Photo Courtesy of Tahiti Tourism
Time permitting, I recommend that travelers spend a day or two on the island of Tahiti, the gateway to French Polynesia, and then head for the magical isle of Moorea. This is the place that polynesian daydreams are made of. It is one of my personal favorites – an island that is relatively easy to get to and has a lot to offer – even for repeat visitors.
Moorea, the mythical Bali Hai of author James Michener’s book Tales of the South Pacific, rises out of the wide, shallow lagoon in soaring emerald mountain ridges. This famous and captivating landscape has long inspired artists, writers and romantics from around the world.
As we depart the ferry dock and drive along the single narrow coastal road that circles the island, we pass dramatic peaks, sandy beaches, turquoise waters and deep valleys.
Cook’s Bay is magnificent but misnamed. Captain Cook actually stopped at Opunohu Bay, next along this route, where you frequently see a yacht or small ship anchored. This is where the HMS Bounty landed to search for breadfruit and the origin of the infamous Mutiny on the Bounty. If you have seen the movie(s) of the same name, you have already been transported here once. Driving up the winding inland road from Cooks Bay to the Belvedere Lookout Point will give you a bird’s eye view of both these spectacular bays.
As we continue around the island, you will see local villages, roadside stands, small boutiques, restaurants, and resorts/hotels sprinkled along the circumference of the island. There are no freeways , high rise hotels or shopping malls here.
Once we get comfortably relaxed and settled in, we will explore both land and sea and more
We’re almost “home”.
