Honeymoon- Moorea Tahiti

Yarana!

(hello in Tahitian)

 

For our Honeymoon we went to two islands in Tahiti.  Moorea was our first stop which is a small island just a 45 min boat ride from the main island we flew into.  Moorea is pronounced
Mo-O-ray-ya which translates to yellow lizard, because apparently the island is loaded with them, but we didn't get to see any.  It is a BEAUTIFUL island full of greenery on the large volcanic island itself and surrounded by incredible clear water. 

The flight into Papeete Tahiti was through the night and sooo awful.  I am not a red eye kind of girl.  After landing and spending an hour in custom lines, we were shuttled to the boat port where we boarded a very large ferry over to Moorea.  After docking at our arrival, they had our luggage waiting in heaps for people to savagely grab for.  It was quite an adventure.  Then it was finally time to arrive at our hotel.

The hotel didn't have our room available until three (we arrived around 11am) so it was the perfect excuse to get into our swim suits and do nothing at all but lay on the beach.  Nate and I fell asleep and commenced the tanning that I had been so looking forward to. 

Moorea is stunning.  We were able to meet some really great people through various tours we did and at our hotel which was really fun.  It was also the island we decided to make our adventure island.  And so we did.  We went on an off roading tour around the island and up and down volcanic steep slopes for amazing cultural experiences and views.  We did a jet ski tour around the island (our favorite).  Fed sting rays (the HIGHLIGHT of our vacation.  We had those lame disposable underwater cameras which apparently are impossible to get developed, so stay tuned for pictures of that.).  Swam with sharks.  Swam with dolphins, and did lots and lots of kayaking and laying out.

We really enjoyed Moorea, I think it was Nate's favorite of the two islands.  I definitely suggest making a stop to this island if Tahiti is ever in your destination.

 We LOVED our room here in Moorea.  We opted for private beach vs. over water, and we were so happy with this decision.  The hut was bigger and more private by doing this.  We had our own pool, quite beach shared only with a few others, and the hut was really quite large.  Heaven.

Pineapple farm.  Their pineapple was enough to make Nate salivate.  They were soo good.

 

We took a tour around the island with a great group of people.  The road to one of the lookouts was perhaps the scariest part of our trip (and we swam and fed sharks ripped up pieces of fish).  It was us and the cliff, face to face- and steep roads.  But the views were worth it. 

 

 We walked around the jungle areas to look it old temples.  The cool thing about Moorea was their most dangerous animal was the wild boar.  No snakes, spiders, nada that could really hurt you.

I read and read and read the whole trip.  I am slightly obsessed with reading so it was such a treat to have the time to get lost in books.  That paired with laying out... this is my IDEAL vacation.

 We went to a dolphin pool and swam with a dolphin which was always a dream of mine to do.  The dolphin was so sweet and fun to play with.

 

Our best dinner on the island was at a french restaurant called the Mayflower.  The food was great.  ON the way home we were taxied by a man who we were pretty sure was drunk.  It was a mile if that ride that he took at 5 mi per hour and when we asked him to take our picture he had the camera upside down and facing himself.  Couldn't figure out why it wasn't working.  Hot mess.