Tour of the caves in Rututu

The excursions should be taken with a guide. The caves are interconnected and there is a real danger of getting lost in the underground galleries. In the vicinity of Moerai and its airport, there is a marked access path leading to the "Ana A'eo" cave, also known as Mitterrand's cave. This is the largest and most spectacular with a forest of stalagmites and strangely shaped columns. To the South of Moerai, at Arei point, Peva cave contains many astonishing "cavern pearls", deposits of calcite that form around a core, and, in the longest gallery, a white grotto made of several successive chambers with concretions forming beautiful natural sculptures. From this cave you can see the bay of Moerai and the village. Near mount Manureva, the cave of Hina, the legendary ogress, and that of Mo'o, the giant lizard, on the side of the mountain facing the Tetuanui plateau, are easy to reach.

Routes for walking or 4x4 wheel drive

The main village of Moerai on the island of Rurutu, situated in the north-east of the island, opposite a channel passage, with its traditional white and blue "fare" and their flower gardens, has two points of interest: the tiki, a gigantic statue of the god A'a, a copy of an original to be found in the British Museum in London, on show in a room at the town hall and, in the nearby cemetery, the tomb of the navigator Eric de Bisschop. The coastal road to the village of Hauti is particularly spectacular, with its rocky promentories and cliffs dotted with caves. Beyond this, to the South, the narrower road that leads inland around the rocky points and cliffs, sometimes follows the raised coast that shelters a few beaches. The route around the west coast is just as wild and also offers some spectacular viewpoints, over the woods or the indented coastline, towards the village of Avera dominated by three peaks, including the legendary Manureva and the highest one, called Taatioe (389 metres). Towards the north, the coastline holds the vestiges of the royal marae Vitaria, with its standing stones.

Watersports

During the Austral summer, from July till October, the megaptera or humpback whales, impressive mammals up to 16 metres in length, with immense pectoral fins, come to seek peace and rest in waters of Rurutu. These hospitable waters have become a breeding ground and a place where the baby whales are weaned. There is a diving centre at Moerai on the island of Rurutu, which organises dives to observe the whales.

Activities in Tubuai

The best way to visit Tubuai is by horse. The person in charge in Tubuai is Simon Viriamu, he is organising days trips and village visit on horseback.

The other way to visit the island is also by bike.