18 September 2024 – Huahine

Before I start today’s blog -I am looking for one crew from Tahiti to Tonga – who would need to be in Tahiti by the 30th of September 2024 latest. If anyone is interested please email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com or WhatsApp me on 0044 7931360372.

It was a very quiet night and no rain for a change and we woke to a lovely calm sunny day. We are protected from the wind and it was like a millpond. I heard all the cockerels early reminding us they are here and alive. We got up and had a fruit breakfast which was nice and we went ashore about 8.30am to pick up the car we had ordered to explore the island.

Once we picked up the car we headed west and through the rest of Fare the main town which sprawled along for some time. We then headed east and came across a shell museum which was on the way to the airport. This may sound odd but the guy who ran it said he had been collecting shells for 40 years. He had a quite an enormous selection and explained that some shells and their occupants are deadly and will kill you within two hours which was quite a shock to Keith and I. Whilst we had no intension of picking them up this was a good tip. This was an impressive collection and most are local and it was good to see.

We carried on and came to Fare Potee- which is a museum on a Marea -religious site and it was a raised wood and reed hut on the edge of a lagoon. In this area of Huahine there are two large lagoons within the reef. Fare means house and Potee means round. This was a large round reed and wood structure being placed on the area where the locals used to meet in ancient times. It had a museum inside it of weapons and food implements and different types of canoes they used to use. This was quite clearly a religious site in a fantastic setting and was apparently significant.

We carried on to the end of the lagoon where they had stone fish traps in operation and have been for centuries. These are essentially lanes which direct the fish to an end circle from which they cannot get out. Depending on where the wind is coming from the range of fish life caught in the traps is different. Great and simple invention which is still going strong. We proceeded east and came to Marae Manumu which was some raised stones on the edge of the lagoon and was quite significant. We saw as we were there a number of young lad’s cock fighting with a number of different cocks. They would not let it go too far and it was if they were playing.

We drove on and came to a lovely bay as part of the lagoon and this was the Jardin de Corall – each island seems to have this bit and it is an area where you snorkel amongst the coral and see lot of reef fish. This snorkel did not disappoint and we had a good snorkel and then walked around. This was an area of a good hotel at some point which was destroyed by a cyclone but which is no more.

We drove on round and went across the isthmus from Huahine Nui to Huahine Iti, the smaller lower island. The views as we drove round were fantastic and beautiful. We carried on through various hamlets and then the road rose to a viewpoint over Maroe Bay which looked lovely except it had a cruise ship in it!!. We then carried on to Avea Bay which was beautiful and had beaches and different places to eat. We found a nice place  on the sand in front of the bay and had a nice lunch in a perfect setting.

We continued our journey and came to another Marea -where human sacrifices used to be made. Quite a thought right on the edge of the lagoon. We drove on and came to a lovely viewpoint over the reef and from which today’s picture is taken. The hues of blues were amazing.

Once past this it was not long to Fare but there was the Distillerie Huahine Passion to test. We stopped and had various tastings of their products. They essentially use the fruits of the islands to make various alcoholic drinks. The one which we liked and which was a combination was no longer available.

We returned to Fare and shopped for a few things and then returned to Stormbird. We showered and dressed and then went ashore for sundowners and supper at the Yacht Club which we enjoyed.

This island is lovely. The guidebook says that your smile gets bigger the longer you stay and I can see why. It is very verdant and has lots of lovely trees and shrubs with lots of lovely flowers. It has the rain type forests but as its peaks are not so high the road does go inland more and so you get better views of the reef.         

The road goes round the islands providing great views and bordered by palm trees and shrubs. The houses are varied. Some are lovely for those who have money but many are just shacks and there are some abandoned vehicles and rubbish s they could keep them better.  

We feel that on land this island is probably the most beautiful of what we have seen on this trip. Bora Bora beats it for its lagoon but Huahine is better from land.

We had a great day and look forward to spending more time here.    

Crewing Opportunity Year Two

In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we move through French Polynesia and beyond. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com