Getting to and around French Polynesia - Complete guide
Going to French Polynesia is a dream for many people, as this French overseas territory is made up of numerous islands offering a heavenly setting for a dream holiday. And if you're finally lucky enough to be able to travel there, you've come to the right place to find out how to get there and get around!
Made up of 118 islands spread over 5 archipelagos, French Polynesia covers more than 4,000 km², making it an immense territory to explore. With tropical jungles, fine sandy beaches, lagoons in breathtaking shades of blue and small deserted islands, there are plenty of idyllic landscapes to discover! But with so many islands to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which ones to go to and, above all, how to get there. So if you're in the middle of planning your holiday, this article will answer all your questions about getting around French Polynesia!
Arrival in Papeete, Tahiti
If you decide to visit French Polynesia by air, all international flights land atTahiti's Fa'a'ā international airport. The other islands with airports in the 5 archipelagos are served only by local flights operated by Air Tahiti and Air Moana.
Direct flights to Tahiti International Airport depart from the west coast of the United States (Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle), New Zealand (Auckland), Fiji (Nadi), Hawaii (Honolulu), the Cook Islands (Rarotonga) and Japan (Narita International Airport in Tokyo). So if you're planning to fly to Polynesia from Paris or any other city, you'll need to plan a stopover at one of these airports.
Apart from flying, the only other way to get to French Polynesia is by boat, either on a Pacific cruise from Fiji, for example, or on your own boat if you have one. If you would like to discover Polynesia with your own boat, or hire one locally to visit the archipelagos from the sea, you are strongly advised to consult the Direction Polynésienne des Affaires Maritimes website for information on the procedures to follow.
Getting to the other islands of the Society Archipelago
As the most populated and busiest archipelago in French Polynesia, the Society Archipelago has the most air links between its different islands. Buying an Air Tahiti multi-island pass covering several of them could be a good way of saving money during your stay! But the cheapest way to get around is still by ferry, with various connections from Tahiti to Moorea (the busiest connection, with around ten rotations a day operated by the Aremiti, Terevau and Vaeara'i companies), Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a and Bora Bora, or from Bora Bora to Taha'a, Raiatea and Maupiti.
Within the archipelago, there are a few islands that are only accessible in certain ways:
- Tetiaroa, a private island under emphyteutic lease in the name of the famous actor Marlon Brando, is accessible by plane with Air Tetiaroa for guests ofThe Brando hotel, or for a day trip on a catamaran from Papeete;
- Maiao, now accessible by boat via the Tapuae Manu 4 communal shuttle service from Moorea;
- Tupai, the heart-shaped island that can be flown over by helicopter from Bora Bora, with a 40-minute stopover to enjoy this uninhabited corner of paradise.
Finally, you can also discover the Society Archipelago by taking part in a cruise that will link the different islands without you having to worry about the logistics yourself!
Getting to the islands of the Tuamotu archipelago
The Tuamotu archipelago is the second most visited in French Polynesia, and is easily accessible by plane from Tahiti. It comprises 76 atolls, of which only 3 are included in the Air Tahiti passes for the Tuamotus: Rangiroa, Fakarava and Tikehau. Apart from this trio, inter-island flights between the various airports in the archipelago are virtually non-existent, forcing you to go back via Papeete if you want to get to Makemo or Manihi, for example. Alternatively, you can take part in a catamaran cruise to discover some of the Tuamotu's lesser-known atolls.
Getting to the islands of the Marquesas archipelago
To the north of the Tuamotus, the Marquesas archipelago is a group of 12 unspoilt islands, with an environment that is still different from that of the other Polynesian islands. Only half of these islands are inhabited, and only the 2 main ones, Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, are accessible by plane from Papeete (if you're interested, Air Tahiti offers a Marquesas pass). In the northern part of the archipelago, 2 other Marquesas islands have airports, Ua Huka and Ua Pou, linked only to Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa. Taking the plane will allow you to visit 4 of the 6 inhabited islands! But if you want to visit all of them, you can link the last 2, Fatu Hiva and Tahuata, by boat using the Marquesas local shuttle service. Finally, as with the other archipelagos, you can also take part in the Aranui cruises, one of which allows you to discover the Marquesas by sea from Papeete!
Getting to the islands of the Gambier archipelago
The Gambier Islands, of which there are 14, are isolated from the other Polynesian archipelagos, with almost 4 hours flying time separating them from Papeete. They are all grouped together in the same lagoon, which is home to Mangareva, the main island. Mangareva, the main island, can be reached from the archipelago's only airport in 45 minutes by boat, thanks to the town hall's maritime shuttle service. As with Bora Bora, the airport is located on a motu, the motu Totegegie!
Getting to the islands of the Austral archipelago
Still little-known, the Australes are a group of 7 islands scattered to the south of Tahiti, 5 of which are inhabited. You can reach 4 of them (Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae and Rimatara) by plane from Papeete, as they each have their own airport (Air Tahiti also offers Australes passes for 2, 3 or all 4 islands). The last island, Rapa, can only be reached by ferry from Papeete! Of course, you can also visit the islands on a cruise, thanks in particular to the Aranui cruises.
Getting around the islands
If you're lucky enough to be going to French Polynesia, you've probably already wondered how to get around once you're there, on each of the islands you'll be taking the time to discover. And if you're thinking of hiring a car, you should know that it won't be necessary everywhere!
The only islands where hiring a car is virtually indispensable are the largest in the Society archipelago: Tahiti, Moorea and Raiatea. On the slightly smaller islands of Huahine, Taha'a and Bora Bora, hiring a scooter will be more than sufficient, or even just a bicycle for Bora Bora, which is smaller than the others. As for Maupiti, Maiao and Tetiaroa, you can walk around the islands without any difficulty! This is also the case for the Tuamotu atolls, where you may only need to take a sea shuttle to reach your accommodation.
For the Marquesas Islands, you can hire a car or scooter, but this isn't really necessary as accommodation offers shuttle buses to the airport, and organised excursions include transport. On Mangareva in the Gambiers, you can hire a car, but a scooter or even a bicycle is all you need to get around the island quickly. The same applies to the Austral islands, the largest of which, Tubuai, is just 45 km².
A trip to French Polynesia means discovering a vast territory with an exceptionally rich environment and culture. So once your trip is well organised in terms of travel and accommodation, don't wait to take a look at the best things to do in French Polynesia so you can book your next Polynesian adventure in advance!
And if you need a guide to the must-see experiences on Polynesia's most visited islands, don't hesitate to consult our Top 8: