Rurutu
French Polynesia · Austral Islands · 30 m
Description
Rurutu is a raised coral island in the Austral group, six hundred kilometres south of Tahiti, where the reef has been lifted into cliffs and honeycombed with limestone caves full of stalactites. It is the island humpback whales come to, arriving from the Antarctic to calve in water so close inshore that they are watched from the rocks and swum with by boat. The three villages sit in bays below terraced taro gardens, linked by one road around the coast, and pandanus weaving is the craft the island is known for. Winters are cool by Polynesian standards and the whale season falls in them.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 3 to 7 days (optimal 4 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: July – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Humpback whale watching and swimming (July - October)
- Ana Aeo and the limestone caves
- Raised coral cliffs around the coast
- Moerai village and its harbour
- Pandanus weaving and the craft cooperatives
- Terraced taro gardens above the villages
- Ana Taupee cave and its stalactites
- Island circuit road and coastal viewpoints
- Manureva and Toataratara points
- Avera and Hauti villages
- Coastal walks over the makatea
- Sandy coves below the cliffs
Getting there
- Airports:
- RUR
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry