Top 13 Things to Do in Moorea

From high adventure thrills to chilling on the beach, there are so many things to do in Moorea! With its craggy mountains, picture-perfect beaches, and turquoise water, you will have a hard time deciding between hiking a mountain peak or lounging in a hammock. The wildlife interaction opportunities include swimming with humpback whales, sharks, stingrays, and an abundance of other tropical sea creatures.

While we spend most of the fall months hiking the mountains in Utah, we love to visit tropical beaches in the summer and winter. My family and I first visited Moorea in 2022, and we can’t stay away! We’ve spent a total of two months on the island and LOVED everyday there.

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Best Things to Do in Moorea

Moorea is quite small, in fact a single 38-mile (62 km) road circles Moorea, taking about an hour by car get around it. After spending two full months on the island, I know it quite well from a tourist’s perspective and I’m happy suggest the best things to do in Moorea.

1. Swim with humpback whales

Moorea is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with humpback whales. Getting close to these magnificent creatures is an experience like no other.

The Islands of Tahiti have implemented measures to ethically do so. Note that you can only swim with the whales from August 1 – November 11.

There are many certified companies who offer whale excursions, and Moorea Moana is one of the best.

Because boats are not allowed to get closer to the whales than 100 meters, is important that you can swim well in potentially rough sea conditions. You will have a snorkel and fins and generally not have a life jacket (but you can bring your own). Once you hop out of the boat, you swim 70 meters to the whales, staying 30 meters away.

While generally considered safe, remember that you’re in an open ocean with wild animals. There are no guarantees that you will see whales, but there is a good chance.

If you tend to get sea sick, take Dramamine or other measures to control the sickness. The ocean swells were huge when we went out to sea!

2. Beach day!

This is why you came to Moorea, right? Throw up a hammock and soak it in.

• Ta’ahiamanu Beach. With palm trees dotting the sand and a craggy mountain backdrop, the public Ta’ahiamanu Beach is exceptionally beautiful. The snorkeling is great too.
  
• Temae Beach. The snorkeling at the public Temae Beach is incredible. This is not the best beach for young kids because the beach itself is quite rocky, the current can be VERY strong, and it gets deep fast. Located on the northeast corner of Moorea, you can see Tahiti from the beach.
  
• Tipaniers. This private beach is my favorite. There is shade, and the soft sand gets deep very gradually, making it an ideal place for kids to play. Watching the sunset from the dock is an experience not to be missed. You can also rent kayaks and paddle to a sand bar to swim with sharks and stingrays. It is also possible to kayak or paddleboard to Coco Beach.
  
  Snorkeling from the beach is good too. Calm days are a dream, but it can be quite windy, especially in the late summer, ideal for kiteboarding. UNFORTUNATELY, this beach was privatized a couple of years ago and entry is only allowed for those staying at the nearby hotel or houses, eating at the restaurant, renting kayaks or paddleboards, or going on a scuba trip.
  
• Hauru. This public beach has a nice sandy beach and bathroom facilities. It’s a good alternative to Tipaniers if you are unable to get in. It closes early, at 5:30 pm.
  
• Coco Beach. Enjoy the delicious restaurant and the best snorkeling in Moorea on Coco Beach. You must schedule the Coco Beach boat to pick you up or paddle from Tipaniers Beach or one close to it. Take your own snorkeling gear and snorkel on the west side of the Coco Beach island. We’ve seen all kinds of tropical fish, stingrays, sharks, eels, turtles, etc. This makes for a perfect day and is one of the BEST things to do in Moorea.
  
• Private Beaches. Many hotels or private rentals have their own small beach.

Stonefish warning

An important note about stonefish: Despite the tranquil blue waters, there are dangers to swimming in Moorea. One of the more unique dangers is the presence of stonefish, the most venomous fish in the world.

We saw several of these lurking under the dock at Tipaniers beach. If they are stepped on, their incredibly sharp spikes release venom that is extremely painful and potentially deadly. Stonefish are camouflaged to look like stones and it’s very hard to pick them out.

We always wore thick water shoes to help protect our feet (although I bet the spikes would go right through them) and avoided swimming near rocks. Instead of walking normally through water, shuffle your feet to scare them away if you can’t see where you’re walking.

3. Swim with blacktip sharks and stingrays

This is a must-do and is fun for kids and adults! There are many tour companies that will take you to the shark sandbar located on the northwest of the island. There, you can swim with dozens of blacktip sharks and stingrays (don’t worry, they are harmless!).

Alternately, on a calm day, kayak or paddleboard from Tipaniers Beach. You can rent them at the beach. We bring our own paddleboards from home and enjoy paddling to the sandbar multiple times each day. Being the only ones on the water in the early morning or late afternoon is a peaceful experience.

4. Go on a hike

Get into the mountains at least once while you’re in Moorea. The two best hikes on the island are:

• Three Pines (Trois Pinus). This easy/moderate out-and-back three-mile hike takes you deep into the lush mountains of Moorea. The trailhead is near the Belvedere Lookout. I recommend downloading the map from Alltrails (note that Alltrails says the trail is 1.9 miles. My watch was closer to 3 miles and it definitely seemed more like 3 miles.) You will hike through the forest to the most incredible viewpoint, with 360 degree jaw-dropping views. Plus, there’s a swing at the end that is so much fun! Be aware that there may be lots of mud and bugs. A couple of us were also stung by hornets one of the times we did the hike.
• Magic Mountain (La Montagne Magique). This 2.2 out-and-back hike takes you to a lookout where you can see ‘Ōpūnohu Bay from above. You’ll hike along a road, and if you prefer not to hike, you can go on an ATV or truck tour to the top. Note that you have to park at Fare Tutava Smoothie below and pay about $2 per person to hike. Enjoy a delicious smoothie from the restaurant when you’re done.

5. Scuba dive

There are several dive shops that will take you beyond the reef to scuba. There are various kinds of sharks to see, including lemon sharks, blacktip reef sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, and nurse sharks. Additionally, keep an eye out for turtles, sting rays, eagle rays, and fish.

If you aren’t certified, try a “family dive” with Scubapiti. We took our kids scuba diving with them and had an excellent experience. You stay within the reef and only descend about 20 feet.

6. Drive around the island

There is one road that circles the island. It takes about one hour to drive it without stopping. However, I’d plan on 2-3 hours to allow for plenty of time to explore. Some of my favorite stops:

• Buy local tropical fruit from one of the many stands on the side of the road. The one by the Champion grocery store tends to have a lot of variety.
• You MUST stop at Les Sorbets de Moorea. The owner creates her own top-secret recipes. The white chocolate coconut is probably the best ice cream I’ve ever had.
• Do some souvenir shopping at the shops on the northeast side of the island. Expect high prices. There are several shops selling Tahitian pearls.
• Grab delicious pizza at Allo or fresh seafood at A l’Heure du Sud.
• Taste free fresh samples of juice at the Rotui Juice Factory (one of the highlights for our kids).
• Stop for lots of pictures along the way! Pull over at any beautiful beach or viewpoint to take in the views.

7. Go ziplining

Nestled deep into the mountains, ziplining at Tiki Parc is super fun for all ages. It’s another unique thing to do in Moorea and a good alternative to a beach day. Older kids and adults can zip through the forest on dozens of self-guided ziplines and adventure courses. There is even a toddler course for young kids.

The full course took nearly 3.5 hours to complete. It was challenging but doable, and the views from the treetops are unparalleled. Take bug spray, water, and snacks.

8. Snorkel

There’s so much sea life! We saw dozens of different kinds of tropical fish, blacktip sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, turtles, octopus, eels, water snakes, sea urchins, etc.

The best places to snorkel are Coco Beach, the shark sand bar off Tipaniers beach, and Temae beach.

Take care not to swim too close to coral. Even a tiny scrape can become infected.

While there are places to rent snorkel equipment, I recommend bringing your own from home. It’s likely more cost effective and then you have the flexibility of going anytime you want.

9. Catch a sunset

I have never seen so many colors in a sunset. A local told me that the sky turns purple because there is so little pollution.

Anywhere on the west side of the island will be spectacular, but the very best place to catch a sunset is sitting on the dock at Tipaniers beach. Pick up a baguette from a local store (there’s everywhere), cheese, and drinks and enjoy the moment. Also, make sure to stay 10-15 minutes AFTER the sun sets for a spectacular after show.

10. Go paddle boarding

My family’s VERY favorite thing to do in Moorea is to paddle board. You can rent paddle boards and kayaks from various shops, including Scubapiti. However, we always haul two paddleboards from home and it is totally worth it.

We like to stay on Tipaniers beach and it is pretty special to paddle during the sunrise and have sharks and sting rays swimming beneath you. Paddle boards provide so much entertainment for our kids. They’ll tie them to a buoy and jump off of them or just paddle for hours.

Having our own snorkeling equipment and paddle boards enables us to get to Coco Beach or the shark sandbar anytime we want to go snorkeling. Keep an eye on the wind because paddle boards are very hard to control in the wind.

11. Eat poisson cru

Poisson cru is a local delicacy. My mouth waters just thinking about it. It consists of raw fish (usually tuna) marinated in coconut milk and lime juice with some veggies added to it.

Many restaurants serve poisson cru (and we tried a LOT of them!) but we found Snack Mahana to be the best. The servings are huge and could be shared.

12. ATV and jet ski tour

For adrenaline junkies, ATV and/or jet ski tours are a fun thing to do in a Moorea. Top Jet Moorea is a reputable company to do a tour with. The jet ski tour will take you around part of the island, and the ATV tour will take you through the pineapple fields and mountain tops.

13. Rotui Juice Factory

No trip to Moorea is complete without a stop at the Rotui Juice Factory! Tour the factory and learn about the fresh juice produced from the fruit grown on Moorea. Kids will get a kick out of sampling the various juices. Make sure to buy a few cartons to enjoy.

Get Outside!

I hope this list of the best things to do in Moorea is helpful. Get outside and enjoy every moment of your trip to the wonderful Moorea.