Nous partons 3 semaines en Polynesie du 26 juillet au 17 août. Nos vols et hotels sont réservés, je prépare en ce moment nos activités.
Tahiti – 2 nuits – appartement sur Air BnB
- 1 jour repos et visite de Papeete
- 1 jour location de voiture pour faire le tour de l’île è quelles choses sont à ne pas manquer ?
Nuku Hiva – 4 jours – pension Koku’u
Je pensais faire (pas forcément dans l’ordre) :
- Jour 1 = Taipivei – Hatiheu è la rando jusqu’à Anaho et Haatuata est-elle difficile ?
- Jour 2 = Hakaui et vallée de Vaipo
- Jour 3 = Baie Colette è la rando est-elle bien indiquée ?
Moorea – 3 jours - Hilton
- Sortie en quad pour faire le tour de l’île : prestataire ATV Moorea Tours è quelqu’un connait ce prestataire ? Le tour est également proposé par notre hotel (Hilton), quelqu’un a-t’il un retour sur leur excursion ?
- Sortie des baleines et dauphins : j’ai trouvé les sites de 2 prestataires : Moorea Deep Blue et Moorea Doplhin Expedition è connaissez vous ces deux prestatires, lequel nous conseillez vous ? Le tour est également proposé par notre hotel (Hilton), quelqu’un a-t’il un retour sur leur excursion ? Nous cherchons un petit bateau, un prestataire qui respecte les animaux
Tahaa – 3 jours – Fare Pea Iti
- Tour de Tahaa avec visite d’une vanielleraie et d’une ferme perlière. Nous logeons au Fare Pea Iti, tout au Nord de Tahaa, connaissez vous un opérateur qui opère dans ce coin ou récupère les gens sans trop de surcharge ?
- Plongée : Apparement un seul club de plongée, Tahaa Diving, avez-vous des retours ? Quelle plongée (pas trop difficile) ?
Maupiti – 2 jours – pension Teheimana
- Pique Nique sur un motu
Conseillez vous d’autres activités ?
Bora Bora – 3 jours – Sofitel Private Island
- Tour du lagon : à faire en bateau ou en Jet Ski ? avez-vous un prestataire à conseiller ?
- Plongée avec les raies manta (Aunau) èquel club recommanderiez-vous ?
Tikehau – 3 jours – Tikehau Village è le site internet ne fonctionne plus et je n’ai aucun retour à mes mails, savez vous si l’hotel est toujours ouverts ?
- Plongée è Quel club recommandez vous ? Les moins chers que j’ai trouvé sont le Manta Club et le Blue Nui mais certains avis indiquent que le materiel est plutôt vieillot. Vaut-il mieux plonger avec Tikehau longée ou Top Dive
- Sortie des sables roses avec pique nique et île aux oiseaux è avez-vous un prestataire à conseiller ?
Tahiti – 1 jour – Fare Suisse
Nous faisons tous nos transferts avec Air Tahiti è y-a-t’il souvent des décalages ou annulations de vols ? Il est indiqué sur leur site que les vols peuvent être modifiés sans préavis, cela m’inquiète un peu…
Est-ce que je loupe qqch d’essentiel avec mon programme ?
dommage! rester 3 nuits à Tahaa et même pas une visite sur Raiatea... avec son marae international... son tour de l'île avec ses 100km de route, le Tapioï, le temehani etc. mais bon Tahaa c'est bien aussi...
Je suppose que vous ne faites pas ce qu'il est écrit dans cet ordre? si c'est le cas vous allez passer des heures en avion!
Air Tahiti annule rarement ses vols, en général ils sont à l'heure mais trop souvent en retard... tous dépend de la météo et de problème de dernières minutes...
Juillet aout en principe soleil...
J'espère que vous pourrez faire ce qu'il est écrit! détailler à ce point votre programme ! Sachant que plusieurs facteurs entre en jeux...météo, panne ou manque de client pour une randonnée par exemple...ou autres problèmes...
ATV Moorea, j'avais fais cette excursion Quad avec eux. c'est top!!!
Scubapiti fait aussi la sortie baleines.
N'achète pas de perles à Tahaa, si jamais. elles sont pas belles ;o)
Tikehau village, c'est bien. faut'il encore qu'ils répondent ;o)
EVITES MANTA CLUB, c'est horrible!!! juste derrière les bungalows du Tikehau village mais laisse tomber!!! ça donne vraiment pas envie de plonger quand tu vois leur installation.
TIKEHAU PLONGEE avec Jaime et Françoise, à la pension Hotu...GENIAL!!!!!!!! des gens incroyablement gentils et super pro..ils ont un nouveau bateau depuis fin Mai.
Pour les sables roses, etc...tu peux voir directement avec la pension, ils font cette excursion. sinon, avec la pension Hotu, mais je n'aime pas du tout Hervé(le proprio, mais ça c'est personnel)
Bonjour,
En effet je ne pense pas que nous irons visiter Raiatea car nous faisons déjà pas mal d'île et notre hotel est tout au nord de Tahaa.
C'est bien l'ordre dans lequel nous faisons ces îles, c'est ce qui se combinait le mieux avec nos pass (sauf les marquises que nous pouvions faire au début ou à la fin).
Pour le programme, c'est dans l'idéal et cela me permet de prévoir mon budget. Il y a les indispensables et les optionnels :)
Et puis vu le budget du voyage, je ne suis pas sure de revenir de si tôt donc j'espère en faire le maximum et avec les bons prestataires donc je me renseigne. Les aléas météo hélas, nous verrons bien sur place !
Bonjour,
Merci pour tes retours sur les prestataires! Pour le tour en quad avec ATV, tu avais réservé à l'avance ?
J'ai finalement eu une réponse du Tikehau Village qui me confirme ma réservation ! Donc c'est tout bon !
Contente que tu me conseille Tikehau Plongée, c'est le club qui m'attirait le plus d'après ses réponses !
J'ai regardé un peu tes différents posts, tu as l'air de pas mal plonger : aurais tu un club à me conseiller à Bora Bora si tu y es allée ? Il y a tellement de clubs là bas...
Non, j'avais réservé direct sur place. mais tu peux leur envoyer un ptit mot pour savoir déjà si ils ont de la dispo à la période où tu y seras.
Ah ben tant mieux si Caro t'a répondu(ça va long des fois)... un ptit conseil, avant de partir, 1 semaine avant, envoies-lui un message pour reconfirmer, on ne sait jamais ;o)
Tikehau plongée, c'est vraiment le club familial comme je les aiment. pas d'usine à touristes. le bateau est top avec un toit.
Ce qu'il faut savoir, c'est que tu fais 2 plongées par sortie(la passe est éloignée) prévois du Mercalme si tu es sujette au mal de mer(c'est mon cas)... ils viennent te chercher à la pension, ils te ramène... c'est le top vraiment...
Pour Bora, je crois qu'on avait plongé avec Bora diving center, mais je ne suis pas sûre. on en avait fait qu'une seule et on avait demandé à l'hôtel(c'est le seul truc qu'on a demandé dans un hotel) mais je pense que se soit l'un ou l'autre, c'est pareil...
Si jamais tu veux faire plus de plongées, tu as le pass Te Moana diving...
Ah mais dis, j'avais pas vu, tu vas au Sofitel Motu à Bora?!
Tu verras c'est cool et tranquille...
on avait un des 3 bungalows cachés dans les arbres...😇
ça y est nous avons pris les vols Paris/Papeete nous partons avec air tahiti le jeudi 24/09 arrivée le même jour à 23h et départ le vendredi 17/10 à 23h. ça…
Je prépare un voyage solo du 16 avril au 02 juin! Je dois travailler 3 semaines à Papeete en arrivant en PF donc je ne peux profiter que des week-ends (de 3…
Cela fait plus d'un an que je cogite mes vacances en PF en Sept 2020. tout d'abord je voulais remercier toutes les personnes qui m'ont répondu, conseillé,…
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the scattered info out there and I'm struggling to organize my solo trip to French Polynesia. I'm all about snorkeling—no hiking for me—so it's all about the water, water, water... I'd love to meet whales (what's the best season?), stay with locals or in budget guesthouses (I'm pretty low-key, no worries about comfort), and most importantly, be as close to the coral reefs as possible (all day long...).
I'm retired, so I've got plenty of time...
If you can help, it would mean the world to me.
Thanks everyone! !
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to this region in November. My initial plan was Adelaide-Darwin by van, but I'm worried about those critters. I'm now considering staying in hotels instead, but for the Red Centre, camping is more practical... if we overlook those pests.
What do you think? Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m reaching out because I’m finally living my dream later this year, and I could really use your advice!
On December 26th, I’m flying to Tahiti, then Moorea, and finally Bora-Bora.
Since I’ll be staying in Bora-Bora for several days, I’d love to take a day trip to another island: either Maupiti or Tahaa-Raiatea (my top picks...).
My issue is that the schedules for getting to Tahaa and then to Raiatea don’t quite work for me. Here are the two options I’ve looked into:
**Option 1: Day trip to Tahaa-Raiatea**
- Morning departure at 7:00 AM to Tahaa from Vaitape (I’ll be staying on a motu, so I need to check if there’s a shuttle connecting the motu to Vaitape early enough).
- Arrival at 8:15 AM in Poutoru, Tahaa. Tour of the island, visit to a vanilla plantation.
- Hire a "private" boat to Raiatea around 12:00–1:00 PM.
- Tour of Raiatea.
- Departure at 4:00 PM from Uturoa (Raiatea) back to Bora-Bora.
**Option 2: Day trip to Maupiti**
- Morning departure from Bora-Bora at 8:30 AM.
- Arrival in Maupiti at 10:05 AM. Visit the island and the motus.
- Return in the evening at 4:00 PM.
My questions:
- Will I have enough time to explore Tahaa-Raiatea from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM?
- Car rental? Bike rental? For all three islands...
- Time lost during rentals?
- Distance between rental shops and the ports where I arrive?
- For Tahaa and Raiatea, should I hire a guide? Would that be better organized, meaning no car rental needed, to save time or explore the island on my own?
- Finally, what do you think of these three islands and their points of interest? Which would you choose between Maupiti and Tahaa-Raiatea?
If you can shed some light on this, I’d be so grateful!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and advice!
Hello! We’re heading to the Marquesas in July-August and I’d love to know if it’s possible, for a fee, to do a leg of the journey on the Aranui—like from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, or Nuku Hiva to Ua Pou, or even Ua Pou to Ua Huka? Sure, there are shuttles twice a week with Codim connecting these islands, but the schedules won’t be known until two months in advance, and I need to book flights and hotels much earlier than that. So, what’s the best way to handle this?
Looking forward to your replies—thanks in advance!
Elisabeth Marcel
babeth.marcel@yahoo.fr
Hi there,
I’d like to go to French Polynesia.
I found round-trip flights for 650 € with Air Caraïbes.
That seems really cheap—anyone here who can tell me about this airline if you’ve flown with them before?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone. I’ve got a round-trip ticket to Perth for 4 weeks. Is it better to stay on the west coast the whole time?
Or should I grab a round-trip to the east coast?
Or even head over to NZ as well?
Thanks for your tips.
We’re crossing New Zealand next April and we’re wondering which to choose between exploring Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
The first is more well-known, famous, and popular, a UNESCO natural heritage site, while the second can be just as spectacular—bigger, harder to access, and less touristy.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve blocked out 3 weeks at the end of March/beginning of April, arriving in Sydney and departing from Adelaide while following the coast.
Kangaroo Island is a bit of a question mark for me. If I go, I can dedicate 2.5 days to it. Is it worth the time and the cost? I’ve read plenty of travel journals highlighting the landscapes and wildlife, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of that along my route anyway. I’m not factoring in the financial side (which isn’t negligible for KI), but I’d rather not be disappointed. What are the real added values of KI, especially since the island has been affected by fires? I’ve also come across people online calling it a tourist trap. For example, I ruled out Phillip Island because it felt too organized and structured. Sorry if I’m opening Pandora’s box here!
Hi! I just spent a month in New Caledonia (backpacking/tent) and I know some of you were looking for info on accommodations and itineraries, so feel free to reach out if you want me to share my little experience. Just to say—New Caledonia is AMAZING!!!
Hi there,
I just got back from two weeks in Fiji, and I noticed the forum discussions here are a bit outdated (the most recent ones are from 2017).
So feel free to ask if you'd like an update!
Hi,
I’m heading to Viti Levu, the main island, for a few days’ vacation.
I usually rent a two-wheeler to keep some independence.
On several forums, people advised against it—first because it’s not really the local culture, and also because of the road conditions and local driving habits.
But I’m a bit wary of English-language forums where the typical vacation is just airport-resort-airport with a taxi in between.
Can you confirm if it’s really that risky compared to, say, Southeast Asia? What are the alternatives? Buses, taxis?
Thanks!
I’m planning and budgeting a trip to Australia for August 2026, lasting 40 days.
Here’s the current itinerary:
Arrival at Port Macquarie Airport in New South Wales and return from Cairns Airport in Queensland.
- South West Rock
- Cap Ridge Park
- Springbrook Park
- Stradbroke Island
- Maleny
- Noosa
- Rainbow Beach
- K’Gari
- Gladstone
- Heron Island
- Airlie Beach
- Townsville
- Magnetic Island
- Cairns
- Cape Tribulation
My main issue is transport to cover all of this.
The first leg is already tricky—I haven’t found a way to rent a car in Port Macquarie and drop it off in South West Rock.
And if we keep the vehicle until Cleveland (8 days) before taking the ferry to Stradbroke Island, it’s already around 1000 €.
- Are there any systems where we could buy a vehicle in Port Macquarie and be sure it’s bought back at the end of the trip in Cairns?
- Do you know of any Australian online car rental sites?
As for trains, they’re not really an option for our stay in New South Wales.
In Queensland, I found the Queensland Rail Travel website with a Brisbane–Cairns line, but trains don’t run every day.
- Do you know of any other train companies in Queensland that connect coastal cities from Brisbane to Cairns?
For flights, I checked Queensland with Qantas, and most routes require a stopover in Brisbane, which wastes a lot of time, and the prices are still high.
Do you know of any low-cost airlines for domestic flights in Australia?
2025 is shaping up to be amazing, as I’m lucky enough to be planning a 6-week trip to Polynesia.
I wanted to buy the *Guide du Routard* (my favorite), but I discovered there isn’t one for this destination. And the *Lonely Planet* is from 2022, which I feel is already a bit outdated.
So I’m looking for other resources: in your opinion, what’s the best paper guide, and most importantly, what online resources have you used to prepare a trip to Polynesia?
My wife, our 3-year-old son, and I are planning a trip along Australia’s East Coast, leaving in early October and returning in mid-November. The plan is to do a 4-week road trip in a campervan, then settle down for about ten days.
The question I’m asking myself is: which way should we go? From Sydney to Cairns or the other way around? Despite all the documentation I’ve read, I’m still struggling to decide the best direction based on the climate at that time and swimming conditions.
Up north, the weather will be warmer, and the water too, unlike the south. However, in the north, there are swimming restrictions, especially because of jellyfish, whereas in the south, there seems to be less danger (apart from sharks, maybe). Are there many protected beaches in the north where we can swim safely?
Also, I should consider that in the south, the Great Barrier Reef no longer protects the beaches, so I imagine there are fewer calm spots for swimming?
I’d love any tips or advice you can share, and thanks in advance!
Hi there,
for a 6-month trip to Australia and NZ starting in NOVEMBER, I’d like to visit PNG and the Solomon Islands. Has anyone already explored these two countries?
How can you travel solo there—transport, accommodation, banking, safety—and what’s the best way to get there from AUS?
Thanks for any tips! Are there any French-language sites about these destinations?
Cheers,
jps
Hi there,
I’m leaving on March 4th for Australia from Réunion Island, landing in Perth, then a road trip down to Melbourne before flying out to Vietnam on April 15th.
I’d like to visit Perth and the surrounding area, then head southwest to Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, and back to Perth to catch a flight to Adelaide. From there, I’ll make my way to Melbourne.
1/ What do you think of this itinerary?
2/ For flights, are there any domestic airlines worth prioritizing for good prices?
3/ I’m planning to rent a car after exploring Perth and the area—I’m traveling solo. Any rental companies you’d recommend, as well as nice hotels, B&Bs, or hostels?
4/ Any tips, good deals, or info are welcome—don’t hesitate to share!
Thanks in advance.
I’m planning a solo trip from April 16th to June 2nd!
I have to work for 3 weeks in Papeete when I arrive in French Polynesia, so I can only explore on the weekends (3-day weekends). For my first weekend, I’ll visit Tahiti; my second weekend will be dedicated to Moorea, and the last weekend to Huahine.
After my work period, I’ll continue with my vacation and keep exploring:
Maupiti - 4 nights
Raiatea - 3 nights (including a day trip to Tahaa)
Bora Bora - 3 nights
Rangiroa - 4 nights (could do 3)
Tikehau - 2 nights (could do 3)
Fakarava - 3 nights
For activities, I’m mostly interested in discovering the islands, hiking, and observing wildlife.
I’m not a diver, but I plan to do a beginner’s dive once I’m there. I love snorkeling, though, and I’m wondering if I’m spending too much time in the Tuamotus, which are famous for diving from what I’ve seen.
For travel between the islands, I’ve already looked into the Bora Tuamotu Max pass, which seems like the best option, but I’d love advice on replacing it with one or more ferries.
What do you think? I’m struggling to finalize my itinerary.
We’ll be in Adelaide from February 24th to March 4th and we’d like to spend 3 days and 2 nights on Kangaroo Island.
Any recommendations?
We always travel with simple accommodations
Hi everyone, we're heading to Australia next month. We have 7 days to go from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. Should we visit Kangaroo Island or not? We can't decide! Thanks for your advice.
We really want to see kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to NZ at the end of January.
It’s peak season—do you think it’s necessary to book activities in advance (like a cruise to Milford Sound), or is it not essential?
Thanks
We’ll be in New Zealand starting March 15th. We’re considering renting a car from Christchurch to Auckland. We’ve read that a lot of ferries have been canceled—is that true? Would it be better to rent one car in the South Island and another in the North Island? Thanks, and happy New Year!
Hi,
When I hear our French friends talk about them, they’re the most beautiful islands in the world.
For those of you who’ve traveled extensively, is that really the case?
Are the prices for accommodation, even basic ones, justified? Isn’t a room in a family-run guesthouse at 150/200 € a bit much?
Are there other islands in Polynesia (non-French) that are just as "paradise-like" but more affordable?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hi everyone,
A quick introduction. I'm 27, I live in Picardy, and I'm getting married in 2017. We'd like to spend our honeymoon in French Polynesia for 3 weeks.
I'm open to all kinds of advice!!!
I think we'll use a travel agency because our work schedules don't leave us much time to organize the trip... Unless I change my mind! ;-)
But we don’t want our trip to turn into tourist clichés—we really don’t like that. That said, we *do* want to see those postcard-perfect beaches and landscapes!
We don’t dive, but I think we’ll try a beginner’s dive, and maybe even get our Level 1 certification, depending on how it goes (I read some comments about it on this forum).
Anyway, I’m looking for any information and internet links to make this trip a success.
This is THE trip of a lifetime, and it has to be perfect!
Thanks for your help!
I’m also checking out the different threads about Polynesia on this forum ;-)
Hi everyone,
What great news to read that Voyage Forum is back up and running—I’m so happy! 🙂 I need some advice for a trip we’re planning in 2025: New Caledonia and Australia.
We’ll arrive in Australia on September 1, 2025, and the plan is to spend 2 nights in Melbourne to explore the city, then rent a car to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, where we’ll arrive on September 12. Unfortunately, we won’t have time for the Great Ocean Road
I’ve checked several blogs for this route and here’s the itinerary I’ve put together:
9/4: Melbourne to Philip Island (140 km) – 1 night
9/5: Philip Island to Wilsons Promontory National Park – 2 nights
9/7: Raymond Island (free ferry to cross a 200 m sea channel) – Lakes Entrance – 1 night
9/8: Drive to Narooma (stop at Quarry Beach) – 1 night at "Bodalla Park Forest Rest Area"
9/9: Batemans Bay – Pebbly Beach – Dolphin Point – Jervis Bay – 1 night (to be found)
9/10: Jervis Bay and surroundings – 1 night at Bendeela Picnic Area
9/11: Blue Mountains National Park (1 hour from Sydney) – 1 night (to be found)
9/12: Arrival in Sydney
I know we won’t be able to see everything, and this 9-day route is just a starting point. The goal is to avoid rushing—if we see a place we like, we’ll stop, even if it means seeing less. A vacation where we don’t watch the clock too much! 🙂
Does this route (a mix of several blogs where not all stops are noted) seem realistic or too ambitious? Are there certain spots that are more worth prioritizing over the ones I’ve listed? For example, in one of the blogs I read, travelers skipped Blue Mountains National Park because they chose another site (which I’ve forgotten 😎).
For accommodation, we’ll likely be camping (free or paid), so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! 😎
Our arrival in Sydney on September 12 depends on my hope to participate in the marathon on September 15, 2025. After that, we’ll leave Sydney on September 17 for Ayers Rock.
Thanks in advance for your tips and ideas—it’s always tricky to plan a route from a distance when time is limited.
And long live this site, which I’ve missed so much since 2020! 😎🙂
