Things to Do in Moorea

We were in Moorea in July 2026.

Some Tuesday at anchor under the peaks of Moorea, French Polynesia — Some Tuesday anchored under the peaks of Moorea.

Most of this circulates by word of mouth among cruisers. We pulled it together, organized it, and share it free. It is not official guidance, so don’t rely on it as such.

Peaks, Cook’s Bay, and dinner From Some Tuesday

The peaks are why people come. We anchored under them in July 2026, just inside the reef at the outer edge of Cook’s Bay. Dinner was at Le Cook’s. We never ate fish in a restaurant in French Polynesia. The reason is on the country page.

There is no dinghy dock at Le Cook’s, so we used the public dock next door. Overwater bungalows stand in the lagoon.

Getting around, from other cruisers Heard from Cruisers

Other cruisers say a car rental in Cook’s Bay delivers to Super U, and that there is a taxi service. They also say whale swims are only through licensed operators: Ocean Addict and Aimeho Escapes.

Anchoring rules

Moorea anchoring order Heard from Cruisers

AVP (Association des Voiliers en Polynésie) won a court case cancelling the Moorea anchoring order, Arrêté 910 CM of 26 June 2025 (also given as 912 CM), on procedural grounds. The Moorea zones were unenforceable at the time, and a regulation is expected to come back. AVP’s page: voiliers.asso.pf/mouillages. The same note is next to ESCALES on the clearance guide.

Bays and docks

Ta’ahiamanu, Opunohu Heard from Cruisers

Keep the deep-blue channel clear for tour boats, and anchor in the turquoise water beyond the swimmer line. The anchorage holds about 20–25 boats. Do not use the small private pontoon, even briefly. There is no dinghy dock: tie to aito trees with a stern anchor. Do not use the grey bins in the parking lot. A dinghy lock was cut at Ta’ahiamanu and the dinghy set adrift. Tension with residents is high.

Cook’s Bay dinghy Heard from Cruisers

There is a snack dock next to Super U, and the owner is friendly if you buy something. Super U itself works while shopping (on NoForeignLand). The fisherman’s dock is at the southeast end of Cook’s Bay, with nurse sharks. Keep the fuel dock opposite Mobil clear of resort boats. An Opunohu northeast beach landing works without trouble (on NoForeignLand).

Landing a dinghy there Heard from Cruisers

Security turns dinghies away. The marina asks about USD 40 a day to land a dinghy. The restaurant dock is for diners only. Papetoai, Service public.

Trash Heard from Cruisers

Trash at the Moorea Tourism Office, Cook’s Bay cruise dock, is about 500 XPF a bag, with a receipt. On NoForeignLand.

Fuel, gas, and tanks

Propane and dive tanks Heard from Cruisers

US propane bottles go to Mobil in Cook’s Bay to be sent to Tahiti for filling, and it is slow. There are no dive-tank fills on Moorea. Nautisport, near the ferry terminal, ships tanks to Tahiti.

Getting around and whale swims

Cars and whale swims Heard from Cruisers

A car rental in Cook’s Bay delivers to Super U. There is a Moorea taxi service. Whale swims are only through licensed operators. Ocean Addict and Aimeho Escapes.

Cook’s Bay From Some Tuesday

We anchored just inside the reef at the outer edge of Cook’s Bay. Dinner was at Le Cook’s. We never ate fish in a restaurant in French Polynesia. The reason is on the country page. There is no dinghy dock there, so we used the public dock next door. The park gate was locked when we came back, and we climbed around the bars. One night the dinghy crossed the reef, the prop hit coral, and we paddled home.

On 6 July the American flag I had tied to the topping lift blew up into the block, and the mainsail would not come down. I called Cook’s Bay on the VHF. We came in under sail and anchored in 70 feet. Mike and Dave from Obsession winched me up in a bosun’s chair, about 75 feet. I cut the flag, then the halyard. The next morning Dave from Sailing Solis winched me up again to re-rig it. We left that afternoon for Huahine. The Windward Society Islands.