Cruising Tahiti: Oceania Cruises’ Regatta

Set your sights on the islands of Tahiti, where that lacquered blue-green backdrop forms an indelible aspect of the journey.

I can see the sun rising, rose and gold, just above the horizon from my stateroom balcony onboard Oceania Cruises’ Regatta. It’s like a window has been left open just a crack. I know the day will soon begin, but right now I am on my balcony enjoying the softest of breezes.

Drawing back the curtains to do the big reveal is one of my daily rituals on a cruise. It’s pre-dawn on day two of a 10-day Papeete to Papeete cruise and before long, the sky is impossibly blue and the water that precise shade of turquoise that the Islands of Tahiti are famed for. It’s the very definition of paradise. And while the translucent seas are what I’ve been dreaming of, it’s the contrast with the rich green mountains of Moorea that rise precipitously all around that I find most alluring.

clear green waters in Tahiti — Go snorkelling around the translucent waters of Tahiti.

It’s this palette that will become my focus today on a small-group Capture Moorea shore excursion with local photographer and Eyes of Moorea founder Reno Fayada. Reno visited the island of Moorea 24 years ago on holiday from Paris and has been here ever since. “Moorea means ‘Land of the Yellow Gecko’," says Reno, who has the local (and vocal) lizard tattooed on his calf. “I came here to change my life and get some sun and now I show people around paradise for a living," he smiles.

the towering peaks of Mt Mouaroa on the island of Moorea — Admire the jagged peaks of Mt Mouaroa on the island of Moorea.

What to expect

Reno steers our snap-happy group to the most scenic spots around the island during the four-hour tour that includes tips on how to sharpen our photography skills. “The tours are a great way to see the island up close and learn a bit of geography and history along the way.

Hopefully you will take some great photos as souvenirs, too," he says. We stop to point and shoot at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, built in the 1800s, that has the scissor-sharp summit of Mt Rotui as its dramatic backdrop. We train our cameras on the serrated peaks of both Mt Rotui and Mt Tohivea from Belvedere Lookout and try and do justice to the pristine waters off the bays of Paopao and Opunohu.

We also venture to a vanilla plantation where local farmer Mama Vanilla’s warm smile is every bit as captivating as the scenery. All up, there are five archipelagos that make up the Islands of Tahiti: the Society Islands (which includes the Windward Islands such as Tahiti and the Leeward Islands such as Bora Bora), the Tuamotu Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands and the Austral Islands.

a Bora Bora local striking a pose — A friendly Bora Bora local strikes a pose. (Image: Carla Grossetti)

Sights to see and things to do

The region has 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls that necklace more than 2000 kilometres around the South Pacific. And you really do get a sense of the archipelago’s remoteness and natural beauty when circumnavigating on a cruise ship. The slide show changes as each day unfolds, but that predominant mix of blues and greens does not.

The greens that paint those monumental mountains are as vivid as the turquoise-tinted seas. If it’s a kaleidoscope you’re after, add flowers or fish. Or the pretty floral-patterned pareo (fabric for a wraparound skirt), which flutter in the breeze like prayer flags.

translucent blues in the South Pacific — Be wowed by scenes from French Polynesia. (Image: Carla Grossetti)

Snorkelling in Bora Bora

You will find pops of colour underwater when you don a mask and fins to snorkel in the lagoon in Bora Bora. I spend two hours drifting around the translucent waters here playing dodgem with schools of rainbow fish. It’s like being in an underwater arcade game. There are turtles breaking the surface for a gulp of air and black-tip sharks circling below.

a sea turtle swimming with fishes — There’s so much to see underwater at Bora Bora Lagoon.

Sunset tour with Moana Adventure Tours

A sunset tour with Moana Adventure Tours also captures Bora Bora’s best side. It pootles past deserted beaches and bays, beautiful blue lagoons and the jagged mountain peaks that dominate the landscape.

the view of Tahiti Islands from the ship — The dramatic beauty of the Islands of Tahiti looms large. (Image: Carla Grossetti)

Rejuvenating massage at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center

It also purrs past the Hilton’s Conrad Bora Bora Nui where the overwater villas stand knee-deep, like skinny-legged egrets, in the sea. Although there are 42 shore excursions to choose from, cruising in the South Pacific is also an opportunity to slow down and change tack.

Drift into a dream on a sea day. Lie sideways on a sun lounger. Enjoy a restorative massage at the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center. Visit the theatre for lively shows, talks and entertainment. And take a tender to shore to chat with friendly locals and contribute to the local economy.

Where to eat

A cruise onboard Regatta also offers ample opportunity to learn firsthand why Oceania Cruises claims to have the Finest Cuisine at Sea. There’s the signature olive oil tasting in Italian restaurant Toscana. Afternoon Tea at Horizons. Poke bowls at Waves Grill. The opportunity to frock up for fine dining in the Grand Dining Room. And sample the freshest sashimi at the Terrace Café.

Table set at Toscana aboard Oceania Cruises — Have a delightful Italian meal at Toscana.

The last day of the itinerary sees Oceania Cruises’ Regatta sidle up to the wharf on the island of Raiatea, which allows easy access to the seaside village. After spending the morning on my balcony waiting for the township to wake up, I meander around the farmers’ market and then follow the seductive aroma of buttery croissants to La Raie’Gate.

a plate of Chocolate Lasagna Zabaione with wine glasses on the side — Enjoy onboard dining with waterfront views. (Image: Josh Lewis)

It’s there I find chef and baker Max Garie rolling out dough for pizzas and stuffing pillowy pesto-filled brioche buns with ham, cheese, avocado, onion, lettuce and tomato. Max also proffers a plate of poisson cru, the ubiquitous national dish of raw fish marinated in coconut milk and lemon.

Tomorrow, the curtains will close on my last day onboard Regatta. And while I may no longer be rolling with the ocean, I still have a collection of indelible snapshots as souvenirs. Smiling locals, sun-drenched waterfalls, riotous bougainvillea, azure seas and those sometimes voluptuous, sometimes vertical mountains all around.

Oceania Cruises’ Regatta moored off Moorea — Explore Tahiti on an Oceania Cruises’ Regatta 10-day Papeete to Papeete cruise. (Image: Carla Grossetti)

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A traveller’s checklist

For more on Tahitian Legends, Oceania Cruises’ 10-day round-trip voyage from Papeete, Tahiti, visit Oceania Cruises.

Getting there

The fastest way to get from Australia to the Islands of Tahiti is to book a flight to Auckland with Air New Zealand or Qantas. Qantas has a codeshare agreement with Air Tahiti Nui for flights onward to Papeete.

Staying there

Flights arrive at Tahiti-Faa‘-a International Airport (PPT) at around 12.30am Tahiti time. Hotel Tahiti Nui is close to the airport and a convenient place to stay ahead of your cruise. Te Moana Tahiti Resort overlooks the ocean and is a great place to unwind ahead of your flight back home.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Cruise the islands of Tahiti onboard Oceania Cruises’ Regatta