Travel To French Polynesia
FIND HOTELS IN FRENCH POLYNESIA
GENERAL INFO
French Polynesia is a semi-autonomous overseas territory of the Republic of France which consists of one hundred and eighteen islands situated within the five island groups of the Austral Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesa Islands, the Society Islands, which also includes the Windward Islands group, and the Tuamotu Archipelago.
The Austral Islands consist of seven islands which cover a land area of 148 square kilometers and have a population of 6,000 people.
The Gambier Islands consist of fourteen islands which cover a land area of thirty one square kilometers and have a population of 1,400 people.
The Marquesa Islands consist of fifteen islands which cover a land area of 1,049 square kilometers and have a population of 8,600 people.
The Society Islands and Windward Islands group consists of fourteen islands which cover a land area of 1,590 square kilometers and have a population of 227,807 people.
The Tuamtu Archipelago consists of seventy eight islands which make up seven island groups, which cover an overall land area of 850 square kilometers and have a population of 15,800 people.
In all the islands cover a combined land area of seven thousand square kilometers which cover an overall area of four million square kilometers of ocean.
French Polynesia's largest island is Tahiti located in the Windward Islands group of the Society Islands, where the territory's largest city and capital city, Papeete, is situated.
The predominant religion of French Polynesia is Christianity.
The official language of French Polynesia is French.
The currency of French Polynesia is the CPF Franc.
French Polynesia is located on time zone UTC – 10.
LOCAL TRAVEL
The islands of French Polynesia are served by a good infrastructure of paved roads, fifty airports and a large port area, harbour and docks in the capital city all of which provide regular ferry services to the islands of Moorea and Bora Bora and limited services to most of the other islands within the territory.
Car and motorbike hire is plentiful and all is needed to hire them is a valid full driving license. Traffic in French Polynesia drives on the right hand side of the road.
Local transport in the form of buses and taxis are cheap, reliable and plentiful on the island of Tahiti but are somewhat lacking everywhere else.
PAPEETE
Papeete covers an area of 17.4 square kilometers and has a population of 132,000 people. The city is a major centre of government, commerce, industry and finance.
The city is served by the Faa’a International Airport which is the main airport hub for Air Tahiti, the territory’s main domestic airline and Air Tahiti Nui, the territory’s main international airline.
The airport is served by international flights from Paris in France, Los Angeles in the USA, Auckland in New Zealand, Tokyo in Japan, Honolulu in Hawaii and Easter Island and Santiago in Chile.
The airport also serves domestic flights to forty seven other islands within the territory.
The city’s wharf provides regular ferry services to the neighbouring island of Moorea, which takes just forty five minutes to make the crossing. There are also regular eight hour ferry crossings to the high end, tropical paradise island of Bora Bora, calling at the islands of Huahine and Raiatea along the way.
The city of Papeete is full of things to do and see, from it’s pretty harbour front to it’s bustling modern downtown. The city is served by several hotels, restaurants, cinemas, shops, art galleries, museums, nightclubs, banks, a large open market and a tourist information office.
Certain main points of interest around the city include the Bougainville Park and Gaugin Museum, the Papeete Tahiti Temple, the Notre Dame de Papeete Roman Catholic cathedral, the Paofai Temple, the Presidence, a town hall and an impressive World War I monument dedicated to local hero Povana a Oopa.
Situated just outside Papeete is the stunning Les Trois Cascades waterfall, the Arahoho Blowholes and some unusual black sand beaches.
Local transport in Papeete consists of Le Truck, a local bus service which is safe, cheap and reliable.
Another thing to look out for on the streets of Papeete are the many food carts, which sell some exquisite local delicacies.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
The islands of French Polynesia consist of low sandy atolls and mountainous islands which sport an an abundance of hills, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and unique flora, fauna and wildlife.
There are a multitude of activities on most of the islands, including snorkelling, surfing, diving, hiking, 4x4 off roading, horse riding and golf.
The islands also host a multitude of camp sites, artisan shops, churches, quaint villages, coastal harbours and coves, pristine beaches and several ancient marae sites.
TAHITI
The island of Tahiti is the largest of the French Polynesian Islands and home to the territory's capital city, Papeete. The island is surrounded by sandy beaches, harbours, yacht marinas, small coastal towns and several large resort hotels. There is also an international golfing complex located at Papara.
The island's interior consists of lush rain forests intertwined with rivers and mountains, citrus groves and dairy farms.
The island is served by a good road network and public transport system making it very easy to explore.
MOOREA
The heart shaped island of Moorea situated just seventeen kilometers north of the island of Tahiti is a popular honeymoon destination owing to it's pristine beaches and heavily forested interior.
The island is served by the Vai'are Wharf, where the ferries from Tahiti make regular crossings and visiting yachts make their way through to the island's marinas.
The island is also served by the small Tema'e Airport which receives regular flights from all over French Polynesia.
The island is particularly renowned for it's high end luxury golf and spa resort called the Green Pearl.
The island has no public transport but there are several car hire companies located there.
BORA BORA
The tiny island of Bora Bora and it's many offshore islets are renowned for their luxury aquatic resort hotels, many of which are located along the stunning Bora Bora Lagoon.
The island's main town is Vaitape, a sleepy town where visitors can find a few shops, supermarkets, cafes and dive shops.
Snorkelling and scuba diving, where visitors can regularly spot manta rays and sharks, are the main past-times found on the islands.
The island is served by the Bora Bora Airport which receives flights from all over French Polynesia.
These islands have no public transport.
WEATHER / NATURAL PHENOMENA
French Polynesia has a tropical monsoon climate with average yearly temperatures of around 27c. The islands experience dry and wet seasons, although it does tend to rain throughout the year. The islands have a humidity rate of around 78%.
The islands experience cyclones during the months of November through to April, when the islands also experience the most rainfall and highest humidity.
CRIME
Crime on the islands of French Polynesia is low as is the threat of terrorism.
Drink driving can be problematic with locals.
The possession of drugs, hand guns or child pornography is subject to harsh jail sentences.
There is absolutely no discrimination towards homosexuals on any of the islands of French Polynesia.
The emergency number for the police in French Polynesia is 17.
HEALTH
There are no vaccination programs needed in order to visit French Polynesia.
Owing to the high humidity rate of the islands mosquitoes can be somewhat problematic.
Scuba divers are asked to be on the look out for moray eels in the lagoons and coastal waters which have been known to cause serious health problems.
There are several sharks and stingrays in the waters surrounding the French Polynesian islands although they do not appear to pose a health risk.
There are several good hospitals, clinics and dental surgeries situated within French Polynesia.
There are five main hospitals on the island of Tahiti, they are;
Centre Hospitalier Territorial, Avenue Georges Clemenceau, Mamo. Tel – (689) 46 62 62.
Clinique Cardella, 11, Rue Anne Marie Javouhey, Papeete. Tel - (689) 46 04 00.
Clinique Paofai, Boulevard Pamare, Papeete. Tel – (689) 46 18 18.
Old Colonial Hospital, Vaiami Poufai, Papeete.
Taaone Hospital, Avenue de Charles de Gaulle, Pirae.
FOREIGN CONSULATES
There is one foreign consulate, one foreign honorary consulate and one foreign consular agent located in Papeete on the island of Tahiti.
The Honarary Consul of Australia – (689) 468 806.
The Austrian Consulate – (689) 43 91 14.
The Consular Agent of the United States – (689) 42 65 35.
Other foreign nationals requiring consular services should contact their appropriate consulate in either New Caledonia or New Zealand.
VISA INFORMATION
Visas are not required for visits of up to one month for nationals of the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. EU nationals do not require visas for stays of up to ninety days, although some restrictions do apply, so do check with your relevant French embassy before travelling.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1 - New Year’s Day.
March 5 – Gospel Day.
Good Friday.
Easter Monday.
May 1 – Labour Day.
May 8 – Victory Day.
May 9 – Ascension Day.
May 20 – Whit Monday.
June 29 – Autonomy Day.
July 14 – National Day.
August 15 – Assumption Day.
November 1 – All Saints Day.
November 11 – Armistice Day.
December 25 – Christmas Day.
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
To access the official French Polynesian tourism website, visit - www.tahiti-tourisme.com
To access Tahiti's official tourism website, visit - www.papeete.com
To access the official French Polynesian governmental website, visit - www.presidence.pf
Toaccess the domestic airline website of French Polynesia, visit - www.airtahiti.aero
To access the international airline website of French Polynesia, visit - www.airtahitinui.com
To access the Raromatai Ferry website, visit - www.raromatai-ferry.pf
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Image - The black sand beaches of Tahiti - Courtesy of FRED, wikimedia commons.
