Huahine

The most authentic "Garden Island" of the Society Islands, with ancient marae, sacred eels and a tranquil lagoon — slow island life without big resorts.

Huahine lies in the Leeward Islands of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, about 175 km from Papeete on Tahiti. It is made up of two volcanic islands, Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti, separated by Maroe Bay and joined by a short bridge. With a population of about 6,000 and no big resorts or traffic lights, it is known as the "Garden Island". The round-island road is about 60 km long, and you can see it all in a day or two by bike, e-bike or small hire car. In the north, the area around Maeva has the greatest concentration of marae (ancient stone temples) in French Polynesia, and ancient stone fish traps are still in use where the lake meets the sea. On the east coast, Faie is home to sacred blue-eyed eels and black pearl farms on the lagoon, while in the south, Huahine Iti has the white sands of Avea Beach and Anini Marae. Lagoon snorkelling, motu picnics and surfing are the main water activities. Getting there: Air Tahiti flies from Papeete in about 40 minutes, and Huahine can be combined with Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora; there are also overnight cargo-passenger boats. May–Oct is the cool dry season, while Nov–Apr is hot, humid and rainy, with a risk of tropical cyclones. Prices are in CFP francs, banks and supermarkets are concentrated in the main village of Fare, and most shops close on Sundays. Plan to stay 3–4 days.

Top sights

• Maeva Marae Complex – The densest marae archaeological area in French Polynesia. Dozens of stone temples are scattered along the lakeshore and hillsides, making…
• Motu Picnic Lagoon Tour – Sail around the Huahine lagoon, snorkeling in coral gardens, watching rays and sharks, and enjoying a Polynesian picnic on a motu (islet).
• Matairea Hill Archaeological Trail – A forest trail on the hill behind Maeva village, linking several hillside marae and ancient settlements, with views over Lake Fauna Nui.
• Ancient Fish Traps of Maeva – V-shaped fish traps built from coral stone in the channel at the lake mouth, several centuries old and still used by fishermen today.
• Sacred Blue-eyed Eels of Faie – Large blue-eyed eels regarded as sacred in a stream in Faie village. They can exceed 1 meter in length, and you can watch villagers feed th…
• Fare – Huahine's main town and port, with a short seafront street of shops, banks, food trucks and dive shops, and the starting point for a tour o…
• Avea Beach – A long white-sand beach on the southwest coast of Huahine Iti, with a calm lagoon good for swimming and snorkeling, and the best sunset spo…
• Belvedere Lookout – A viewpoint at the mountain pass on the island road, overlooking the deep Maroe Bay and the lagoon beyond. It is a must-stop for cyclists t…
• Huahine Pearl Farm – A Tahitian black pearl farm on the lagoon of Faie Bay, where you can visit for free to watch grafting and harvesting, with a pottery studio…
• Marae Anini – A large stone-built temple on the seashore at the southern tip of Huahine Iti, dedicated to the war god 'Oro and the voyaging hero Hiro, wi…
• Marae Manunu – A 'national-level' marae on the islet across from Maeva on Huahine Nui, with a two-tiered stone platform about 40 meters long facing the op…
• Maroe Bay Bridge – A short bridge linking Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti across the deep Maroe Bay, where you can see clear water and fish from the bridge.

Where to eat

• Chez Tara – A small eatery on the sand at Avea Beach in southern Huahine. The Sunday earth-oven feast is the island's best-known me…
• Huahine Yacht Club – A bar-restaurant on the waterfront in central Fare, a gathering spot for sailors and visitors. Happy hour from 5 p.m. w…
• Izzy's – A lunchtime burger shop in Fare, rated 4.8 and ranked first in Fare on TripAdvisor. It is run by a French owner who onc…

Itineraries

• Leeward Islands Ferry Island-Hopping – Use passenger ferries to hop through Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, and Bora Bora.
• Raiatea Sailing Charter – Set sail from the charter base for an 8-night cruise exploring Taha'a, Bora Bora, and Huahine.
• Society Islands & Tuamotu Atolls – A perfect blend of high islands and atolls, flying from Huahine and Bora Bora to Rangiroa and Fakarava.