Surfing in Moorea might not be quite as famous as surfing in Tahiti, but this honeymoon haven of an isle does host a series of cracking reef breaks that fire in the Nov-March off season.
An introduction to surfing in Moorea
The heart-shaped island of Moorea is a fragment of Tahiti that sits just to the northwest of its much-bigger bro. It’s hailed by travel agents the world over as one of the most romantic honeymoon destinations on the globe. Yes, it’s got the overwater bungalow hotels you came to Polynesia for. Yes, it’s got those jagged mountain tops haloed in green jungles. Yes, there are coral gardens filled with fish to swim in whenever you wake up. Oh, and did we mention it was heart-shaped?
For surfers, there’s no denying that Moorea holds just a fraction of the charm of Tahiti proper. Plus, it’s harder to get to. But there’s one epic, world-class wave in these parts – Haapiti – that can rival anything over the strait, especially for multi-level groups who don’t want to battle Teahupo’o every day. Plus, you’ve got a string of consistent north-facing reef breaks that work with those less-reliable NW swell sets, nicely placed because the E trades are virtually offshore up there.
Of course, access is tricky in Moorea and it’s an expensive-as-hell island. If you’ve got the moolah then there’s no reason you can’t do a surf trip here. What’s more likely is that you add a session into your honeymoon plans via the hotel you’re staying at. Most know someone with a dugout or motorboat, which are necessary to navigate to almost all the spots.
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!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in French Polynesia
Surfing in Moorea at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to surfing in Moorea?
Where is Moorea?
Moorea is the island immediately to the west of the main island in French Polynesia, Tahiti. That places it well out in the middle of the southern Pacific Ocean (you know, that sleepless swell engine), some 700 miles from the Cook Islands and 2,500 miles south of Hawaii.
How to get to Moorea?
It’s not a walk in the park getting to Moorea. Here’s what we’d do, step by step…
- Fly to Tahiti – The main international airport in French Polynesia is Faa’a International Airport (PPT) in Papeete, Tahiti. Many major airlines have regular flights to Tahiti from various major cities around the world. It’s always a good idea to check with your preferred airline or a travel site to find the best route from your location.
- From Tahiti to Moorea – Once you’ve arrived in Tahiti, you have two main options to reach Moorea: (1) There are regular ferry services from Papeete to Moorea. The journey typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the service you choose. The two main ferry services are the Aremiti Ferry and the Terevau Ferry. (2) By Plane, Air Tahiti operates multiple daily flights from Papeete to Moorea. The flight duration is only about 15 minutes. The airport in Moorea is Temae Airport (MOZ).
Always remember to check the schedules and availability of these services in advance and make necessary bookings – things can change fast in the tropics, especially during the storm season.
Moorea surf spots
There’s not the same abundance of surf spots in Moorea as there is in Tahiti. That’s mainly because it’s a lot smaller as an island but also down the geography – the reef shelf here is wider and the reef breaks themselves are a little less accessible.
With that in mind, we’re certain that there’s a whole bunch of breaks on the outer reefs that can be surfed but aren’t known yet. For now, let’s focus in on the main breaks that lie within striking distance of the Moorea shores. There’s a handful of named ones, and a particular break that oozes quality…
Cooks Bay Pass/Irihonu
One of the most consistent outer reef passes on the north shore, Cooks Bay has a left and a right on opposite sides of the wide channel. They’re really wind dependent. The E trades will ruffle the lefts up so much they are basically unrideable but anything S can really glass the place out and make it look perfect. Sadly, the wave isn’t perfect at all. Both are on super shallow rock reef that’s been responsible for plenty of Iodine sales in the local pharmas. The left plumps up a little more past five feet and turns cruisier but there are still better options for boat or canoe trips out of the north shore.
Opunohu Bay
Hotdogger lefts off the edge of the reefs work here in smaller swells. Not worth a trip in their own but often seen as the boat passes through from the big Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, which is just up the channel.
Hauru
The last reef channel on the north shore opens just north of the town of Tiahura. The whole area used to be dominated by the InterContinental resort, which surfers would often use as a jump-off point for the whole of the north coast. We kinda’ prefer the tiny Hôtel Fenua Mata’i’oa that’s tucked on the inside of the reefs – it’s got real Tiki character. Plus, it’s still close to the left handers that break about a kilometer out at the pass. These – plural because there’s a good left and a mirror right that’s not so nice – are regulars in the N swell wet season and love some W or S in the wind. Quite quick and heavy, it’s a better for experienced surfers.
Haapiti
Tahiti has Choops, Moorea has Haapiti. Don’t worry, this isn’t a slabby monster that comes to life annually to shred boards and bones. It’s much more of an everyman’s wave than its bro across the strait, with long, shelving lines that break off the outer reefs on the south side of the island during the long summer (April-October) SW swell season almost every day.
Check the size at Haapiti to get an idea of what you’ll find once you’re out there. If it’s 6 foot plus then it can show some teeth. But a couple of rides in and you’ll crave that because it comes in the form of neat backdoor sections, steep sections, and even airs. Smaller days lend themselves to something with more volume and the trimmers who like to take it cool and smooth. The reef is shallow but not crazily so.
Where to stay when surfing in Moorea?
There aren’t any dedicated surf camps on Moorea. What there are, are seriously deluxe couples stays that offer surf trips from reception, so you can escape honeymoon duties for a half day and hit some waves with ease. The best for getting to the top surf spots are probably…
- Hôtel Fenua Mata’i’oa – Great access to the northern reef breaks can be had from this fine, fine hotel. It’s a characterful spot and they offer watersports trips right there on site. The highlight is that sunning deck literally one meter off the sea!
- Tehuarupe Surf Studio 2 – The finest pick on the island for surfers looking to score Haapiti, this self-contained unit isn’t one of the honeymoon resorts mentioned above. Instead, it’s a charming Polynesian villa with an infinity pool that looks right across to the iconic wave.
- Moorea Beach Lodge – You will not regret booking a bungalow in this stunning coast hotel. It’s got a touch of style New England beach house to it, only with a central Tiki thread. The location is near the north shore and Taapiti, though you will need your own transport or to book onto a surf trip.
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Moorea?
The best season to surf in Moorea is actually the wet season, between November and March. That’s when the strongest and most consistent N swells power up the reefs at the top end of the island. Taapiti, though, which is probably the best break on the island, works much better during the longer SW swells season, which really lasts from April to September, though it’s always possible for big SW pulses to push through.
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!
