Fun things to do in Moorea

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We rented a car specifically to go in search of waterfalls and other exciting sights. It took a while to see this waterfall because the road isnt exatcly a paved road. Also you have to leave the car and hike the rest of the way.
We got a 4wheel drive because we knew the road would be difficult to drive without it. We even paid extra for the 4x4 and it turns out that when we finally need the 4x4 it didnt work. We almost got stuck a few times and decided to just go back. we had to go in reverse for a ways before we could turn the car around.
We saw the waterfalls from afar. I wished we could have gotten closer but unfortuneatly we couldnt make it.

This was a dinner buffet and Tahitian Show at the Moorea Pearl Resort. The buffet consisted of tons of sea food, pork, and chicken. There was different types of salad and fruit. Then at 8pm the show started.
It is much cheaper than the Tiki Village show and maybe not as nice put we chose to do this show enstead.
They danced the typical Tahitian dances and tried to get people up to dance too. They didnt have elaborate costumes or the fired dancers but it was a nice show anyways.
My husband and I have been to many luau type dances and we didnt want to pay so much money for the Tiki Tahitian Village so this was fine for us.
Check out the video I posted if you want to see more.

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A bit further down the road, you’ll see another carpark along the Marae of Titiroa.
Not really much to see, apart from a wall of stones. But if you get deeper down into the woods, you'll come across another part of the restored stone temple, in a better state of preservation.
Towering banyans and mape chesnut trees add to the quiet of this sacred grounds…
A little stream flows nearby, and a small sign indicates the beginning of a trail that goes up to the Belvédère or to the "Trois Cocotier".
Little buddies like the one on my 4th picture seem to play hide and seek in the stones of the marae. They furetively disappear underneath them when they hear your footsteps :-)

Various spots on Moorea are appropriate for snorkeling.
Those places are usually indicated on the various maps of the island you will receive everywhere.
Apart from Opunohu Bay and the Lagoonarium, we mainly remained around Hotel Hibiscus. Some of the rocks there homed pretty little and colorful fishes :-)

We had some trouble finding the way to get there, but finally we took the road that turns right to the school when you drive the island clockwise, just after the Lagoonarium sign.
The path gets very bumpy quite soon. Besides, we couldn't find a real parking place. Be careful when you park, do NOT park on meadows that are private properties...we were told that some of the owners get mad when they see unauthorized vehicles parked on their property.
The path to the waterfall ain't as easy as I first thought. Totally unmarked and unmaintained, it is rocky and the soil can be really slippery when wet. Although quite steep at some places, the walk through the woods is really pleasant and when you finally reach the waterfall, the landscape is well rewarding.
How refreshing to dip one's feet in the cold water !!
We read that there are two different waterfalls in Afareaitu, but I'd be totally unable to say which one we went to ! There was really no indication and we directed ourselves to the sound of water.

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Another favourite moment in my travel life….
The visit starts at the little « fare », Terani Curios, standing on the roadside next to the sign indicating « Lagoonarium ». Once you paid the relatively small entrance fee, you will have to wait for the motor boat that will bring you to the motu (little islet). The outrigger canoe generally arrives 5 to 10 minutes later. While waiting, you can start to take your shoes off, you’ll be in the water to the knees to reach the pirogue :-)
The motu has nicely been accommodated with benches and various « fare » under the shade of the trees. Water shoes hang from a plank…just pick up you size ! And then, ready to discover the lagoon! Stingrays immediately come to you and beg for some strokes. The person in charge soon gets into the water with you to feed them… Now, that’s why they were so friendly ! :-) They start to brush against your legs to be petted…their skin is so soft, it’s a very strange sensation to pet a fish :-) Multicolour fishes and small sharks (whitetip and blacktip reef sharks) soon join them to get their part of the food… Even the birds start to dive in flight, and give us a very pleasant show to watch !
Turtles are enclosed in their own pen, except for one that sadly swims along the railing, obviously hoping to find a way out… In fact all those animals have to remain in the enclosed lagoon. But even if it keeps them prisoners in a way, proximity with them is a great and very instructive experience …
Hold yourself to one of the ropes stretched throughout the lagoon, even if you are able to touch the bottom almost everywhere. It allows a better observation of the fishes, especially when the currents are stronger. Other ropes are stretched outside the enclosed part of the lagoon and allow you to admire corals.
Best time to enjoy the Lagoonarium is in the morning, when the currents are weaker, especially if you plan to see the corals.

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This view point overlooks the Sofitel's overwater bungalows with, in the distance, the shape of Tahiti, the coral reef and the ocean.
A parking space has been made to allow visitors to comfortably enjoy this scenic view, so typical to French Polynesia…

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When you arrive, stop at the little shopping stall at the entrance and ask for a map. Although the place is undergoing some reorganisation and the map doesn't faithfully indicate the right number for the right plant or tree, you can refer to the picture to identify the majority of them. The visit is free and very pleasant ! We enjoyed every minute of the one-hour walk between pineapple plants, tropical fruits and flowers... We had a wonderful time ! Huge pineapple fields strechting on gentle slopes with Mount Rotui as a background. Really fantastic ! Probably the part I preferred, along with the advocado trees, and the numerous varieties of exotic flowers.
When your walk is over, try one of the fresh pineapple juices or a gardenia-flavoured ice cream. They also have various tasty home-made jams...gardenia flavour is a must :-) All the products are made from the plants grown in the school gardens.