This complete guide to French Polynesia surf runs through all the major spots and destinations in this far-flung corner of the Pacific, leading to in-depth guides to key regions like Tahiti, the home of the heaviest wave on the planet.
An introduction to surfing in French Polynesia
Pinch yourself if you like. You aren’t dreaming. Seriously, it really does look like this. Emerald jungles tumbling to coral reefs. Seas of gleaming turquoise brushing into talcum-white bays. Thatched villages and bobbing fishing boats. Most people who head French Polynesia never want to leave. We can see why. It’s tempting enough without the surf, but then you realize that some of the very best waves on the planet are right here on these far-flung islands a bazillion miles from Paris.
Of course, the headline act is Teahupo’o. It’s a wave of sheer class, sucking up on a reef ledge on the south side of Tahiti to give some of the glassiest big barrels anywhere on Earth. Move over Maui. Take a hike Oahu. Man it’s good. But while Chups, as the rippers call it, graces the magazines, there are umpteen spots that string up the whole island chain, from Moorea to Tuamotu, and countless others that haven’t even been attempted yet.
This guide to the surfing in French Polynesia will run through all the main spots and destinations, offer advice on the best seasons, and even suggest a couple of the leading surf stays to get you on the doorstep of the breaks. Let’s begin…
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This is just one part of a complete guide to surfing in Oceania
French Polynesia surf at a glance
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What will I find in this guide to surfing in French Polynesia
Where is French Polynesia?
French Polynesia is actually a whole string of Islands that dash right the way through the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Officially belonging to – just as the name implies – France, they’re more than 15,700km from the home of the baguette and the croissant. They’re quite dispersed, too – there are more than 100 islands in the group, spread over a whopping 3,521 square kilometers of ocean – just think of all the swell!
The top surf spots in French Polynesia
Tahiti is the undisputed epicenter of the French Polynesia surf scene. But there are some other spots worth knowing about too, especially if you’re after one of those pioneering surf adventures that we feel this corner of the world is really made for…
Tahiti
This is the kingpin of French Polynesian surf. The largest isle in the Windward group, it’s a strangely shaped rock made up of two huge volcanoes. Reefs ring the whole thing, and there are swells from the south in the winter and the north in the summer, a combo that really heralds a whole medley of fantastic breaks. It’s the beast of Teahupo’o that really steals the show. Come here to see that and surf it if you’re pro level. Then, venture out to find glassy rivermouths and reef breaks aplenty. We’d say it’s a spectacular intermediate+ destination with loads of opportunity for discovering unknown breaks and secret spots.
Check out our complete guide to surfing in Tahiti
Moorea
If you really want to get away from it all, then the small isle of Moorea is the place to go. It’s considered the little bro of Tahiti, sat some 10 miles across the strait. Packed with idyllic honeymoon hotels and overwater bungalow resorts, it’s got a sort of Maldives vibe and is fantastic if you want luxury between surf sessions. The name of the game here is clear-water peelers over pristine coral reef. And you could have those to yourself too!
Check out our full guide to surfing in Moorea
Bora Bora
Just a mention of the name Bora Bora is usually enough to conjure images of coconut-strewn beaches and coral gardens teeming with parrotfish. Yep – this spot really does live up to the hype. It’s STUNNING. Simple as that. The surf scene is still second fiddle to the luxury holiday scene and you’ll pay loads to get here and bed down. The reward for opening the wallet? Two epic waves, a right and a left. Usually empty. Surfing in paradise stuff.
Read our full guide to surfing in Bora Bora
When to surf in French Polynesia
The peak surf season in French Polynesia is between May and October. The taps of the SW swell factory in the lower latitudes is fixed permanently on during that time. That sends powerful groundswells up to hit the famous reefs on the southern sides of the islands. These are the conditions needed to get epic French Polynesian breaks like Teahupo’o firing on all cylinders.
The whole south coast can go totally flat between November and March, since the dominant swells come from the opposite direction. That joins up with dominant west winds to shut off the mainstay spots along the western and southern shores. However, the northern parts of the islands can come into their own. It will generally be a bit smaller but secret waves with hardly any crowds can come alive, though you might need some waiting periods between sessions.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!