Raivavae
An Austral island inside a lagoon of white motu, with stone tiki and a mountain ridge down its spine.
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Raivavae is a green ridge of an island lying inside a lagoon scattered with white sand motu, and it is regularly described as one of the most beautiful in the Pacific by people who have got there, which is not many: flights are few and there is almost no accommodation. The island holds stone tiki, several moved to Tahiti in the past, and marae sites along the coast. A road runs round the island and Mount Hiro rises down its centre.
What you actually see
- The lagoon motu - white sand islets scattered across the surrounding lagoon.
- The stone tiki - the carved figures surviving on the island.
- Mount Hiro - the ridge running down the island's spine.
- The coastal road - the route round the island through the villages.
When to go
May to October is the dry season. The Australs are cooler than Tahiti and can be windy. Flights are infrequent and easily disrupted.
Honest expectations
Flights are few and accommodation is a handful of pensions. There is essentially nothing laid on for visitors. Several of the island's tiki were removed to Tahiti long ago.
Nearby
Tubuai is west, and Tahiti is northwest.
What to pack for Raivavae
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
