Where the Earth loves itself the most, there you will find the most beauty.  In these privileged places you will find the artists, poets and romantics of this world.  The Islands of Tahiti are such a place. 

Tahiti represents the dreams of romance. A siren call for those who seek an exotic Paradise over the rim of the world.  The island of love that fulfills the wonder and joy of being alive!  The very word Tahiti has magic in it.  It was Tahiti that created the legend of the tropical island paradise.  A South Seas garden of Eden with rain forests in the hearts of uninhabited valleys, shimmering in the morning sun.  Sunlight and cloud-shadow that weave ever-changing patterns on the fern softened cliffs.  A place where poetic threads of waterfalls tumble into wet green glades, fairy gardens for nymphs to play.  Cool, sweet streams that rush seaward, ferrying tiny boats of flower blossoms.  Along the banks the heady fragrance of Tiare Tahiti, ginger and jasmine fills the air.  And on the shores giant curls of turquoise sea spume onto soft volcanic beaches, drawing lacy fingers of white foam on the golden-black sand.  A romantic sunset sea breaks onto a colourful reef, protecting the tranquil lagoon of warm emerald waters and fine white coral sand on a distant atoll.  And shading these balmy shores, the graceful coconut palms nod their fronds in rhythm with the tunes of nature.  Much more than a group of islands, a place - Tahiti is a wonderful state of mind.  Bring your dream to Tahiti and feel it come true.  Maeva!

In the 118 Islands of Tahiti each one is unique.  Five archipelagos of mountainous islands and coral atolls.  A collection of contrasting scenery, climate and culture. The Islands of the Societies are best known for their gentle beauty.  Cathedral-shaped volcanic spires, fern-softened valleys and crystal lagoons.  The Austral Islands in the south have tidy houses of colourful coral limestone.  A cool healthy climate in the intense green rolling hills of these garden isles.  The mystery of the Marquesas Islands lingers still.  Awesome power in the massive mountains of abrupt sculpted cliffs.  In the brooding scowl of stone tikis hidden in the valleys.  The slender coral wreaths of the Tuamotu atolls wind along the golden strands of the reef until lost from sight.  Inside the rainbow coloured lagoons of these half-drowned islands is a wonderland of marine life.  In the Gambier Islands you'll find a 2,000-seat cathedral of neo-gothic design.  The sun-gilded waters of the vast lagoon produce some of the finest black pearls in the world.  With their happy, musical names, these are your dream islands.

Weather is more humid from November through April, and dryer for the remainder.  Year round the sun rises between 6.00-7.00am and sets between 5.00-6.00pm.

Whilst the sun is not as intense as it is during a NZ summer, you can still get burnt, especially if you arrive straight from our winter.  An excellent local range of tanning lotions, sunscreens and sunblocks are available.

You might also be interested to know that Tahiti has a solar tide rather than the lunar tide.  This means that the low tide is at sunrise and sunset - with little difference between low and high.

With the exception of downtown Papeete restaurants and nightclubs, the dress code is very casual and comfortable practicality is the most important fashion.

Don't be afraid to wear the local “pareo” wrap-around - it looks good, can be worn in a variety of ways and is very cool.  This goes for both sexes!

A common ‘myth’ we've encountered is that US Dollars are recommended by many as being an acceptable currency for cash or traveller’s cheques.  Don't be fooled - the NZ dollar is recognised and accepted by all banks in Tahiti, and for exchange in most hotels.  Changing into US dollars only means another change into CFP when you get there.  Frankly, it is not worth the hassle.

It is recommended that you use a bank for currency exchange as hotels often use a 'buffer' rate which is not always competitive.

Most NZ banks can obtain CFP cash for you before you leave - although you may have to give them a few days notice.  There is also a bank open to meet all international flights at FAA’A airport in Tahiti.

For credit cards, the acceptance and use of these throughout the islands is widespread.  The most popular cards are Visa and Mastercard, followed by American Express and Diners Club.  We have found the exchange rate used for these to normally to quite reasonable.

The selection starts with the “Roulottes”, most of which are found on the waterfront during the evenings.  These are remodelled “Mr. Whippy” vans, and the food here is good, in plentiful supply and inexpensive.  Take your choice of Pizza, Crepes, Chinese, Vietnamese, Waffles, North African, Mediterranean, Italian or good old 'Steak 'n Chips'.  They are very social and very convenient, you can take an entrée at one, main course at another and dessert at yet another.  Whilst not allowed to sell liquor, the “Roulottes” do offer tea, coffee, soft drinks, and some rather wicked cider.  The crowded ones generally have the best food.

Next up are the various 'Snacks' that are found in and around the city, sometimes with a bar.  Normally good, basic 'bistro' fare is available - from hamburgers and 'Poisson cru' onwards to the special 'plats du jour'.  Again, follow the locals as a guide to the best spots.

Further up the scale, you'll find the wonderful sidewalk cafes, again good food, in a wide variety of styles, all good fun.  These are licensed, and your best guide will be to ask at the hotel for a recommendation.

Finally, there are many gourmet restaurants, normally air-conditioned, with the accent on service and presentation of dishes.  There is enough choice to satisfy the most discerning of palates.  These restaurants are generally a little more expensive, but for a special night out, they are well worth a try.  Most display a menu at the door, so have a good look around before you decide where to go.  You'll hopefully be impressed with the standard of service, food and wines.

For those with energy left after dinner, Papeete boasts a wide variety of nightclubs, which are safe to visit and a lot of fun.  Take your pick between local style, where the dancing is straight out of the movies, to jazz or the chic European style disco’s.  Ask your restaurant to point you in the right direction and enjoy!  This is recommended at least once.  However, one word of warning, drinks can be very expensive, as the prices are not regulated, and in many cases locals prefer to dance rather than drink - hence the need to make money out of the few that are sold.

You'll find lots of seafood, especially different sorts of local reef and ocean fish, clams, sea urchins, crayfish and fresh water shrimps.  Local pork features in many Tahitian dishes and is good eating, Most red meat, and cold water seafoods are imported from NZ and are, of course, top export quality.  Cold climate fruit and vegetables are also quite often brought in fresh from NZ, Australia, Chile and USA.

As you can well imagine, the range of tropical fruits available is nothing short of amazing.  Tahiti’s pineapples are the sweetest you'll taste, the very useful coconut is everywhere, and these islands also offer something like 300 different varieties of bananas.  Mangoes, limes, papaya, and oranges are readily available (in season).  Other 'must try' items include fresh lychees and the 'pamplemousse' a huge local grapefruit.  Many varieties of kumera are also available.

As concerns food styles, the most obvious is French, and you'll find a proliferation of Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian foods as well, all mixed with the local Polynesian style and produce.

Traditional Tahitian food is similar to the Maori Hangi, with all sorts of tropical influences - it is well worth the experience.

Finally, what could be called the 'national dish' is fresh marinated fish or 'Poisson cru' (don't let the spelling put you off!).  This comes in many styles, the purest form being with lime juice and fresh coconut milk, both the French and Chinese have their own versions.  To try this, even once, is a must - many visitors become addicted to its brilliant flavour.

Tahiti can be as affordable as you want it to be.  Like any other country, you have a choice of what you purchase, and at what price.  The reason for some of the prices being slightly higher in Tahiti is due to the fact that no income tax is payable by local residents, and thus goods and services are taxed accordingly.  Being islands, with a very high standard of lifestyle, Tahiti has to import much of its requirements from all over the world.

In any overseas destination, there is a small minority who like to profit from the 'tourists'.  In Tahiti, you'll not find hawkers, hustlers and hasslers on very street corner.  However, it always pays to be prudent, and if you are unsure about something you can always ask your host tour operator or hotelier for advice.

Another commonly asked question is “how much spending money should we take?”  This depends on ones tastes and pocket.  However, we've talked to travellers over the last year or so, and the following is a good guide:

A) $80-90 per day: For the budget conscious, this amount of money allows for food each day, and limited excursions and activities.  NB: For those who have pre-purchased a meal plan or have self-catering facilities, this is a good allowance.

B) $100-120 per day: An average amount of expenditure, allowing enough for food and excursions.

C) $150-170 per day: A higher level of food and activities.

It is strongly recommended that you try a few words of both French and Tahitian 'just to break the ice', this is more a case of respect than anything else, but is very worthwhile.  If you are able to speak Maori, you'll find that Tahitian 'Maohi' is very similar, and is well worth pursuing.  The small collection of words and phrases in Tahitian and French is one that we've provided 'just for fun - don't be afraid to try them, you'll be thrilled at the results.  A good pointer for the pronunciation of Tahitian is that it is similar to Maori, in that all vowels are pronounced.

In the water, again, there are no real hazards, although like all tropical islands there are a few things you should be aware of.  Firstly, Stonefish can afflict a poisonous sting if stood on, the occurrence of which is very rare.  Most hotels have access to treatment.  There are comparatively few sea snakes.

Secondly, and most importantly, be careful of coral cuts and scratches, as the small particles can inflict a painful injury.  If you do, the locals have a rather interesting treatment, using either fresh lime juice or urine.  When in the vicinity of coral, it is a good idea to swim in flippers, old sandshoes or plastic sandals to avoid this.

Lastly, the nuisance value of mosquitoes is best prevented by the use of an insect repellent.  Most hotels have coils or other deterrents in rooms.  Interestingly enough, we are told that until Captain Cook arrived in these islands there were no mosquitoes. The other nuisance is the cockroach, sadly a fact of life in all South Pacific islands, they do not reflect a lack of cleanliness, and are really quite harmless.  Most hotels spray frequently to deter these insects.

In the islands, things are even quieter, although again, use common sense in any unusual situations. 

It is always a good idea to keep your hotel door locked, and to use the hotel safe, we are confident that you'll find Tahiti and her islands compares more than favourably in this light with other similar destinations, however, it is better to be 'safe than sorry'.

A wide variety of the latest in French perfumes can also be found at a reasonable price - particularly from the Papeete and airport Duty Free shops. 

Other articles worth checking out are the French wines at good prices in local supermarkets and stores, plus fresh local coffee and vanilla pods.

A 'must' to buy is at least one “pare’u” wrap around - always colourful, always different, handy for your stay in the islands, and surprisingly useful when you return home - they have many uses.

The downtown Papeete marketplace is a great place to start, with a wide variety of goods (not all of them perishable) on offer.  It is open normal business hours Monday through Friday, with limited operation Saturday morning.  The 'big day' is on Sunday - starting at around 5.00am through until late morning - the earlier the better.  If you can get up early, take your camera, allow an hour or two and just enjoy the colourful sights and busy atmosphere.

For general shopping in Papeete, two areas stand out.  Firstly, the downtown area has a diverse array of shops from chic boutiques to Chinese merchants who stock everything (in organised chaos) including the 'kitchen sink'.  Secondly, the Moana Nui shopping centre in Punaauia on Tahiti’s westcoast, just a few kilometres from the airport and near to several resort hotels, offers interest.  This is a shopping centre as we know it and includes a gigantic supermarket/department store, 'Continent', speciality shops and cafes.

Hours
Business hours for all shops, are usually Monday through Friday from 8.00am to 11.30am and again from 1.30pm to 5.30pm.  The long lunch hour offers time for a delightful 'siesta', or ample opportunity for a long relaxed luncheon.  These hours can vary by 30 or so minutes either side.  You'll also find many shops open on Saturday mornings, but Sunday is generally a time of rest - with the exception of some general stores, Continent, and the markets which all open during the morning.

Island Shopping
Due to the small populations on most of the outer islands, shopping facilities are more limited,  In all cases, you'll find a convenient selection of Chinese general stores scattered around these islands, all selling a wide variety of goods, from food and beverages through to hardware.  Most islands do have a main village with a small, yet interesting local market, normally selling fruit, vegetables and fish.

The great shopping opportunities in the islands are within the many little boutiques and galleries you'll find dotted around each island’s circle island road.  As these islands have attracted a large number of artistic people to their shores, the variety of handicrafts, souvenirs, jewellery, and artwork is immense and of good quality.  Generally, the same business hours apply as per Papeete, with the exception of weekends, when hours are more limited - although you can still find the odd store open when you need it.

The use of these vehicles is VERY EASY, and can often be one of the highlights of a stay in Papeete, we strongly recommend you ride “Le Truck” at least once.  Another bonus about the use of this transport system is the cost - still around 150CFP (NZ$2.40).

There are designated stops all along the circle island road, however, in many cases Le Truck will stop anywhere when signalled.  Each vehicle generally displays the destination/origin, and usually the hotels passed along the way, on painted panels along the side of the vehicle.

Once signalled, just hop on, enjoy the ride, the sights and sounds until you near your destination or the final terminus.  To alight, just press the button above your head, and after the vehicle stops, pay the driver’s accomplice at the roadside of the cab. 

This system works very efficiently, and you'll find the services very frequent during the day.  Hours are generally very early morning through to late afternoon/early evening, Monday to Friday inclusive, although on the two major East & West routes, services generally run later into the evenings, and a limited weekend service is also available.

Taxis
Another transport option is the use of taxis in and around the city.  These can be expensive, although a recent regulation of tariffs and the installation of meters in many taxis has seen their prices reduced.  Prices are now normally displayed within, and if you are unsure about the cost, ask the driver.  Those vehicles displaying a white “Tiare” flower on their illuminated sign have drivers who speak English.

There are a couple of taxi stands in the downtown centre, and you'll find taxis close to all the major hotels and at the airport.

Rental Cars
There are a large number of rental cars available in Papeete, with a variety of cars and rates.  Normally prices are relative to those in New Zealand.

A rental car can be a good idea for self-discovery of the island as well as transportation into town at night for restaurants and nightlife.

Do not be put off by the thought of driving on the other side of the road - it is not as hard as it looks, and drivers are generally courteous.  A simple thought to assist is that the steering wheel should always be toward the centre of the road as it is in NZ.

A NZ Drivers’ Licence is acceptable to drive in Tahiti.

Like all cities, Papeete has its own rush-hour traffic hassles, and you would be wise to stay clear of trying to get into town between 5.00am & 7.30 am, and out of town between 4.00pm & 5.30pm.

Many people prefer to drink “Eau Royale”, an inexpensive locally bottled spring water available practically everywhere.  A wide range of imported mineral waters is also widely available.

Visit museums and cultural centres.  Stroll through botanical gardens and bathe in the pools of sparkling waterfalls and cool fern grottos.  Admire the fish in aquariums and a lagoonarium. 

Discover the mysteries and majesty of inland mountains and valleys.  Thrilling jeep tours take you through pineapple and vanilla plantations, bamboo and wild chestnut groves, into the lush green valleys to the crest of the mountains.

Exciting, challenging and unusual treks for those who wish to hike the untamed coasts.  Explore interior valleys, climb mountains, walk across the island or investigate old lavatubes, burial caves and hidden grottos.  Puzzle over petroglyphs and marvel at the marae stone temples.

Opportunities abound for the adventurer. For the active vacationer there’s horseback riding, golfing, hang gliding, bowling, tennis and squash.

The climate here is so ideal for simply taking it easy that you may prefer to just lie in your hammock.  Gently swing in the balmy breezes that caress these magnificent islands.

Water Activities
In the Islands of Tahiti you'll find an ocean of fun.  The warm, clear, sparkling waters of the turquoise lagoons and deep blue seas are immense watery playgrounds. 

Here you can swim year-round in the caressing embrace of a tranquil lagoon.  Snorkel inside the lagoon’s fascinating aquarium.  Marvel at the coral forests in mauve with touches of lilac, pale blue to mother-of pearl and brilliant yellow, rose and gold.  Float on a paddle board and watch the inquisitive fishes painted in extravagant colours as they swim up to greet you.

Step down into the lagoon for a thrilling shark-feeding show.  Ride a glass bottom boat and peer down into the seascape where the big fish live.  Scuba dive in a fantastic undersea world that is teaming with tropical fish.  Schools of graceful manta ray are seen in the rippled light. 

Explore the living coral reef and find spiny sea urchins and scurrying crabs.

Admire the reef clams, with their mantles of green and cinnamon, russet, lavender and velvety-blue.

Feel the exhilaration of the tradewinds as you skim over the water on an outrigger sailing canoe, windsurf, Sunfish, Hobie Cat or sailing yacht.

Zoom across the lagoon on water-skis, jet-ski, lagoon-jet or speedboat.

Float above the waters on an exhilarating parasail ride.

Troll the secret hangouts of the big marlin, swordfish, mahi mahi and tuna on a sports fishing boat.

Discover the surfer’s paradise for world-class champions.

Or paddle an outrigger canoe to a lovely deserted islet and leave the world behind.