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- Destinations
- Australasia
- Tahiti and French Polynesia
- Tahiti
Tahiti
French Polynesia's main island of Tahiti (meaning 'the gathering
place') stands sentinel over her surrounding sisters like a proud
queen, her soaring interior mountains sheltering deep valleys,
plummeting waterfalls and crystal streams flowing down to the
rugged coastline of black and white sand beaches and blue lagoons.
Tahiti is made up of two islands, Tahiti-Nui and Tahiti-Iti, joined
by a narrow isthmus.
Most holidaymakers start their island idyll at the international
Faa'a Airport at Papeete, Tahiti's capital and the commercial hub
of French Polynesia. The small, busy city has a French flavour and
laid-back atmosphere, worth exploring for its vibrant Central
Market, pearl shops, attractive waterfront with its unique mobile
diners, and a selection of excellent restaurants. Another must for
visitors is to take a round-the-island tour, along the 73-mile
(117km) road encircling the island, passing historic monuments,
museums, beaches, ruined temples, waterfalls, gardens and dramatic
scenery.
The island's best white sand beaches are between Punaauia and
Papara, but most visitors get more of a thrill out of visiting the
famed black sand beaches on the east coast, particularly renowned
Pointe Venus. Besides enjoying the seaside, Tahiti also offers some
interesting sightseeing, including magnificent Botanical gardens,
museums, archaeological sites, the tomb of the royal family Pomare,
a lake containing unique eared eels, lava tubes, and a host of
other unusual experiences.
Information & Facts
Climate
Like all of French Polynesia, Tahiti enjoys tropical, warm and
humid weather all year round, averaging eight hours of sunshine per
day over a year. The islands experience a rainy season, generally
between late October and early March, when cloudy skies and brief
heavy rain showers can occur. The rest of the year rain is rare and
temperatures constantly high, tempered sometimes by refreshing
breezes. The water temperature ranges between 79° F and 84° F (26°C
to 29°C) making for extremely pleasant bathing all year round.
Getting Around
Tahiti has its own public transit system known as 'Le Truck',
the open-air vehicles covering Papeete and surrounding towns with
informal frequent stops. There are plenty of taxis, best arranged
through the hotel concierge, and car rentals can be arranged at the
airport or hotels. Helicopters or a variety of sea-going craft can
be hired for island tours.
Language
French and Tahitian are the official languages; English
is widely spoken.
Money
The unit of currency in French Polynesia is the French Pacific
Franc (XPF), divided into 100 centimes. The exchange rate is fairly
stable as it is linked to the Euro. Banks throughout the islands
are open mainly on weekdays only and are the best place to change
foreign currency; rates of exchange are not as good at hotels.
There are ATMs on a few of the islands, but shouldn't be relied
upon. Most hotels and resorts will exchange travellers cheques in
US$ or Euros, and credit cards and US currency is readily accepted
on the main islands. Tourism taxes are levied for accommodation and
activities.
Time
GMT -10 (The Marquesas Islands are half an hour ahead of the
rest of French Polynesia).