I write from desk while at anchor in Opunohu Bay, Moorea; our original schedule had us going into Cook’s Bay, 3/4 of a mile to the east, however the pier to which we would have tendered is being renovated, hence our anchoring here.
We arrived here at 7 a.m., having departed Papeete at the uncivilised time of 5 a.m. this morning and a 4 a.m. call for me 🙄
Yesterday (23rd) we spent the day and overnight in Papeete, Tahiti. Docking at 8 a.m. on a beautiful day, the berth close to the city centre.
(Click on any photo for larger)
Sunrise
Tahiti ahead
An overview of Papeete harbour
The harbour and our tracks to the dock
Approaching the gap between the reefs
Looking east, over the harbour
On the berth; us, the “Paul Gauguin” and a Chinese “spy” ship with an unpronounceable name 🙂
Looking over the port (left) side
Papeete to starboard, (right)
Looking north, the entrance, with outer reef and harbour, with inner reef
I had the luxury of going on a tour of the west-coast of the island, however, before I did so, the ladies went shopping! 😉
The indoor market
The 4 of us set off, heading west, along the coast road, with our driver ‘Sam’. Stopping at various spots for a photo-shoot. Having seen the east coast, some years ago, the west is far more picturesque (and as a consequence, the property more expensive).
Looking north-west, the island of Moorea and our destination the next day
Moorea again ,this time from one of many beautiful public beaches
Surfing is popular
We visited sacred sites or ‘Moorae’ which is a space for ceremonial, social and religious activities.
Originally there was a pyramid structure here
The lush vegetation is a paradise for flowers and fruit, it is growing everywhere, cultivated and wild. Breadfruit, Mangoes, coconuts, bananas, lemon, like, oranges, papaya; you name it, it grows.
Papaya
Breadfruit
Lush tropical waterfalls
And so to Moorea today, the 24th. I’m staying on board and thus limited to the area surrounding the ship. You could always go back in the archives and find more photos of the island though!
We still have Ollivier, (sic) our French pilot with us, (he leaves us today when we leave Moorea).
Tracks into Opunohu Bay; Cook’s Bay is to the right, (east)
At anchor; showing the outer and inner reef (10 o’clock position) and the channel the tenders use.
Sunrise and the peaks catch the first rays
The tender destination once we’re through the reef, (foreground)
The reef to the west…..
….and east
In the bay and at anchor, the craggy peaks tower above us
Tenders working through the inner reef, (the light blue water)
We leave here at 5 p.m. local and head towards our next port, the island of Rarotonga. This has always been a nemesis for me, I have yet to manage to tender guests ashore. Our tender ‘port’ is Avatui, on the north coast, where it is prone to all the vagaries that mother-nature can throw at it; swell and wind being the predominant factors in my decision-making process. Let’s hope that it will be 4th-time lucky for me, I’ll see on the 26th………
Beautiful pictures! Enjoying your blog. Thanks for sharing!
We got to Rarotonga in 2009 on the Grand South Pacific,Australia, New Zealand cruise and loved it there! Have made the attempt twice with you and were sorry not to return there. Hope 4th time is a charm for you! Good luck!
The. few times I have been to Raro, I suffered the same “fate.” The first times was the worst, I got on to the barge for the ship/tender and then the seas and winds increased and I was marooned on a very rocky platform for almost 3 hours — along with about 10 guests! Good luck Captain!