Page 28 - Explore Magazine Spring 2017

PINEAPPLES, PAREOS,
26

PEARLS - AND A PEUGEOT

Explore editor Tracey Mehrtens takes a self-drive holiday on the idyllic Tahitian island of Moorea.

“When you arrive in Tahiti you’re younger than when you left New We pass dogs asleep in the sun, laughing and chattering kids piled
Zealand!” Jean-Marc happily tells us as we get into his taxi to head to onto push-bikes, roadside stalls selling coconut and fresh fruit and
the Papeete ferry terminal. What a great way to start a holiday! watermelon and fish, and locals heading home with freshly baked
crusty baguettes piled in their arms and in the basket carriers of
A relaxing 45-minute ferry trip later we disembark at Moorea, the their bikes. It’s a wonderful tapestry of life.
idyllic yet lively and colourful island just off the main island of Tahiti.
Here, relaxed tropical island life is entwined with more than just a And at every turn there are glistening black pearls. These stunning,
soupçon (a little touch) of French language and cuisine. locally harvested jewels adorn shop windows in a range of hues
and jewellery designs for every whim: rings, bracelets, necklaces.
Vaiare, the main dock of Moorea, is bustling with cars, bikes, tourists Another colourful burst of island life is the brightly coloured local
and locals, backdropped by the sparkling lagoon and sheer, craggy,
volcanic hills that stretch to the vivid blue sky. Trundling our bags
behind us we cross the road to the car rental office, signing up for our
petite red Peugeot for a few days of self-drive exploring. Remembering
to keep to the right we gingerly set off, the main road fringing the
lagoon offering stunning views at every turn. After a short trip over a
hill we cruise into one of the island’s most picturesque and secluded
spots, the Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort.
Nestled in a sheltered bay along Temae Beach – the longest on the
island – the resort has an extensive offshore reef protecting the
lagoon and is a snorkelling haven. Nurtured over many years and
painstakingly transplanted with coral spores to grow and rejuvenate
it, the reef is an underwater safe haven, food source and breeding
ground for its many marine inhabitants.
In our overwater bungalow we find that the poles anchoring our
dreamy haven to the lagoon floor are covered in coral and algae that
attract tropical fish of all sizes and colours. At night, an underfloor
light illuminates the reef life that is visible through a sturdy glass
window set in the floor. We are treated to glimpses of a spotted
stingray gliding below us and a moray eel scooting between coral
patches on the lagoon floor in search of a place out of sight of the
light and human eyes.
The next morning, recharged and ready to go, we set off in the petite
Peugeot for a big day out. It’s a leisurely and easy drive north along
the main road that circumnavigates the heart-shaped island but it’s
hard to stay focused on the road as there is so much to see on top
of focusing on driving French-style on the opposite side of the road.
There are wonderful sea views, dramatic cliff faces that plunge down
to white sandy beaches, and all the colour of island life which is
relaxed and happy as it drifts by.

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : SPRING EDITION