St Regis Bora Bora

Officially known as French Polynesia, Tahiti is made up of 118 islands spread over four million square kilometres of ocean in the eastern South Pacific. The islands are further grouped into five archipelagos: the Society Islands, Austral Islands, Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Islands and Gambier Islands.

Capital & Major Centres
Papeete is the capital of Tahiti, the largest island within Fench Polynesia, dubbed 'the island of love'. The country's only international airport, Tahiti-Faa'a, is located on the island, making it the first stop in every itinerary. Moorea is Tahiti's closest neighbouring island, some 17 kilometres northwest of Papeete. Heart-shaped Moorea is home to soaring volcanic peaks and magnificent views overlooking the tranquil waters of Cooks Bay and Opunohu Bay. The Society Islands also include legendary Bora Bora, 240 kilometres north-west of Tahiti, as well as Huahine, comprised of two islands joined by a narrow isthmus and enclosed by a protective necklace of coral. Rangiroa and Tikehau are the best-known islands in the Tuamotu archipelago. Rangiroa is the largest atoll in the Tuamotus, encircling a 67-kilometre turquoise lagoon famed for its rich diversity of marine life. Tikehau has an almost perfectly circular shape, with its many atolls surrounding a lagoon that extends 26 kilometres across.

The People
Tahiti's population is a multicultural mix of Polynesians of Maohi (Maori) extraction, Europeans and Asians. A handsome people, they are noted for their hospitality, friendliness and easy-going nature. French and Tahitian are the two official languages on the islands, however English is widely spoken in hotels and shops.

History
Hundreds of years after the ancient Polynesians made the Tahitian islands their home, explorers like Mendana, Quiros, Le Maire, Schouten, Roggeveen and Byron made brief and unplanned visits to the Tuamotu Islands and the Marquesas islands in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Later in the 18th century explorers such as Bougainville, Wallis, Vancouver and Cook 'discovered' Tahiti and called it 'La Nouvelle Cythère'. Captain Cook returned three times to study the transition of Venus, Captain Bligh came to collect seedlings from the wondrous 'Uru' or bread-fruit tree, and the insubordinate Fletcher Christian returned to the islands following the infamous mutiny on the Bounty. Before the arrival of the Europeans, the islands were divided into districts, each governed by a Chief. When Pomare V abdicated in 1880, Tahiti and her islands, previously a protectorate of France, became a French Colony, and in 1957 French Polynesia became a French Overseas Territory.

Nature
Lush vegetation grows high above the lagoons and bays and floral scents permeate the tropical air. Myriad tropical flowers grow throughout the Tahitian islands. The national flower is the tiare, a heavily-scented gardenia which forms the basis of the traditional 'lei' necklaces.

The Sights
You can visit Point Venus where Captain Cook camped to observe the transit of the planet Venus in 1769, visit the Faaruma waterfalls, and at Taravao on the strategic isthmus joining Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti, wander through an old fort built by the French in 1844. Don't miss the Gauguin Museum in the Papeari district, set in exotic botanical gardens, and the wonderful fruit, vegetable and flower market in central Papeete.

Where to Stay
International luxury resorts and hotels nestle alongside motels, lodges and, small pensions in the islands. For an authentic Tahitian experience, many families also offer rooms for rent within their homes. There are also youth hostels and campsites with cooking facilities for those on a tight budget.

Getting Around
Le Truck is Tahiti's public bus service. The destination is posted on top of each Le Truck, which always begins and ends its round trips at the public market in the centre of Papeete. It is also possible to travel between islands by ferry, with the Aremiti ferry taking just 40 minutes from Papeete to Moorea.

Food & Entertainment
Tahitian 'tamara'a' or feasts can be arranged through local tour operators. The major international hotels often host evening programs with lavish buffets and dance shows featuring the perfomances of some of Tahiti's most talented dancers and musicians. Outside the hotels, French, Italian and Chinese cuisine is widely available. There is a host of bars, cafes and nightclubs scattered around Papeete giving travellers a wide choice and a chance to mix with the locals. Les Roulottes are a Papeete institution – a collection of mobile diners operating from early evening until late at night on the waterfront at Vaiete Square offering mouth-watering savoury meals as well as delicious desserts.

Activities
Tahiti is renowned for its unparalleled range of watersports, from Diving and snorkelling, to windsurfing and sailing, to deep-sea fishing, surfing and jet-skiing. Speedboats are available for waterskiing and there are glass-bottom boats for viewing the coral reefs.Tennis and squash are on offer at many resorts and at the country club and Tahiti and Moorea offer championship golf courses. For the more adventurous, there's a range of bushwalking and hiking available on the volcanic islands of the Society Islands, as well as horseriding.

Shopping Guide
Bright 'pareus' or T-shirts are popular souvenirs, as are Tahitian shell jewellery, the famous black pearls, French perfume and handicrafts.

Facts
Climate
The French Polynesian islands enjoy a tropical climate. The average temperature is 27ºC, and the waters of the lagoons are a fairly constant 26ºC.

Clothing
Casual. 'Pareus' are popular worn over swimming costumes to the beach or around the pool. Papeete is more cosmopolitan.

Electricty
Most hotels use 110 or 220 volts, AC 60 cycles.

Time Zone
GMT -10 hours. AEST -20 hours. Two hours behind US Pacific Standard time and 19 hours behind Australia's east coast. The Marquesas Islands are 30 minutes ahead of the rest of French Polynesia.

Currency
French Pacific francs (CFP). Tipping is discretionary.

Visas & Health
All passengers entering French Polynesia must have an outbound ticket. Check with airline as entry formalities may change. There is no departure tax and Australians do not require visas. Other visitors, check with the French Consulate.

Getting There
Air France, Hawaiian Airlines, Air New Zealand, QANTAS, LanChile (via Easter Island), Air Caledonie International and Air Tahiti Nui. Domestic - Air Tahiti.