Ns partons 3 semaines en polynesie le 8 juillet. Concernant Bora Bora, Ns aimerions y faire un saut une nuit. J'ai entendu parlé de la pension "chez Henriette" ou il serait possible de planter sa tente tranquillement moyennant finance. Cependant je n'ai pas trouvé grand chose sur cette pension à l'aide de la fonction recherche du site et elle n'est pas nn plus répertorié sur le lonely planet. Cette pension existe toujours?
Pour une nuit et dans le même style, vous avez également Moon B&B (voir également dans le lien), dans la baie de Povai, plus près du quai du Maupiti Express.
Je pensais que les 3/4 des pensions, camping étaient répertoriés dans le lonely planet? Apparament nn, sur Huahine, pas moyen de trouver non plus la pension "chez Etienne" dont tu parlais justement sur une autre discussion il me semble margouillat4.
Est il possible de camper dans cette pension?
Pour Bora, cette île n'était pas prévu dans notre programme car je l'a trouvais trop cher et surtt car on passe 3 jours à Maupiti. Cependant, on m'a dit que c'etait possible de trouver une pension ou planter sa tente sur Bora, donc pourquoi pas prendre le maupiti express et passer une nuit à Bora et 2 à Maupiti.
La pension Moon vs la connaissez Margouillat4?
Est ce que visiter Bora et surtt le lagon vaut vraiment le coup sachant que l'on passe à Maupiti qui apparament est magnifique? Ou est il préférable de garder son argent pour une activité sur une autre ile?
pas moyen de trouver non plus la pension "chez Etienne" dont tu parlais justement sur une autre discussion il me semble margouillat4.
Est il possible de camper dans cette pension?
Non, plus possible... "Vaihonu Océan" (c'est son nom officiel) a changé de formule, il ne fait plus que pension.
J'en parle d'ailleurs dans notre dernier carnet "Polynésie 2010" : http://miguel.angulo.pagesperso-orange.fr/polynesie_2010/index.htm Jettes-y un coup d'oeil car je donne d'autres tuyaux en page d'intro et au fil des commentaires photos.
La pension Moon vs la connaissez Margouillat4?
Oui, c'est là que nous avions passé une nuit, de retour de Maupiti ; c'était en 2004... En fait, sous un abord bourru, le propriétaire s'avérait plutôt sympathique et il s'était même bien décarcassé pour nous faire embarquer le lendemain sur le Hawaiki Nui. D'autres personnes s'en plaignent, pas nous...
Est ce que visiter Bora et surtt le lagon vaut vraiment le coup sachant que l'on passe à Maupiti qui apparament est magnifique? Ou est il préférable de garder son argent pour une activité sur une autre ile?
Dans votre cas, arrivant de Maupiti, c'est vrai que le stop à Bora n'est pas essentiel bien que le lagon et son jardin de corail soient absolument superbes. Disons que si vous y passez de toutes manières en rentrant avec le Maupiti Express, c'est bien de le voir ; mais dans ce cas, restez-y plutôt 2 jours pleins sinon ce sera la course...
A propos du Maupiti Express : http://www.maupitiexpress.com/ Il a bien repris son service le 13 mai dernier et les jours et horaires mentionnés sur son site sont bons.
Pour ce 1er voyage en polynésie, on ne fera "que" les îles de la société. On reste 7 jours sur tahiti car on de la famille à voir. Puis 3 nuits à moorea, tipaniers une nuit avec des amis puis camping Nelson 2 Nuits. Huahine 4 nuits, on va aller à Hiva Plage au camping, on veut camper aussi dans le nord de l'ile mais on ne trouve pas de camping, vs en connaissez? 2 nuits a Raiatea au camping Sunset, 2 nuits à Tahaa pension Atger tout compris puis 3 nuits à Maupiti à la pension Auira surement en camping. Après quelques recherches je pense qu'on ne fera pas Bora Bora et que l'on utilisera l'argent du Maupiti express pour louer un scooter à Huahiné. On compte en louer un aussi à Moorea.
Connaissez vous également un hôtel sur Papeete non loin de l'aéroport et pas trop cher pour notre dernière nuit?
Huahine 4 nuits, on va aller à Hiva Plage au camping, on veut camper aussi dans le nord de l'ile mais on ne trouve pas de camping, vs en connaissez?
Pour l'instant, plus de camping dans le secteur N... Sur le quai de Fare, à gauche du supermarché, il y a l'ancien "chez guynette" (je crois que cela ne s'appelle plus ainsi mais on ne peut pas se tromper d'endroit), petite pension/auberge sympa et pas ruineuse dont les échos sont très positifs. Pas testé personnellement mais comme vous allez à Hiva Plage, demandez conseil à Christelle, elle saura vous renseigner judicieusement.
Connaissez vous également un hôtel sur Papeete non loin de l'aéroport et pas trop cher pour notre dernière nuit?
Un hôtel sur Papeete non loin de l'aéroport et pas trop cher pour notre dernière nuit, ça fait beaucoup pour la Polynésie 😏
Pas cher mais au centre de Papeete (et pas testé personnellement) essayez http://chez.mana.pf/~tahitihostel/fr_presen.htm ou du côté de Paea http://www.pensiontemiti.com/index.htm
Ces 2 adresses proposent des dortoirs ; par contre pour la 2e, renseignez-vous sur le prix du transfert vers l'aéroport.
Votre vol international retour est à quelle heure ?
2 possibilités pour y monter :
- en partant du village de Vaiea, pratiquement en face du snack Tarona ;
- depuis le seul petit col de la route qui fait le tour de l'île. On passe dans le jardin de la maison et on suit la crête, tant bien que mal...
L'idéal est de monter d'un côté (village) et redescendre de l'autre (vers la route). Compter environ 4h.
Pour un AR depuis le point de départ qu'on aura choisi, c'est +/- 3 h.
Ce n'est pas une simple promenade ; le rocher est très glissant après une pluie et la partie finale est délicate, sur une crête rocheuse escarpée.
En 2004 (année où nous y étions), ce n'était pas si évident que ça ; peut-être est-ce mieux indiqué à présent.
Nous sommes de retour après 3 semaines en polynésie et le retour à la vie parisienne est TRES difficile!! se remettre du décalage horaire également!
C'est vraiment magnifique, le billet d'avion est cher mais il est vite oublié tellement nous sommes enchantés de ce voyage.
La vie est chère mais on arrive tout de même à ne pas exploser son budget.
Pour ceux que ca intéressent, voici nos campings ou pensions :
Moorea: pension Fare Pol, petite pension, fare qui commence à vieillir mais très agréable, à 1m de l'eau, pas trop cher.
Camping Nelson : Camping pas trop mal, proprio pas très bavard mais honnête et arrangeant, beau terrain, sanitaire correct.
Huahine : Camping hiva plage, prix vraiment attractif pour le camping, patronne très sympa, beau cadre.
pension ariitere : chbre très agréable, propre, avec ptit dej pour 6200 franc, très bon rapport qualité prix.
Raiatea : camping sunset rien à dire, vraiment nickel
Tahaa : Pension Atger sur un motu 9000 franc pour une pension complete c'est vraiment pas cher, le patron théodore un polynésien mais vite dans l'ambiance.
Maupiti : On devait passer 3 jours au camping Auira, on y a séjourné finalement qu'une nuit!! Seul le cadre est vraiment magnifique car pour le reste.... Enormément de moustiques mais si il n'y avait que ca on serait resté. Les sanitaires si on peut appeler ca des sanitaires sont dégeulasses, pas entretenus... Les gérants sont faux cul au possible, pas agréable, pas disponible. On à l'impression d'être une pompe à fric!! Une impression que l'on a ressenti sur aucune ile tellement les polynésiens sont gentils et acceuillants. Le pire est donc le prix, Gilbert nous à fait payer 8000 francs pour une nuit....de camping! 2000/pers pour le camping et 2000/pers pour le transfert sachant que pour le retour il nous à juste fait traverser du motu à l'ile!! Pour les connaisseurs, on peut effectuer ce trajet à pied avec de l'eau en dessous de la taille. Mais pas moyen de discuter.
Pour les 2 derniers jours sur maupiti, nous sommes allés à la pension poe iti. Là le changement fut radical, la pension est très belle et gérald et sa femme vraiment très gentils. On leur à parler de la pension Auira et apparament nous ne sommes pas les seuls à nous plaindre, ca nous rassure ce n'est pas nous qui sommes difficile...
Iaorana, Avis à tous ceux qui avaient réservé un séjour à la pension CHEZ NONO situé à BORA BORA au bord de la plage de MATIRA, un violent incendie s'est…
Perdue parmi des tas de renseignements ici et là, j'ai du mal à organiser mon voyage solo en Polynésie. Je suis adepte du snorkeling, pas de rando, donc, l'eau…
Quelqu'un a-t-il déjà entendu parler de cette nouvelle pension tenue par Luau et Rudi? Ils proposent à la location une chambre avec salle de bain privée dans…
Je n'arrête pas de changer d'avis. D'abord je voulais me rendre aux Marquises (Nuku Hiva) et maintenant c'est Maupiti qui m'attire. Je ne veux pas aller d'île…
Commençons à vérifier la disponibilité des logements dans l'archipel de la Société. Octobre pendant 3 semaines, nous ne savons pas encore l'ordre des îles, se…
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! 😎🙂
