Pihaena offers everything you might want in a vacation to French Polynesia. Enjoy ocean and bay access from this northern town on Moorea. Swimming, snorkeling, boating, turtle watching, dolphin watching and whale watching are some of the favorite water activities. Look for interesting activities on land as well.
One of the highlights of a trip to Moorea is a visit just south of Pihaena to the factory of Manutea Tahiti andJus de Fruits de Moorea. Don a white lab jacket and walk along the operations as machines crush the fruit, separate the pulp, pasteurize the juice and bottle products. After smelling the luscious aroma of tropical juices, head to the tasting and sales room to sample or purchase smoothies, jams and distilled products.
Perhaps the most surprising spot in Pihaena is a nearby University of California facility, primarily connected to the Berkeley campus. Known as Gump Station, the site is focused on advancing biocomplexity research and sustainable science. The research facility was set up in 1985 to establish Moorea as one of the world’s leading model ecosystems. Stop in to see if any tours are available or simply chat with students and scientists engaged in the many research programs related to the ocean, lagoon and inland habitats.
Continue south to Te Pū 'Ātiti'a, a cultural center that will boost your understanding of the traditions and history of Moorea and the rest of French Polynesia. Book a tour, which can include a boat trip on the lagoon.
Head almost to Paopao at the bottom of the bay to see Saint Joseph Church. The small whitewashed building stands out in front of the blue bay waters and the green of the opposing hillside. Its presence is a reminder of the introduction of Catholicism to French Polynesia in the 1800s.
Moorea is about 11 miles (17 kilometers) northwest of the French Polynesian island of Tahiti. Fly from Papeete to Moorea Airport in just 10 minutes or take a ferry in 30 minutes. Once on the island, drive or take a taxi from the airport to Pihaena in about 20 minutes.
