Moorea Beach Guide

Discover the best beaches on Moorea for a beach holiday or romantic getaway.

Moorea is fringed with crunchy white-sand beaches; some of the best are located between Moorea Village and the Hotel Beachcomber along the northern coast, as well as near the Sofitel Ia Ora on the north-east side of the island.

There are only two public beaches on Moorea, the rest are private and typically front a resort. Here is a selection of the best beaches on Moorea:

Temae Beach (East Coast) – Unwind on this palm-fringed crescent of powder-white sand, that lies between a turquoise lagoon and soaring lush green mountain slopes. Located between the airport and the luxury Sofitel Moorea Beach Resort, this gorgeous 1.6km-long public beach has excellent conditions for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling and surfing. Access is either through the Sofitel Resort or via a dirt road at the northern end of the beach.

Faimano Beach (North Coast) – This gorgeous and less developed public white-sand beach is located in front of the Faimano Village between Opunohu and Cook's bays, with excellent swimming and snorkeling. Relax beneath shade beachside trees and enjoy a range of creature comforts at the nearby Sheraton Lagoon Resort.

Opunohu Beach (North Coast) – Meet local Tahitians at this public white-sand beach located on the northeast side of Opunohu Bay. Pick a spot to sunbathe on this gorgeous 800m-long beach, join a beach soccer game, picnic under the trees or sail a catamaran from the beachside Moorea Sailing School. The nearby luxury Sheraton Lagoon Resort offers a choice of creature comforts.

Motu beaches (North Coast) – Hire a boat to take you out to one of the many idyllic motus that dot the lagoon. Here you can swim and snorkel the clear waters, make your own footprints in the pristine white sand and enjoy a secluded picnic. Or sign up for an organized shark-feeding excursion to either Motu Fareone or Motu Moea.

Hauru Point (West Coast) – Explore this narrow, 5km-long stretch of palm-fringed white sand that winds along the coast in front of several hotels including the luxurious Moorea Intercontinental Hotel, where you can be pampered with a range of creature comforts. Various walking tracks give access to this long stretch of beach.

Painapo Beach Paradise (West Coast) – Although not a public beach (you need to pay to use it), Painapo offers a beautiful white-sand beach that shelves into crystal clear water, perfect for swimming and snorkelling an underwater snorkel trail. Sunbathe on the beach, enjoy great lagoon views and watch, traditional dancing, sports, cooking and craft exhibitions. The entrance to Painapo is marked by a huge wooden statue of a Tahitian warrior.