Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean

8 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

Marina Taina in Pape'ete © Remi Jouan/cc-by-sa-3.0

Marina Taina in Pape’ete © Remi Jouan/cc-by-sa-3.0

Tahiti (previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Australia. Divided into two parts, Tahiti Nui (bigger, northwestern part) and Tahiti Iti (smaller, southeastern part), the island was formed from volcanic activity; it is high and mountainous with surrounding coral reefs. Its population was 189,517 in 2017, making it by far the most populous island in French Polynesia and accounting for 68.7% of its total population.   read more…

Tetiꞌaroa in the Pacific

31 July 2021 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Hotels Reading Time:  6 minutes

© Supertoff/cc-by-sa-3.0

© Supertoff/cc-by-sa-3.0

Tetiꞌaroa (French: Teti’aroa) is an atoll in the Windward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas territorial collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. Once the vacation spot for Tahitian royalty, the islets are under a 99-year lease contracted by Marlon Brando. Tetiꞌaroa is administratively part of the commune of Arue, whose main part is in the northeastern part of Tahiti. The atoll is located 53 kilometres (33 mi) north of Tahiti. The atoll has a total surface area of 6 square kilometres (2 sq mi); approximately 585 hectares (1,450 acres) of sand divided by 12 motus (islets) with varying surface areas. The lagoon is approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) wide and 30 metres (98 ft) deep. The atoll has no reef opening, making access by boat nearly impossible.   read more…

The passenger-cargo ship Aranui 5

1 September 2020 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: Cruise Ships, Yacht of the Month Reading Time:  5 minutes

in Papeete © Saga70/cc-by-sa-4.0

in Papeete © Saga70/cc-by-sa-4.0

M/V Aranui 5 is a dual passenger/cargo vessel that entered service 12 December 2015 between Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands. With a homeport of Papeete, French Polynesia, the Aranui 5 replaced the Aranui 3 which entered service in 2003. The Aranui 5, like its predecessor, is registered as a passenger ship under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), for international operation.   read more…

French Polynesia in the Pacific

16 November 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Tahiti - Papeete - Marina Taina © Remi Jouan/cc-by-sa-3.0

Tahiti – Papeete – Marina Taina © Remi Jouan/cc-by-sa-3.0

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic; collectivité d’outre-mer de la République française (COM), sometimes unofficially referred to as an overseas country; pays d’outre-mer (POM). It is composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in the South Pacific Ocean.   read more…

Bora Bora in the South Pacific

15 November 2013 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  8 minutes

© Taka-0905

© Taka-0905

Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The island, located about 230 kilometres (143 miles) northwest of Pape’ete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the centre of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 metres (2,385 feet). Bora Bora is a major international tourist destination, famous for its aqua-centric luxury resorts. The major settlement, Vaitape, is on the western side of the main island, opposite the main channel into the lagoon. Produce of the island is mostly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and the plentiful coconut trees, which were historically of economic importance for copra. According to a 2008 census, Bora Bora has a permanent population of 8,880. Today the island’s economy is driven almost solely by tourism. Over the last few years several resorts have been built on motu (small islands, from Tahitian) surrounding the lagoon. Thirty years ago, Hotel Bora Bora built the first over-the-water bungalows on stilts over the lagoon and today, over-water bungalows are a standard feature of most Bora Bora resorts. The quality of those bungalows ranges from comparably cheap, basic accommodations to very luxurious and expensive places to stay.   read more…

Return to TopReturn to Top