Discover Huahine: Diving, Mount Taitaa and Culture on Tubuai

Huahine lies in the center of the island of Tubuai, on the road between Mataura on the north coast and Mahu on the south coast. Around this destination on Tubuai, different interests come together: dive sites, the hike up Mount Taitaa, local crafts and Marae Mataura. This mix gives you several specific topics to consider when planning your trip, while Huahine’s location anchors it on the island.

Diving with experience in mind

Tubuai has more than a dozen dive sites, six of which are suitable for beginners. If you are planning with travelers who are new to diving, you can take these six sites into account when planning together. This makes it possible to balance an interest in diving with other trip priorities, rather than treating it as a universal preference for everyone. Diving can be a focus in its own right, but it does not have to be the only activity your group might consider. The six sites suitable for beginners make up less than half of the more than twelve dive sites in total.

Mount Taitaa: summit and November race

The hike up Mount Taitaa leads to the 422-meter-high summit, which offers 360-degree views. This makes for a specific hiking destination alongside diving: the hike leads to the summit, where panoramic views unfold. The mountain is also part of the Raid Litchis race, held annually on Tubuai in November. You can consider the mountain as a hiking destination or check whether that year’s race in November fits your travel dates. If you want to plan your trip around the race, confirm the dates for that year’s event before making your plans.

Crafts and Marae Mataura

On Tubuai, a crafts center showcases the work of local artisans, including Tifaifai quilts, woven hats and baskets. Those interested in cultural discoveries will find a clearly defined focus here in the form of specific crafts. Marae Mataura is the largest marae on Tubuai. The crafts center and the marae offer different points of interest: the center showcases local crafts, while the marae stands out as the largest of its kind on the island. When planning your trip, you can weigh whether you are more interested in the work at the crafts center or in the marae as a cultural point of reference. Both topics complement the active side of a trip with a cultural element.

Plan your trip around your interests

These questions relate to experience, travel dates and interests; they do not have to fit into a single itinerary. For people traveling together, this can help you align priorities before choosing your accommodation. The November race is mainly a matter of timing, while diving and the cultural topics reflect different interests in experiences.

Discover more destinations: Tamatoa, Mata'ura.

View the main travel overview: Tubuai Islands.