A guest at Le Taha’a is close enough to Bora Bora to see the sun set over the famous island. But they are also far enough away to have a completely different and far more laid back type of French Polynesian experience.

Agents are being urged to look at alternatives beyond traditional hotel accommodation packages in Tahiti to overcome any current capacity shortages in the destination.

The other advice being given as the destination hosts trade from around the world this week – including a New Zealand and Australian contingent – at the Parau Parau Tahiti (PPT) trade show is to have clients book as early as possible.

A luxury three-villa property in the lagoon of Raiatea, French Polynesia is giving New Zealand agents a new option for resort island buyouts in the Pacific, says Alana Eli, sales manager New Zealand and Australia with South Pacific Management (SPM) Hotels.

Motu Nao Nao had a soft opening late 2021 and fully opened this year. The resort has quickly gained traction from the northern hemisphere and Eli says it will definitely suit a niche market here.

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is currently offering savings of up to $3,000 per cabin.

The biggest savings of $1,500 per person are on offer for Aranui 5’s final two voyages of 2022 to the Marquesas Islands, departing December 3 and 17, 2022, when New Zealand clients book a Royal, Premium or Presidential suite before 9  December 2022.

Air Tahiti Nui has added additional weekly services on its ex-Auckland routes. Effective July, three services a week from Auckland-Papeete will connect with services to Los Angeles and Paris.

The July boost will meet the peak winter sun holiday season for the southern hemisphere and then revert to seasonal demand with another boost scheduled to commence in October to meet the peak northern hemisphere travel season. 

Ultimate Cruising has fly/cruise/stay packages to the Gambier Islands and Pitcairn Island with Aranui 5 in 2022 and 2023. 

Departing from Papeete, guests head to Pitcairn Island, an intriguing community with an incredible history and lifestyle. Pitcairn Island is only accessible by ship with supply ships visiting once a month and taking few passengers so this opportunity to visit with Aranui Cruises is rare.

PONANT has released a new 13-night Fly and Cruise package for its upcoming 2022 Chairman’s Cruise on board Le Paul Gauguin, in French Polynesia including Tahiti, the Society Islands and the Tuamotus. 

The voyage will be hosted by Australian businesswoman Sarina Bratton AM, Asia Pacific chairman of PONANT and Paul Gauguin Cruises.

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises has released its 2023 programme. This includes a dedicated Austral Islands explorer featuring the ‘Bora Bora of the south’, a bonus Pitcairn sailing to make up for cancelled Covid cruises and the cruise line’s first five-day cruise.

On sale now, the 2023 programme is Aranui’s most diverse, featuring 25 scheduled cruises ranging from five to 13-days and calling at 26 islands around the South Pacific on Aranui 5, a 125-metre mixed freight and passenger vessel, which offers one of the few remaining cargo cruise experiences in the world.

French Polynesia is repositioning its cruise industry in favour of ships with small and medium capacity.

A release from Tahiti Tourisme says the destination will ‘reposition around four axis’, applicable from 1 January 2022.

Firstly it will favour year-round turnaround ships based in French Polynesia, of small and medium capacities (700 passengers).

Agents who deal with group travel of various sorts were the target audience of a joint destination Pacific event at Villa Maria Estate near Auckland Airport mid October.

Organiser Faye Spooner says Meet the Pacific was aimed at incentive, meeting and conference organisers but beyond that had appeal to wedding planners and organisers of sports and educational tours, as well as travel agents who send inter-generational and other family groups to the Pacific. While most of the ‘buyers’ were from Auckland, agents also came from Wellington, Christchurch, New Plymouth and Rotorua.