In the hard contest of what is better Tahiti, Bora Bora or Moorea, I have to say my favourite tropical paradise island was Moorea! It had amazing snorkelling, a brilliant hotel and in my opinion there is just so many things to do in Moorea in comparison to the other French Polneysian Islands. In this guide I will round up all the essential information about visiting Moorea as well as the Best Things to do in Moorea with kids or without. No matter what type of traveller you are we will have you covered!
How to Get To Moorea
Moorea is pretty easy to reach as unlike Bora Bora you don’t need to make your internal French Polynesia connection by plane! Once you have flown into the international airport on Tahiti, you can take a short transfer via taxi to the ferry terminal in the centre of town (this is about a 15 minute drive away)! Being able to catch the ferry directly to Moorea from Tahiti (rather than having to take an internal flight like you have to for Bora Bora) is great for a number of reasons:
- The ferry to Moorea is significantly cheaper than the flight to Bora Bora
- You don’t have to worry so much about connection times and won’t necessarily have to spend a day in Tahiti at the start or end of your vacation.
- The transfer time is low so you will be getting to your island paradise quickly.
For tips on travelling first to Tahiti check out this post.
Where to Stay In Moorea with kids or without
Moorea, like Bora Bora is centred around the tourist industry however it doesn’t have the reputation or the same legacy of Bora Bora as a tropical island paradise (even though it is equally as beautiful). For this reason there is slightly less choice of accommodation by comparison to Bora Bora.
Whereas Bora Bora has several hotels that vie for the title of best Bora Bora hotel, for me there is only one hotel that can win that crown on Moorea – The Hilton Moorea. If you are looking for where to stay in Moorea then I would unreservedly recommend the Hilton Moorea.
And if you are travelling with kids, I would say this is the most family friendly resort on Moorea.
But don’t worry if you have already booked your accommodation and aren’t staying here you can always visit the Moorea Hilton with a day pass!
Best Things to Do in Moorea (with kids or without)
One of the things I loved most about Moorea is how much there is to do there! In this section fo the guide we round up the best things to do in Moorea with kids, as a couple or as a solo traveller.
Go Snorkeling on Moorea
For me, one of the best things to do in Moorea is go snorkelling.It has some of the clearest crystal blue waters that I have ever seen and an abundant coral reef with that.
Now while many of the hotels will have good reefs so you don’t have to leave your resort to go snorkelling, I would advise taking at least one excursion away from the resort.
Firstly you can go deeper and see a wider variety of fish and secondly the reefs around hotels are likely to be more damaged than those further out.
If you would like to go on a snorkelling excursion there are a few options:
- Take a Guided Snorkelling Tour
- Take a Catamaran Snorkelling and Sailing Tour
- Private Boat Tour of Moorea
Note: Please be coral conscious and respect the reef when snorkelling here or anywhere in the world.
If you like me are interested in reef conservation and would like to take part in a conservation effort while in Moorea then I advise you to check out the Coral Gardeners! This is an eco friendly tour and once you have had a briefing about coral you will go out and plant coral to help with the preservation of the waters around this tropical island paradise.
For more details please CLICK HERE!
If you are looking to snorkel in Moorea then I would advise taking your own equipment with you! Our preference is to purchase a full face mask! I find them easier to use especially if you are a novice snorkelled, have asthma and in general I just find there is less to go wrong with them.
And I would also advise taking WATER SHOES 
And don’t forget to pack your Go pro or similar camera for underwater photos.
For a complete Moorea and Bora Bora Packing List Click Here!
Go Hiking on Moorea
What I really like about Moorea over Bora Bora is the ability to go hiking! And you don’t need to be an expert to do it – there are hiking trails for every ability on Moorea and whether you want to hike to a waterfall or to a beautiful overlook there will be the perfect hike for you on Moorea.
If you are looking to go hiking on Moorea then the below trails might be of interest to you:
- Afareaitu Waterfall Hike – an easy to moderate hike that ends at one of the most beautiful waterfalls on Moorea!
- Mount Rotui Hike – a more difficult hike that is easy to reach from the Hilton.
But the most popular hike on Moorea is the three coconuts trail! This hike is about 4 miles in length and will take around 90 minutes each way! There is also a chance to take a dip in a waterfall on your descent.
If you would like a guided version of this hike to learn more about the plant and wildlife of the area and to help navigate the trail then why not check out the below excursion.
Check rates for the Three Coconuts Guided Hike
Go Sailing
I love exploring islands by sail boat! It is such a peaceful and relaxing way to get a new perspective on a place.
Click here for sailing excursions on Moorea!
See the View From Belvedere Lookout
While you could do a challenging hike up to the Belvedere Lookout which offers some of the best views on the whole of Moorea, a unique and fun way to get there is to take an electric bike tour.
Do A 4×4 Tour of the Island
The island of Moorea is beautiful and one of the best ways to fully explore the island is to take a 4×4 tour.
Click here for more information!
Notes for Visiting Moorea with Kids
If you are going to Moorea with kids, especially if you are travelling to Moorea with a toddler or baby then I recommend that you pack supplies to last you for your entire vacation! When we went to the shops and supermarket we found a very limited supply of baby nappies etc and what we found there was more expensive than at home.
For more information on visiting Bora Bora with kids check out this post!
Have you been to Moorea? What are your favourite things to do in Moorea with kids, as a couple of as a solo traveller?