Tahiti, after the wide-open lagoons and turquoise colours of the Tuamotus, was a shock. Papeete, the capital city of the Society islands, was a mass of roaring traffic and pollution so after spending a couple of pricey nights tied alongside the once busy town quay near the busy road we snuck off round the corner and once again found beauty, peace and quiet and those lovely turquoise anchorages. Being a part of France we had good access to a Carrefour Supermarche which was heaven, almost literally, after having no real access to decent food shops since February! Fresh French bread, brie and wine: bliss. Oh, but you pay about double the supermarket prices in the UK.
From Tahiti we sailed to Moorea, an absolutely stunning island, which we were expecting to be overrun by tourists: not so. Our first anchorage on the east side of the island was deserted and we anchored in water so clear that we could see our anchor and chain on the sand in the moonlight. We spent subsequent days in Cook’s Bay and Oponahu Bay where we again found total solitude and scenery that is simply stunning. In Moorea I did three dives beyond the protective reef that surrounds the island, diving with Black-tip and Lemon sharks amongst pristine coral; I even saw clown fish (you know, Nemo) hiding in an anemone, a long term want for me. As a family we swam amongst sting-rays that would literally eat out of your hand! With the people being amongst the friendliest we have ever met we loved Moorea.
Date(s): July 2007. Album by Gerard Coulson. Photos by Gerard Coulson. 1 - 53 of 53 Total. 28723 Visits.
Tahiti - Venus point in the early morning after a heavy night of wind and rain at sea
Approaching Papeete
Tom gets a long overdue short back and sides
Me next!
Clarabella and Myrdinn alongside the town quay
At anchor overloooking Moorea
On a 'Le Truck', the public transport
Ashore at Venus point
The Venus Point lighthouse
On tghe wall of the lighthouse
At Venus Point we stumble on an outrigger-canoe race
Le Truck
Moorea at sunset
Leaving Tahiti astern
and Moorea is ahead
Papeete
Hills of Tahiti
Approaching Moorea
The colour of water we anchor in
The hills of eastern Moorea
A hotel on Moorea
A lovely anchorage
Leaving through the pass you can see the reef and the quiet water in the lagoon
Clarabella at anchor in Cook's Bay
Cook's Bay from the shore
In Oponohu Bay
Clarabella - bootm right - at anchor beneath the towering Mt Rotui
Ashore walking in a fruit plantation
At anchor in Robinson's Cove
What a beautiful anchorage this was
M falls in love with some local stray kittens
Robinson's cove
Anchored, with the stern tied to a palm tree
The girls with the kitten - it was hard to leave this little one behind
Rebecca
another sweetie
Mt Tohiea, as seen in the film South Pacific
At anchor in Pigs bay, on the other side of Oponohu
Picture postacrd stuff
Cook's Bay seen from the Belvedere
and Oponohu
the boys
Tahiti and Moorea 43
Tahiti and Moorea 44
Dolphins at the head of Oponohu Bay
Swimming with rays 1
Swimming with rays 2
Swimming with rays 3
Swimming with rays 6
Swimming with rays 4
Swimming with rays 5
Tom leaps from the ratlines
we leave Moorea in the setting sun as we head for Huahine
