#88548 - 01/24/11 12:30 PM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: B66556679]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
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If you want to get some sleep before getting to the Air Tahiti agency, there's a small pension near the airport (they'll pick you up) called Heitiare-Inn, very reasonable price and ok for a nights sleep...
What to do with your time depends on what you want to do (diving etc) and what you want to see...
You may want to consider:
1 day Tahiti (also to get your pass organised)
3 days Moorea
3 days Huahine (it is so beautiful you'd want to calculate that in IMHO)
3 (or 4) days BB (who knows, if you're energetic and active you could do a 1 day return by fast vessel to Maupiti it gives you plenty of time on the one day to go around and see what's all about - www.maupitiexpress.com -sea get's rough sometimes especially on the way back to BB going east)
4 days Rangiroa
2 days Ahe (nice little atoll with no big hotels)
Back to Tahiti
just an idea... you could play around with the number of days, like do Moorea on 2 days as yes it is very beautiful mountain wise but you'll see that it is pretty developped as it is a sort of suburb of Tahiti with a lot of commuters living there... I would calculate an extra day on the islands where you'll dive for pressure reasons when flying after
Lagoonarium on BB is in Anau, not a very nice area to be, to be honest, check out the small pension on Matira point chez Rosine Masson or Robert & Tina right at the end of Matira point, these are simple places so don't expect too much in terms of hospitality other than the basic stuff lol) but you're within walking distance of a good small supermarket, pizza place and plenty of little snacks
_________________________
* with sunshine *
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#88549 - 01/24/11 01:12 PM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: Poehere]
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B66556679
Junior Member
Registered: 06/07/09
Posts: 19
Loc: England
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I didn't realise about the Maupiti Express so that's definitely something I'll look into, especially after seeing photos of a friends trip to Maupiti a couple of months ago!
I'll take that into account about Moorea - 2 days might be enough - I'm thinking maybe a 4x4 tour of the island one day then just a bit of exploring myself the following day?
I checked the Air Tahiti website and it's a bit tricky to get to Ahe in my time constraints, what do you think of Tikehau or Fakarava or Manihi? I've heard Tikehau has quite a few pink sand beaches and good diving?
If I didn't spend the first day in Tahiti, would I still be able to sort my airpass out in the time between landing and getting a flight to Moorea?
I've got over a week relaxing on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands straight after my trip to FP, so I don't mind doing a bit more travelling and exploring and less relaxing during my time in FP!
Thanks
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#88554 - 01/24/11 02:28 PM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: B66556679]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
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Oh you could also do BB - Manihi and then on to Rangiroa... guess they're all fine, I am an atoll lover so hard to suggest which one if having to pick LOL Fakarava has a beautiful pass in the south, long boat ride from the main village though but splendid for diving too. Manihi is a smaller atoll as well, pretty nice people but diving is better Tikehau or Fakarava. Fishing (outside the lagoon) is good though in Manihi lol
I think you should try read up on the different atolls to see which one (apart from Rangiroa) appeals most to you... and then try work out a schedule to have it ready at hand when going to the Air Tahiti agency in the airport in Faa'a, so as not to use too much time and double check with them for the exact schedules, due to very low tourism flights get cut or re-routed which won't show up on their online schedule.
_________________________
* with sunshine *
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#88567 - 01/25/11 04:41 AM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: Poehere]
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B66556679
Junior Member
Registered: 06/07/09
Posts: 19
Loc: England
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OK, cheers, I've been looking and think I'm going to go for Tikehau, although it might still be Fakarava! Thanks for all the help, now I've just got to figure out a way to fit them all in!
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#88604 - 01/26/11 12:19 PM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: B66556679]
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B66556679
Junior Member
Registered: 06/07/09
Posts: 19
Loc: England
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Hi Poehere, one last question - do you know of any budget accommodation on Tikehau, or does anyone know of anything? Thanks
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#88605 - 01/26/11 12:46 PM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: B66556679]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1878
Loc: Denver, Co.
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Try this link. It's a list of pensiones by island.
http://www.haere-mai.pf/index.php?page=accueil&lg=en
I am considering Tikehau Village or Relais Tikehau.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#88607 - 01/26/11 01:34 PM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: DenverJoe]
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B66556679
Junior Member
Registered: 06/07/09
Posts: 19
Loc: England
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Ah that's great, thank you! I'll go with one of the cheaper options - maybe Pension Hotu or Chez Justine.
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#88683 - 02/01/11 08:14 AM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: B66556679]
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B66556679
Junior Member
Registered: 06/07/09
Posts: 19
Loc: England
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Would you risk flying from Fakarava back to Tahiti the night before I'm meant to leave for Rarotonga? My main concern is that if the flight was cancelled/moved, I wouldn't be able to get back to Tahiti in time for my flight the next morning, and would end up in Tahiti for another week before I can get the next flight out to the Cooks. Also, I checked on the Air Tahiti website, and they've suddenly changed the flight from Papeete - Rarotonga to a Thursday when you go on to book it, whereas it used to be Tuesday up until a few days ago, and is still Tuesday on the Air Rarotonga site - anyone know if this is just a mistake or if they're actually changing it?
Thanks
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#88688 - 02/01/11 02:30 PM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: B66556679]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Hi Ben. I've dived a fair bit in FP, but not Rangi yet. Tikehau is sensational (Jacques Cousteau rated it as the largest variety of fish species anywhere on the planet) and I can attest to that. Manihi is also similar.
Moorea, Bora Bora and Taha'a/Raiatea are very similar to each other, however in 2009, Moorea and Taha'a/Raiatea had alot of crown of thorns there. I'm told that between them and the cyclone last year, there is considerable damage. Blue Nui even closed their dive shop on Taha'a.
Bora Bora has SOME damage from the cyclone, but not inside the lagoon. Most of the Mantas at Anau have returned to the cleaning station and Muri Muri is still one of my favourite sites for hand feeding turtles. I have my underwater photos of Bora Bora taken Nov 2010 here:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=797510519309%3A252031889&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee
According to the locals, in April you'll get:
Bora Bora - Sharks, Manatas, Barracuda, Turtles, Morays, Eagle Rays. Moorea - Sharks, Turtles and Schooling fish. Huahine - Sharks, Leopard Rays, Barracuda and Morays . Raiatea/Taha'a - Reef Sharks, Humphead Wrasses, Recks and Caves (coral damaged though). Tikehau - all Sharks (grey, lemon, black silver and white tip), Mantas, African Pompano (but will miss the Hammerheads and Humpback whales). Rangiroa - Hammerhead sharks, Eagle Rays, Barracuda, turtles, dolphins and deep sea Sharks. Manihi - Grey Black and White tipped sharks, Mantas and African Pompano (you'll just miss the Moray gathering to mate and the Leopard Rays). Fakarava - Hammerheads, Leopard Rays, Barracuda, Turtles, Deep Water Sharks, Turtles (but miss the Moray gathering which is in May).
All this information can be found at:
www.diving-tahiti.com
Hope this helps.
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#88689 - 02/01/11 03:12 PM
Re: Tahiti trip this April
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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B66556679
Junior Member
Registered: 06/07/09
Posts: 19
Loc: England
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Thanks, that is really helpful info, the best diving advice I've had or seen so far so thank you! Great pictures by the way, especially of the mantas!
Still deciding on my exact itinerary but I think I'm leaning towards spending more time on the atolls and less in the Society Islands, just got to work it all out with flight times and everything!
Cheers again!
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