10 Best things to do in Moorea + useful travel tips
Moorea is an incredible island and easily one of our favourite places on earth. Think spectacular mountains, beautiful beaches and a bright blue ocean. It really doesn't get much better than this! We recommend spending at least a week in Moorea to give yourself enough time to visit all the beautiful places around the island, although you could easily stay here for two weeks without getting bored. Moorea was one of our favourite islands during our trip through French Polynesia.
How to get to Moorea
Moorea is located very close to Tahiti, the main island of French Polynesia, making it an easy island to visit after arriving in Tahiti. You can fly from Tahiti to Moorea, but we wouldn't recommend it. Although the flight itself only takes a few minutes, you'll still need to arrive at the airport well in advance and flights are relatively expensive. Instead, we recommend taking the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea. Since the islands are so close to each other, travelling by ferry can actually be quicker overall. The crossing takes between 30 and 50 minutes, depending on the ferry, and there are several departures throughout the day.
How many days do you need in Moorea?
We recommend spending at least five nights in Moorea because there's so much to do!
Especially if you're planning to swim with whales or stingrays or simply want to spend a day relaxing on the beach, these activities can easily take up a large part of your day.
We stayed in Moorea for just over a week and loved every moment of our time here. We would happily return!
Renting a car in Moorea
Although Moorea isn't a particularly large island, we definitely recommend renting a car during your stay. It's not only useful for visiting the different sights around the island, but also for getting from the ferry terminal to your accommodation. Many hotels and apartments are located on the opposite side of the island from the ferry terminal. That might sound far away, but without stopping, you can drive around the entire island in about an hour. So you'll never have to spend very long in the car.
Unfortunately, you can't currently rent a car in Moorea through Sunny Cars, so you'll need to arrange one with a local rental company instead. We chose Auto Rent Moorea and were very happy with their service.
Another major advantage is that Auto Rent Moorea is located only about 800 metres from the ferry terminal, making it easy to walk there when you arrive in Moorea. The roads in Moorea are also perfectly fine to drive on. There's basically one main road running around the island and several roads leading inland. The roads are well maintained and we found plenty of places to park.
Where to stay in Moorea
One of the best areas to stay in Moorea is Papetoai. It's located on the opposite side of the island from the ferry terminal but is easy to reach by car. You'll find several accommodations, restaurants and small shops in and around Papetoai. Moorea's large supermarket is about a 30-minute drive away, but there are plenty of smaller shops nearby where you can pick up drinks and snacks.
What are the est things to do in Moorea?
There are plenty of things to do in Moorea, especially if you love nature, hiking and marine life. These were our ten favourite activities during our stay.
Visit Toatea Lookout
One of the first sights you can visit after arriving by ferry is Toatea Lookout.
This beautiful viewpoint is located right next to the road and offers a gorgeous view over the ocean with Tahiti in the background. Although most of French Polynesia's famous overwater villas can be found in Bora Bora, Moorea has several beautiful resorts with overwater bungalows as well. From Toatea Lookout, you'll also have a great view of one of these resorts. It's an easy stop and definitely worth adding to your Moorea itinerary.
Have lunch at Coco Beach
Coco Beach is located on a small motu just off the coast of Moorea. Besides beautiful beaches, you'll find a lovely restaurant here that's open for lunch. You can reserve a table in advance and need to be at the departure point at the agreed time. From there, you'll board the restaurant's boat, which will take you across to the little island.
Once you arrive, you can enjoy a delicious lunch — definitely try the fresh ceviche! — followed by some swimming and sunbathing. It's the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon.
Swim with whales
One of the most incredible things to do in Moorea is swimming with humpback whales.
During whale season, you can join one of the local tour operators and head out to sea in search of humpback whales. Swimming alongside these enormous animals is one of the most magical experiences you can have in French Polynesia. The crew looks for signs of whale activity, and by using an underwater microphone, you may even get to hear the whales singing. Once whales have been found and conditions allow it, you can quietly enter the water and swim near them. It's an absolutely unforgettable experience!
There are strict rules surrounding whale encounters in French Polynesia to protect the animals and minimise disturbance. Tour operators have to follow regulations about how boats and swimmers can approach the whales, which makes choosing a responsible operator especially important.
We booked our trip with Moorea Expedition and had a great experience with them.
Hike Magic Mountain
The hike to Magic Mountain isn't very long, but it is quite steep. For that reason, we recommend doing this hike early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it isn't quite as hot. Although the climb can be challenging, it's definitely worth it! You'll find several benches along the way where you can stop and catch your breath. Once you reach the top, there's a viewing platform with beautiful views over the ocean and the island.
Visit Belvedere Lookout
Unlike Magic Mountain, Belvedere Lookout can be reached by car, and there are even several parking spaces at the viewpoint. Since this is one of Moorea's most popular viewpoints, it can get busy. For the best experience, try visiting early in the morning or later in the day when it's quieter. From the viewpoint, you'll have an incredible view over Opunohu Bay and Cook's Bay, surrounded by Moorea's dramatic green mountains.
Drive along Cook's Bay
Cook's Bay is a beautiful bay that's worth exploring either on foot or by car. From almost every side of the bay, you'll have beautiful views of the mountains, water and countless palm trees. A little further along, you'll even find a low-hanging palm tree that makes the tropical scenery look almost too perfect. Definitely have your camera ready!
Take photos with a traditional flower crown
Along the roads in Moorea, you'll find small stalls where locals sell beautiful traditional flower crowns. We found several stalls near the large Champion supermarket close to the ferry terminal, as well as around Cook's Bay. A flower crown costs around €20 to €30 and can stay fresh for several days, especially if you keep it in the fridge overnight. We loved wearing ours while exploring the island and, of course, they're perfect for taking some beautiful tropical photos in Moorea.
Hike to Three Pines Lookout
The Three Pines Lookout is another really fun hike in Moorea. Since it gets hot and humid quickly, we again recommend starting early in the morning or waiting until later in the afternoon.
The trail starts near the parking area at Belvedere Lookout. From here, take the trail on the left towards Three Pines. We really enjoyed this hike because the trail takes you straight through the jungle. You'll duck underneath trees and cross small streams using stepping stones as you make your way up. Some sections are steep, but luckily the entire trail isn't like this.
Once you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with a beautiful view over the bay. There's also an Instagram-worthy swing where you can take some great photos.
Hike the Three Coconuts Trail
At Belvedere Lookout, you'll find the trail to Three Coconuts on the right-hand side. This hike is slightly more challenging than the Three Pines trail, but it's still a really enjoyable hike and, once again, you'll be rewarded with amazing views.
Along the way, we came across lots of chickens that decided to walk part of the trail with us. One of them even followed us all the way to the top. If you happen to love chickens, that's a fun little bonus. 😉
Swim with sharks and stingrays
At Les Tipaniers, you can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. During the high season, it's a good idea to reserve one a day in advance to make sure they're available.
From the beach, you can kayak for around ten minutes to a shallow area further out in the lagoon. You'll probably be able to spot the location from the beach because there are usually several boats and swimmers around. This shallow part of the lagoon is home to lots of blacktip reef sharks and stingrays. Don't worry, these aren't the scary sharks you're probably imagining. 😉 The stingrays are incredibly curious and may swim right up to you. Maybe they're being friendly... or perhaps they're just hoping you've brought them something tasty!
You can, of course, book a guided tour to visit this area. However, renting your own kayak is considerably cheaper, which is why we'd recommend doing it this way if you're comfortable kayaking independently. Another advantage is that you can decide how long you want to stay and can even return another day to see these adorable 'underwater puppies' again.
