Moorea is a high island in French Polynesia, northwest of Tahiti. Because of its stunning scenery and accessibility to Papeete, Moorea is visited by countless western tourists who travel to French Polynesia. Especially trendy as a honeymoon destination, Moorea can often be seen in American wedding magazines. Charles Darwin was inspired for his theory regarding the formation of coral atolls when looking down upon Moorea standing on a peak on Tahiti. Don the Beachcomber lived here for a bit until his houseboat was smashed by hurricanes. Moorea means "yellow lizard" in Polynesian. The University of California Berkeley sustains the Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station on Moorea. Moorea is an island with a effortless and more urban lifestyle and still offering plenty of entertainment for the tourist, including traditional-style nightlife.
Moorea is a place to go and just marvel at its
beauty. This Island is dominated by volcanic peaks, it also has impressive white
sand beaches and translucent lagoons ideal for swimming, diving and snorkeling.
They have excursions that include a visit to the gorgeous Opunohu Valley, this
place is an ancient dwelling place, unpopulated for 150 years, with 500 ancient
structures including temples or marae, some of which have been restored.
The best view of the island is from Le Belvedere it is a lookout spot. And the
nearby island of Tetiaroa, recently opened to the public and accessible only by
air, is an important seabird sanctuary.