Hauru

Hauru combines lagoon trips with a striking view of the coastline and a historical connection to the nearby Irioa sandbank. When choosing a travel experience, the key question is what interests you: bays, snorkeling areas, motus, or the history of a place that is also visible in the distance.

Lagoon trips

Moorea Eco Tour – Cata Manu offers catamaran trips departing from Tiahura Beach in Hauru to explore the bays of Moorea. The tours also include trips to snorkeling areas around Moorea. For planning, it helps to distinguish between the departure point and the destination: the catamaran trips start in Hauru, and their destination is the bays of Moorea. The snorkeling trips, in turn, head to those areas around Moorea. Before your trip, check whether the tours are currently operating.

A guided boat tour on the lagoon can include visits to the motus around Hauru. Its destination differs from the trips to bays and snorkeling areas: the focus here is on visiting the motus. If this tour fits your plans, ask the tour operator directly about current availability.

Coastline and views

The public Tiahura Beach, also known as Hauru Beach, is located in the village of Tiahura on Moorea. If you come across both names while planning your trip, they refer to the same beach. From Hauru Beach, Fare One can be seen in the foreground, while the Irioa sandbank appears in the distance. The view is therefore made up of two layers: Motu Fare One in front and Irioa as a distant landmark. The beach name and the view thus offer two different ways to get your bearings: the named spot by the water and the landscape unfolding in the distance.

The history of the Irioa sandbank

Irioa also connects landscape and history. In 1769, Cook’s naturalists set up a camp there to analyze the transit of Venus they had observed from that location. The camp and its purpose tie this historical episode to this particular sandbank. For travelers interested in history as well as the coastline, Irioa is more than just a place name: it is a visible point in the view from Hauru Beach and the site of a historical event. Shifting between the view of the sandbank and its role in this story offers another perspective on the area around Hauru.

Hauru accommodation search

If you are looking for a hotel in Hauru, Tiahura Beach is a specific location to keep in mind when planning: it is where Moorea Eco Tour – Cata Manu’s catamaran trips depart from. This starting point is especially relevant if exploring the bays of Moorea is an important part of your stay. Choosing where to stay and choosing a boat tour depend on different questions: Where would you like to look for accommodation, and what would you like to explore on the water?

Discover more destinations: Fa'aone, Haapiti, Faaa, 'Āfareaitu, Papeete, Tema'e, Vairao, Paea.

View the broader travel overview: Windward Islands.