Consider the idyllic island of Huahine for a romantic honeymoon in Tahiti.
With its authentic laid-back Polynesian ambience, lush jungle-clad interior, crystal clear lagoon and gorgeous white-sand beaches, Huahine is the least affected by tourism and offers honeymoon couples a peaceful and idyllic romantic getaway in French Polynesia.
Huahine consists of two islands – Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti (big and little Huahine, respectively) – surrounded by the same reef and linked by a bridge, which, in turn, separates two scenic bays.
Discover a choice of unspoiled palm-fringed, white-sand beaches that encircle this beautiful Pacific island.
The best beaches in Huahine, include the following…
(Huahine Iti) – Unwind together on one of the South Pacific’s best beaches – a gorgeous, coconut palm-lined crescent of white sand stretching along the southwest peninsula of Huahine Iti.
The beach sits in front of the Hotel Le Mahana Huahine , which offers a range of activities including sailing, kayaking and cycling. The hotel is located in the heart of Avea Bay on the west coast of Huahine Iti and just a short distance from the village of Parea.
Further along the beach lies the charming Pension Mauarii, rated as one of the best small hotels on Huahine.
(Huahine Iti) – Catch some waves at this great surfing beach on the southern tip of Huahine Iti, located about 2km south of the Relais Mahana hotel and close to the archaeological site of Marae Anini.
(Huahine Nui) – This white-sand public beach is located just north of Fare quay and shelves gently into shallow water making it ideal for swimming and snorkelling; with a distant view of Bora Bora.
(Huahine Nui) – Dip your toes into the powder-white sand of this gorgeous west-facing beach on Huahine Nui.
Backed by lush jungle-clad mountains, Te Tiare offers great swimming and snorkelling over coral heads close to shore, as well as magnificent sunsets over the distant Raiatea and Tahaa islands.
The beachfront Te Tiare Beach Resort offers a choice of overwater or beachside bungalows and all the creature comforts one would expect from a 5-star resort.
Huahine offers a multitude of water- and land-based activities to keep active honeymoon couples happily engaged.
Circle the island on a 4WD tour, swim and snorkel the lagoon, horseback ride along gorgeous, palm-fringed white-sand beaches or explore lush, jungle-clad hillsides while en route to the village of Maeva, where you can admire ancient marae (stone temples) for a memorable honeymoon experience.
Huahine (pronounced by Tahitians as Wha-hee-nee) ranks with Easter Island and Raiatea, as the three most important Polynesian archaeological sites in the Pacific Ocean.
Water sports include diving, sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, swimming and kite surfing.
On land, you can go climbing, hiking, cycling and horseback riding as well as take 4WD safaris, eco and cultural tours.
Huahine's dive sites offer a range of underwater riches for beginner and experienced diver alike. Experienced divers should take a short boat ride from Fare to Huahine's most famous site – Avapeihi Pass at Cook's Bay. Here you can watch schools of barracuda and grey reef sharks.
Beginners can dive the canyons beyond Tiare Pass on the eastern side of Huahine Nui or check out the Aquarium, set inside the lagoon off Avea Beach on Huahine Iti. At only 2m to 3m deep, this enthralling dive offers yellow coral gardens teeming with colourful reef fish, tuna, rays and grey reef sharks.
With good visibility and generally calm conditions, the crystal clear waters of Huahine are excellent for snorkelling.
Huahine's best snorkelling lies in the sheltered lagoon just off Avea Beach on Huahine Iti.
Check out the consistent wave breaks off Fare town on Huahine Hui or find great surf off Ara'ara Beach at the southern tip of Huahine Iti and south of the hotel Relais Mahana.
Hire a car and treat yourselves to a scenic drive around the two islands. The mostly unpaved road circles the main island, winding through lush jungle and passing through small villages before crossing the bridge to Huahine Iti, south of the town of Fitii.
Here you can enjoy stunning views of Bourayne Bay and the larger sweeping Maroe Bay. Take a break at gorgeous Avea Beach with a refreshing swim in the lagoon and wander up the hillside to Anini Marae, overlooking the lagoon and Motu Ara’ara.
La Petite Ferme (the Little Farm) on the main road north of Fare offers a variety of beach and bush rides on horses to suit all riding abilities.
Huahine offers a choice of must-see attractions, including…
Watch more than 100 traditional canoes compete in the world's largest and longest international open-ocean canoe race, a gruelling 123km between Huahine and Bora-Bora.
Held annually in October, this three-day spectacle is not to be missed. Both the start and finish are celebrated with an elaborate festival of food, music and dance.
Snack on French-influenced patisseries and dine in charming French-style restaurants in Huahine’s largest town, an attractive tree-lined waterfront village that is a delight to stroll around.
Watch locals playing petanque on the foreshore, stroll along the pretty beach or glide out into the harbour aboard an outrigger canoe for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Inland, explore the surrounding forests on foot or on horseback – Le Petit Ferme, one of Tahiti’s premier riding stables, offers a range of horseback rides to suit all abilities.
Discover more than 200 stone marae (stone temples) located between the beach and Matairea Hill at this once-sacred hilltop ruin overlooking Lake Fauna Nui Pass.
Then learn more about ancient Polynesian culture at the museum, which showcases ancient tools, woven cloth and historical pictures.
Admire the impressive Manunu Marae, which stands on the beach to the east end of Maeva, and from the nearby bridge see several ancient stone fish traps.
Restored, they work as well today as they did in the 16th century at trapping fish as the tide ebbs and flows in and out of the narrow passage separating the lake from the sea.
Manunu is accessibly by walking the 2.5km-long Matairea-rahi hillside trail that’s strewn with archaeological sites.
Admire this ancient marae, which functioned as a temple long before Europeans set foot on the island. Anini Marae is located on the southern tip of Huahine Iti near Avea Beach and close to the town of Parea.
Unwind at the luxurious Te Tiare Beach resort, which features a choice of honeymoon packages, or choose from a range of less-expensive but nonetheless charming beachside resorts and pensions run by local families.
Te Tiare Beach Resort
Location: Fiiti District, southwest coast
Rating: 4-star
Prices: from AUD571 per person
Description: Choose from spacious garden, beach and overwater bungalows with privacy screens in this luxurious resort that faces a private white-sand beach and stunning turquoise lagoon, with excellent swimming and snorkelling.
Facilities incl.: Restaurant, 2 bars, outdoor pool, limited room service, laundry service and a range of free water sport activities.
The best time to visit Huahine (and French Polynesia) is during the dry season between May and October, when the average annual temperature of 28°C (82°F) is tempered by refreshing sea breezes.
Huahine enjoys a balmy tropical climate, with hot and humid weather all year round.
July and August are the coolest months of the year due to southeast trade winds called the maraamu with temperatures averaging 25°C (77°F).
More information about weather in Tahiti…
Huahine is located in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. It is part of the Leeward Islands group, situated around 35km (22mi) east of Raiatea and 175km (108mi) northwest of Tahiti.
The most convenient route to Huahine, from overseas, is by air to Tahiti International Airport (PPT), located on the island of Tahiti, followed by a connecting flight to Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH), located around 3km (1.8mi) north of the capital, Fare.
Air Tahiti operates daily flights to Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH): Papeete to Huahine is a 35-minute plane ride.
French Polynesia – a vast expanse of 118 islands scattered over 2.5 million sq km of the South Pacific – is located around 4000km (2485mi) northwest of Auckland, New Zealand, and 6120km (3802mi) northwest of Sydney, Australia.
More information about getting to Huahine…
Latest update: Huahine Honeymoon Guide: 12 May, 2022
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