Moorea’s peaceful meadows flanked by pinnacles of emerald green will renew your belief in the majesty of nature. Moorea embraces its island paradise and tends to be a more active island than Bora Bora and other islands. It is also a great place to immerse yourself in local culture and meet the people.
Just 11 miles off the shore of Tahiti, tumbling waterfalls and fern-softened cliffs welcome you to the island paradise of Moorea. The island offers a terrific selection of resorts as well as many land-based and water-based activities. We highly recommend a stop at The Belvedere – it is amazing to see Moorea’s volcanic peaks reflected in the crystal waters of Cook’s bay and Opunohu bay.
Moorea is a great place to rent a car for a day. There is a loop road that takes you all the way around the island – about 37 miles total. Stop at The Belvedere Point for amazing views of Cooks & Opunohu Bay, the Fruit Juice Distillery for free tastings and maybe stop for lunch at Les Tipaniers Hotel to soak in their fantastic beachside restaurant.
If you are combining Moorea with Bora Bora, you may want to start your trip in a beach bungalow or a garden bungalow with pool and then save the overwater bungalow experience for Bora Bora. If you would like to experience overwater bungalows during your entire stay, you can read more about our favorite rooms in “The Best Overwater Bungalows in Tahiti”, in our Tahiti Travel Tips section. We have listed our favorite resorts in Moorea below.
Please click here for a map of Moorea, courtesy of Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa.
Moorea is a very large island with a lush interior. This is our preferred island for land-based activities. However, there are some excellent water-based activities as well. We have mentioned some of our recommended excursions in our Travel Tips post, “What to Do | Top Activities and Excursions”. We have also listed a few favorites below:
After a brief lesson, get behind the wheel and follow your guide toward the center of the island. Drive up to the Belvedere Lookout point for some breathtaking views. Then drive back down to the Agriculture School where you can zip around the pineapple plantations’ dirt tracks and admire the tropical fruits and flowers around you. The longer tours do more off-roading and end with a visit to the amazing Magic Mountain.
Let yourself drift away with the tide during this sunset cruise across the lagoon of Moorea. Embark with Clotilde and Arnaud, true sailing enthusiasts, aboard Taboo, a small Wharram catamaran. With a cocktail in hand, enjoy the zen and warm atmosphere on board while you admire the majestic hues of the island in the late afternoon.
A guided, 4-wheel-drive, open-air jeep safari experience exploring the volcano’s crater and incredible landscapes. Visit a pineapple plantation, Moorea’s School of Agriculture and its huge vanilla, banana, grapefruit and lemon plantations. Head to the ancient marae (temple) before driving to the Belvedere Lookout point for stunning views of Cook’s and Opunohu bays.
Come meet the Polynesians who will help you discover and share their culture, their art and their dance. Enjoy an authentic Tahitian dance show and feast on dishes cooked in the Tahitian oven, with an assortment of salads, tropical fruit and homemade pastries. A welcome punch and wine are also included.
Put on your yellow helmet and follow your qualified guide deep into the lagoon where you will learn about the tropical fish and shellfish you find under the sea. During all the descent and throughout the duration of the trip, a fully qualified instructor fitted with a scuba diving equipment, will come with you to ensure you enjoy all the lagoon’s beauties. Once you have reached the bottom, you can walk among the coral mounds and many colored shells and sea life.
Spend the whole day in the comfort of your own rental car and tour Moorea at your own pace. With the help of your friendly digital assistant, Digi-Guide, you can create your private guided tour. Your digital guide will lead you to the best spots on Moorea. 63 points of interest are accessible as well as a recommended list of restaurants and additional activities.
The resorts on Moorea offer a great selection of fine dining right on the resort’s property. They also feature more casual options. Our Tahiti Specialists recommend that you also make time to venture out and explore the many local restaurants on the island. This is a great way to experience some of the local flavor!
Below is a list of some of our favorite dining venues. Most of the local restaurants on Moorea will provide complimentary transportation to and from your resort if you make a reservation with the concierge staff during your stay.
If you are in the mood for a quality steak, seafood, or other local items. You'll find it served in a very friendly atmosphere at Rudy's. Rudy, the chef, and his father, Sid, will treat you well. We suggest you try the parrotfish stuffed with crab meat, if it’s on the menu. Our Tahiti Specialists and our clients love this pleasant, simple, restaurant and the engaging personalities of its owners. It is very convenient to the Manava Beach Resort and Spa as well as the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa.
Over the years this has been considered one of the best restaurants in Moorea with a lovely terrace overlooking Cook’s Bay. We still think highly of this restaurant but lately, we have had some clients say it has been a bit inconsistent. Call for reservations and request a table by the lagoon to watch the sting rays.
There are two restaurants at this tiny hotel. The first is the recommended, casual beachfront restaurant which is open for lunch and offers good, inexpensive sandwiches, burgers, sashimi and other lunch items. They have open air inside and patio seating with stunning views of the lagoon and motus. The other restaurant here is the more polished, Italian restaurant which is only open for dinner. The Italian restaurant offers decent French & Italian food at typical Moorea dinner prices.
Located on the “mountain” side of the road near Cook’s Bay, with only outdoor seating. They have delicious, inexpensive wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas to eat in, for take-away, or for delivery to your hotel. No beer or alcohol is served.
Located in Maharepa, east of Cooks Bay, this restaurant is open for lunch, sunset cocktails and dinner. It features inventive salads, vegetarian dishes, seafood and meats with great flavor combinations.
Located across from the former InterContinental Moorea Resort, “Moorea’s first steakhouse” offers this a beautiful view down over the lagoon. You’ll find salads, burgers, a few pizzas, some seafood and of course, steaks!
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