Tahiti Introduction
Tahiti is a South Pacific Island and form part of the French Polynesia. The island was created by volcanic activity and therefore is high and mountainous with beautiful coral reefs surrounding the island. The island is the biggest and highest island in French Polynesia. Two volcanic mountain ranges can be found on the island.
Tourism
Airport
17°33′24″S 149°36′41″W The Faa’a International Airport (PPT) is the only international airport in Tahiti and is located about 5km from the city of Papeete, the capital city of Tahiti. The only McDonald’s that can be found in French Polynesia is located in the airport.
Airlines
- South African Airways (SAA) (from Johannesburg)
- British Airways (from Johannesburg & Cape Town)
- Air Tahiti Nui (from Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban)
- Delta Air Lines (from Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban)
- Emirates (from Cape Town & Durban)
- Virgin Atlantic (from Johannesburg, & Cape Town)

What to see
- Robert Wan Pearl Museum
- Papeete Market – Here you can buy everything you need
- Musée de Tahiti et des îles (Museum of Tahiti and the Island)
- Tomb of King Pomare the Fifth – A tomb of the only king of Tahiti
- Olivier-Breaud Golf Course – Enjoy a set of golf in Tahiti
- Arahurahu Marae – A restored religious site where many activities took place.
What to do
There is a lot to do in Tahiti. Enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, 4WD safari’s, golf, hiking, deep sea fishing, kite surfing, stingray and shark feedings and more.
- Heiva Festival
- Craftmans’ Exhibition of Taiarapu West
- Classical Concert of the French Polynesia Music and Art School
- Tahiti Guitar Festival
- Billabong Pro Jr
- Billabong Pro Surfing Tournament
- Tahiti Traditional Sports Championship
- Mahana Pae
General Information
Tahiti has the same time zone as France. It is located on the UTC-10 time zone, which is 10 hours behind of Greenwich Mean Time and 12 hours behind South Africa. Tahiti’s currency is the French Pacific Franc (CFP also known as XPF). The South African Rand is much stronger than the French Pacific Franc as ZAR 1.00 will buy you about 11 Francs.
Weather
Tahiti’s weather is almost Utopia. The summer climate doesn’t vary that much from the winter climate due to the tropical climate. Temperatures vary between 21˚C and 31˚C. Water temperatures average around 26˚C. Due to the tropical climate it is best to stay away from synthetic fabrics as it can get hot and sticky. Please don’t forget to pack a hat, lightweight cotton clothes and sunscreen lotion when planning a trip to Tahiti.

