Views and Beaches

Belvedere Lookout

We wake up rested and with an email advising that our lost bag is flying in to Moorea on the 11:50am plane. Yeah!

This gives us enough time to head to the Belvedere Lookout. We take a turn off from the main road that circles the island onto the only paved road that leads into the centre of the island. The road soon narrows but is still two way traffic that steeply snakes it’s way up and up and up. It’s a little scary because you can’t tell if someone is coming down when you reach the hairpin turns.

At the top is Belvedere Lookout… the view is breathtaking, it overlooks both Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay, lush forests and the jagged peaks of Mount Rotui. Click here for a short video.

There are wild chickens and roosters all over the island and the Belvedere Lookout is no exception. These fowls are actually quite attractive.

On the way back down we stop at some ancient archeological sites; temple remains that are almost 1,000 years old. I spot some very cool little critters…newt?

On Route to Getting our Luggage

We stop at the supermarket for some yogurt. Food here is very expensive. I spot some imported broccoli selling for over $12 that is so past its prime that I would throw it out. Yikes.

We then head to the tiny Moorea airport where we are reunited with our errant suitcase. Yeah!

Te Huno Itti Restaurant

We drop the suitcase off at our Airbnb and have a quick break before heading to Te Huno Itti Restaurant on Cook’s Bay for lunch. This restaurant is highly recommended for the food and has a gorgeous, waterfront location with stunning scenery. But the big highlight for me is that once seated at our table, I can look into the water and see black tipped sharks with yellow tails and the odd big stingray. There is also a big crab doing his thing on a ledge by the water.

Our meals were great. I have the hugest fresh tuna burger. When it arrives I think, “There is no way that I can finish this”. I prove myself wrong. We also try the Tahitian beer. It is quite good.

Rotui Juice Factory

We stop at the Rotui Juice Factory. Not only does this factory produce juice, it also makes alcohol. After an interesting factory tour we go for some tastings…and they are very generous with the tastings. We try a sweet pineapple wine (pleasant) ,then three 20% alcohol liquers (pineapple, lichi and coconut) and two fruit drinks. So four liquor samples and two juice samples.

Ta’Ahiamanu Beach

The we go back to Ta’ ahiamanu Beach where we had been yesterday to swim and snorkel. Yesterday being Sunday was very busy but today it is really quiet. The water is warm like a bath. I am pleased with my fish viewing which includes parrotfish, goatfish, tangs, triggerfish, surgeonfish, and lots of vibrant turquoise, yellow tailed fish.

While at the heach a huge dark mass of clouds sweeps in and it rains. The scenery is just as beautiful when it’s rainy and misty. We wait it out and then resume our beaching.

We head back to our Airbnb and sit out looking at the fins of reef shark in the water. These sharks are harmless to people. In the distance we hear the constant dull roar of the waves crashing against the reef that surrounds Moorea.