small, mountainous and engulfed in a stunning turquoise lagoon that has to be seen to be believed.
Looking for more awesome family holiday inspiration?
For more information on visiting French Polynesia, head on over to our French Polynesia page. Alternatively, head back to the home page for other destinations and activities.
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Essential information for your French Polynesia family holiday
Best time to visit French Polynesia
The dry period from May to October is a great time to visit due to less rainfall and cooler weather.
Peak season is July and August and Christmas and Easter are also busier. The cost of flights rise considerably over this period.
Getting to French Polynesia
Getting to French Polynesia pretty straightforward. All international flights land in Tahiti. Search for a great deal on flights on Trip.com.
To visit one of the beautiful outlying islands, a flight will need to be booked with Air Tahiti. If you’re planning on visiting a few islands, it’s worth clicking on the Multi-Islands button for a cheaper deal.
Moorea can also be reached by Ferry.
Where to stay in French Polynesia
French Polynesia is not cheap so this will depend on your budget. Luxury accommodation is catered for but cheaper options can be found in family-run guesthouses or pensions. These can be absolutely wonderful!
Search for your accommodation here or check out where we have stayed below:
- TAHITI – We have stayed at Villa BO (our favourite) in Teahupoo and in Papeete at both Hotel Sarah Nui and the Sofitel Ia Ora Beach Resort.
- MOOREA – We have stayed at the Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort.
- HUAHINE – We have stayed at the Royal Huahine.
- RAIATEA – We have stayed at the Pension Les Trois Cascades.
- BORA BORA – We have stayed at the Sofitel Private Island and the Sofitel Marara Beach Resort.
Getting around the islands
This really depends on what you want to do and the age of your kids!
- We loved hiring a car for a day or two in Tahiti, Huahine, and Raiatea. Search car hire across major brands here.
- In Bora-Bora, Moorea, and Raiatea we loved getting around by pushbike and on foot.
- Taxis, water taxis and private transfers are available and your accommodation can help you out with this.
- There is a public bus on Tahiti which is an enjoyable experience but be warned that it sometimes (especially on the weekend) isn’t reliable. During weekdays and day-time hours should be fine.
Attractions and tours
There is plenty of things to do and see around French Polynesia. I found booking through our accommodation was the best option and we had no problems booking the night before.
WiFi
WiFi is usually available at hotels but the connection can be a bit hit and miss on the lesser-visited islands. Purchasing data is expensive so don’t plan on being able to watch YouTube.
French Polynesia holiday travel guides
Check out the official Tahiti Tourism site here!
