On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Deputinize America
Following our visit to Melbourne, we moved on to Moorea by way of Auckland and Papeete. Originally, we intended to connect via Noumea in New Caledonia, but there was significant political and labor unrest occurring there, rising to violence. Given that our dive gear and warm weather clothing was going to come in checked baggage, we really needed a more assured level of baggage service that could be provided in Noumea – so we opted to come through Auckland, necessitating an NZ visa. That overnight was incredibly cold and windy going from the airport to the hotel, but the coffee was first rate.
Papeete was utterly charming in that French colonial way – we had another overnight before our ferry to Moorea would be available. Compared to Melbourne and Auckland, life was much more slowly paced on Tahiti.
The ferry ride was relatively short and uneventful. Moorea is small, and while there are cars, I deemed it a “scooter and chickens island”, full of local charm with really good French wine and cheeses. our accommodations were in an overwater villa. Diving was decent, although the coral was pretty rough and the reefs have taken a real beating from storms, bleaching events and overabundant Crown of Thorns starfish (which were being collected from the house reef by the score).
The lovely missus…
C’est moi….
Me again!
War for Ukraine Day 1,224: Make It Hot!
Baud
Nice.
Winter Wren
Looks idyllic!
🐾BillinGlendaleCA
That first shot of Tahiti…
I’ve got the same shot, from the same location about 25 years earlier.
eclare
Ahhhh….
J.
Looks beautiful.
frosty
You’ve given WaterGirl half a dozen great pictures with water for her daily posts in the corner! Beautiful place, beautiful pictures.
stinger
Wow — thank you!
sab
My favorite show on tv as a kid was Sea Hunt. Lloyd Bridges always under water.
sab
My favorite show on tv as a kid was Sea Hunt. Lloyd Bridges always under walter.
pieceofpeace
Fell in love with Tahiti back in 1980s before taking up diving, but at a time where we were often some of only a few occupants at pretty sizeable hotels (BoraBora was memorable) over there (economic downturn in US). Great food! Loved Moorea and Rangiroa and the constant dolphins who swam alongside the small motor boats among the islands. I see there’re more islands for tourists these days?
Thanks for reviving great memories when we really lucked out for this drop-dead gorgeous place.
Deputinize America
@pieceofpeace:
We did see some spinners about 40 yards off to port along the way back from a dive, but I was breaking down gear and didn’t get a photo.
The crown of thorn infestations were pretty terrible and the coral show it, but we had some pretty nice large lemon and silvertip action. Lemons were at least 9 feet.
YY_Sima Qian
Nice pics!
French Polynesia is where my wife & I honeymooned. We didn’t go to Moorea, but toured through a number of other islands. It’s a magical place, but expensive to visit…
BigJimSlade
Beautiful!