je vais en Polynésie 😎 le 1er octobre 2009 pour 5 semaines et je souhaite surtout camper . Qui peut me donner des adresses de camping ou des liens Web pour les iles suivantes:
Tahiti iti et Tahiti nui + Moorea
Huahine + Raiatea
Rangiroa + Fakarava
et sur les Australes: Rurutu et Tubai
S'il n'y a pas de terrain de camping, est-il possible de camper chez les autochtones
Merci de me donner des informations, même sur une seule île parmi celles-ci.
et des liens, des sources etc qui me permettrons de fréquenter des endroits à "ne pas manquer".
il y a 2 ans, j'ai parcouru le sud de la Calédonie + les iles d'Ouvéa, Lifou, Maré, et des Pins, j'ai toujours campé sauf à Nouméa ( auberge de jeunesse) . Je garde des souvenirs les plus forts des liens que j'ai pu établir avec les familles kanaks chez qui j'ai mangé et campé. J'espère vivvre quelque chose d'aussi fort en Polynésie.
A Moorea il existe 1 seul camping : Camping Nelson à Haapiti
Sur Rangiroa certaines pensions acceptent les campeurs : voir le Rangiroa Lodge par ex.
Sur les autres îles, il faudra voir avec des pensions car le camping et le camping "sauvage" en PF n'est pas très populaire, dans tous les cas il faut demander l'autorisation au propriétaire du terrain, c'est un minimum.
il y a 25 ans l'on pouvait camper un peu n'importe où la polynésie c'était la paix...
et c'était beau
à présent le beau est artificiel fait de bungalow en béton qui dénaturent totalement les lagons à quel prix ?
maintenant le polynésien est devenu très agressif un peu à l'image des pitt bulls qui gardent les propriétés... et comme ce dernier est très suceptible sur la notion de propriété il peut être délicat voir dangeureux de faire du camping sans autorisation surtout si vous êtes un popa'a .
il reste les iles éloignées pour trouver un peu d'authentique sans quoi autour de tahiti et des iles sous le vent
Le désavantage est que ces îles et leur population ont perdu toute spontanéité vis à vis des touristes, l'accueil polynésien est devenu purement commercial, l'ensemble paraît bien aseptisé.
T'auras pas de problème pour trouver un endroit où poser ta tente.
Je ne connais pas vraiment d'adresse de terrain de camping ou de pension qui acceptent les campeurs (sauf à Mooréa: la camping Nelson), mais tu pourra assez facilement te trouver un ptit spot pour planter ta tente.
Je l'ai fait plusieurs fois à Tahiti Iti (sur des plages, un peu après Teahupoo ou vers Tautira). A Mooréa: je l'ai fait sur la plage public du sofitel, mais là normalement t'as pas trop le droit, il faut mieux demender au vigile qui surveille la plage.
Je l'ai fait aussi sur une ptite plage vers les Tipaniers, tu continues un peu plus loin vers la gauche en longant le lagon et tu trouvera des endroits tranquils.
Je l'ai fait aussi à côté d'une église dans la baie de Cook, sur une ptite étendue d'herbe. (Et là quand tu te réveil le matin, c'est TOP la vue sur la baie de Cook, avec la brume au dessus de la baie et le soleil qui éclaire petit à petit les montagnes. Je l'ai fait aussi à Bora Bora et Maupiti, mais ca t'interesse pas puisque t'y va pas.
Enfin bref tout ca pour dire que t'aura pas de mal a trouver un spot tranquil, et plus tu va dans les îles sauvages, plus ca sera facile. Tu trouvera forcément des ptites étendus d'herbe en bord de lagon, ou bien carrément sur les plages.
(A condition biensur que tu retires ta tente chaque matin pour la remettre le soir).
Sinon tu peu peut-etre aussi essayer de demender aux locaux pour mettre dans leur jardin mais là je peu pas te dire, je l'ai jamais fait. Mais jsui presque sûr que dans les îles éloignés (australes, ...) ca peut marcher et ca sera d'autant mieux que tu sera vraiment en contact avec les Polynésiens.
allez si t'as d'autres questions, hésites pas!
nana
merci Sabine pour toutes tes précisions , j'ai noté tes indications de campings.
si tu en as d'autres ! merci de penser à moi.
par ailleurs, et c'est bien que tu le reprécises, jamais je ne me permettrais de planter ma toile de tente sur un terrain sans préalablement connaître son propriétaire et recevoir une autorisation.
je suis effectivement un popa'a , sexagénaire et retraité qui a le temps et le goût du camping
mais, et tu fais bien de me le rappeler, je ne permettrais pas de camper sans en avoir reçu l'autorisation préalable
j'ai fait comme ça en Calédonie , je n'ai que des souvenirs d'accueils courtois.
merci d'avoir pris le temps de me répondre longuement
je note tes conseils et tes explications
je ne manquerai pas de demander aux locaux leur autorisation lorsque nécessaire
Beaucoup, beaucoup de possibilités 🙂
Au niveau des infos à glaner pour préparer ton trip :
- ici sur VF :
= utiliser l'onglet "rechercher", mots clés "camping polynésie" --> une quinzaine de discussions à parcourir
= toujours avec l'onglet "rechercher", entrer cette fois "margouillat4" --> j'ai déjà laissé pas mal de messages et photos à ce sujet mais il faudra que tu repères les titres des discussions Polynésie au milieu de toutes mes interventions
= notre page perso (signature du message), rubrique Polynésie :
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/miguel.angulo/Site/Page_daccueil.html
- sur le net :
http://books.google.fr/books?id=e_uyx7P0ykgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=petit+fut%C3%A9+tahiti&source=gbs_book_other_versions_r&cad=0_0#PPP1, M1
Il s'agit du "Petit Futé" en ligne. Toutes les pages ne sont pas accessibles mais tu auras déjà une belle quantité d'infos sur la plupart des îles qui t'intéressent et il ne te restera plus qu'à... te procurer le bouquin ou le Lonely Planet qui répertorie également les campings officiels dans toutes les îles de Polynésie (tu trouveras ton bonheur sans difficultés à Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tubuai). Et là où il n'y en a pas d'officiel (à ma connaissance Tahiti et Rurutu, sauf nouveauté récente), eh bien comme toujours, c'est... "et plus si affinités" 😉
Place soigneusement l'un ou l'autre au fond de ton sac à dos car tu y trouveras également toutes les possibilités de déplacement entre les îles (rotations aériennes, cargos, navettes etc...).
Par curiosité :
http://www.sejour-a-rangiroa.com/info.htm
Une rectification : en fait, tu peux également planter ta tente en toute sérénité à Rurutu, contrairement à ce que j'ai écrit dans mon précédent message (j'ai eu du mal à remettre la main sur cette info "soigneusement" mise de côté 😏 ) :
http://chez.mana.pf/ANTONIERIC/presentfrancais.htm
Il ne te reste plus qu'à trouver pour Tahiti... 😛 mais si tu loues une voiture, tu as de multiples solutions possibles 😉
encore moi, j'ai utilisé le premier lien de ton second message
Marie Kamake, ça me disait quelque chose !
je lui ai envoyé un mail il y a quelques semaines et elle m'a dit qu'elle avait définitivement fermé son gite
donc je n'ai rien pour Rurutu actuellement , mais ça n'ai pas inquiétant !
je voulais que tu le saches .
Ah ben zut... 😕 Un de plus... euh un de moins, je ne sais plus ce qu'il faut dire.
Merci pour l'info, n'hésite pas à rectifier, corriger et faire part de tes trouvailles au fur et à mesure de tes recherches, cela nous servira aussi prochainement 😉
Salut pour ma part j ai fait comme toi Calédonie en 2005 ou pd 3mois sur les 4 on a camper essenciellement au 4 coins du caillou et de ses iles au alentour, j en garde aussi un très bon souvenir et de nombreux amis , puis en nov 2009 on est partis en Polynésie (51 jours). cette fois si on c est accordé un peu de "luxe" a comprendre un lit simplement. Au final sur Huahine qui pourrait t interesser y a le camping chez armelle (pension toe toe mais celle qui est au sud de l ile sur la petite presqu ile. On peut y planter la tente avec une belle vue sur le lagon (les pieds dans l eau), y a un autre endroits pas très lin de cette pension desolé me rappelle plus du nom. Sur Raiatea, je n ai pas entendu parlé de camping mais sur Tahaa oui coté Ouest de l'ile. Pour Rangi connais pas mais sur Faka par contre (on y a passé 2 semaines chez un pot) le seul camping qu il y avait (chez Mathilde pas très loin de l excellent snack resto de chez teavanui) ne fait plus que pension. En tout cas je pense qu il y a tjs moyen de faire connaissance et de discuter...
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! 😎🙂
