How do you choose between Fiji vs Moorea? Do you even know where they are?
Let’s start with their location. Fiji and Moorea are both located in the South Pacific. Moorea Island is northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia and is surrounded by a bright blue lagoon. Fiji is almost 4,000km due west of Moorea, north of New Zealand and east of Australia.
Of these two countries, you’re probably more familiar with Fiji, a country comprising 333 islands and 540 islets in the South Pacific. Fiji is your quintessential castaway dream – think beaches backed by palm trees, expansive pink sunsets and that drop-dead gorgeous blue sea – which means sensational diving and snorkeling.
Due east of Fiji – practically on the same latitude – you’ll find Moorea. It’s part of the 118 islands and atolls that make up French Polynesia’s Society Islands archipelago.
Often described as Tahiti’s little sister, Moorea shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s known for its jagged volcanic mountains, blue lagoon and lush interior. In the north Mount Rotui overlooks picturesque Opunohu Bay and the settlements around Cook’s Bay. Inland, hiking trails wind through rainforest on the slopes of Mount Tohivea.
They both sound idyllic don’t they? So when it comes to choosing a vacation to Fiji or Moorea, where do you start?
FIJI VS MOOREA HONEYMOON
When it comes to vacations, Fiji and Moorea are both perfectly suited to honeymoon couples. We’re not saying families aren’t welcome – far front I t– with all the activities, beaches and watersports available on both island destinations, families will absolutely love Fiji and Moorea. Kids can choose from kayaking, horseriding, cycling, snorkeling, sailing and fishing to name just a few of the activities available on Fiji or Moorea.
But it’s the remoteness, the scenery and the romance of Fiji and Moorea that will appeal most to honeymoon couples.
Whether you choose a Fiji vs Moorea honeymoon you’ll be guaranteed a spectacular backdrop – think palm fringed beaches, white sand and turquoise water – plus you’ll be looked after with such warmth, that you won’t want to return home.
Moorea is only 10 nautical miles from Tahiti and accessed by ferry or plane from Papeete, which makes it a top spot for couples, families and locals. And despite its popularity and presence of a few international hotel brands, Moorea still retains its small island feel.
For a Fiji honeymoon the remote outlying Yasawa Islands and the Mamanuca Islands are the most popular with couples. And the reason is due to their remoteness. You’ll need to take a ferry or helicopter to reach them, but the journey is spectacular and you’ll be rewarded with plenty of islands to choose from, many of which are one resort per island, and less crowds.
Fiji VS MOOREA: ATTRACTIONS
Moorea’s main attraction has to be its natural beauty. The island is the remains of an ancient, half-eroded volcanic, and has eight dramatic mountain peaks that rise magnificently from its turquoise lagoon, creating a distinctive silhouette from the western coast of Tahiti.
From overhead, the island of Moorea is also roughly shaped like a heart – another lovely reason why it scores highly with honeymoon couples!
The thatched overwater bungalows in Moorea – standing on stilts above gin-clear water – are also a star attraction. There are more than 20 resorts in Moorea that offer overwater bungalows. Honeymoon couples will literally while away hours floating around their bungalows.
However, because of the popularity of the overwater bungalows, Tahiti and the Society Islands can be more expensive and perhaps a little more commercialised than Fiji. However, in Fiji and Moorea you’ll find most accommodation offers a choice of all inclusive, allowing you to budget.
Given it’s in French Polynesia, Moorea will have a mix of French style and Tahitian influence which can be found in the cuisine.
If beaches are your priority, then Fiji would be a better choice over Moorea. Fiji is blessed with countless soft white sand beaches, many of which have that real deserted island feel to them. Moorea does have some great beaches, but they’re not as soft as those in Fiji.
The Mamanuca Islands – a volcanic archipelago lying to the west of Nadi and to the south of the Yasawa Islands – serve up some of the best surf breaks in the world, including Cloudbreak, off Tavarua Island.
In Fiji most of the bungalows are thatch-roofed, with some sitting right in front of the sea, sand and surf, effectively making the stretch of coast in the front yard yours.
Away from the beach, Fiji’s lush interior is packed with hiking tracks and mountain biking trails that make for a great day out exploring.
On Taveuni you can hike through the rainforest at Bouma National Park and head to the towering Tavoro Falls. This is a group of three waterfalls with pools that are perfect for swimming – perfect for a Fiji honeymoon. If you float on your back you’ll be rewarded with snapshots of colour as Fiji is home to many colorful species of parrot.
BEST TIME TO VISIT FIJI VS MOOREA
So what is the best time to visit Fiji vs Moorea?
Given their close proximity to each other you can expect similar weather in Fiji and Moorea.
In the South Pacific winter is known as the dry season and summer is known as the wet.
The dry season runs from May to November with temperatures ranging from 19°C – 29°C. The wet season runs from December to April and sees temperatures sitting at a comfortable 22°C – 33°C.
The best time to visit Moorea is between June and August when the weather is at its most driest and temperatures are in the high 20s to the mid-30s. However, this can be quite busy, so the months either side can still see comfortable temperatures but with lower prices.
Moorea – and the rest of French Polynesia – can be visited all year round, but there are likely to be more tropical showers between the months of November to April.
The best, and most comfortable, time to visit Fiji is during the dry season, between May to October, when temperatures sit at around 25°C by day and between 19°C and 20°C at night.
At this time of year the southerly trade winds bring cool breezes off the sea, cooling things down if they get a little too warm.
HOW TO GET TO FIJI AND MOOREA
With both islands seemingly in the middle of the vast South Pacific, how do you get to Fiji and Moorea?
You can fly daily to Fiji with Fiji Airways, Fiji’s national airline, from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Singapore, Sydney and Auckland.
On the Los Angeles service, Fiji Airways has introduced a new A330 and in-flight service. The flight time is approximately 10.5 hours gate to gate.
Arriving in Fiji you’ll land at Nadi International Airport on Viti Levu. From here, you can either stay at one of the many resorts or hotels or venture out to the smaller islands which requires another transfer either by boat, seaplane or helicopter. To reach the French Polynesian island of Moorea, you’ll have to fly to Tahiti first. Moorea’s airport is served by Air Tahiti with 15-minute flights from Faa’a airport departing several times a day. Air Tahiti also has regular flights between Moorea and Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora.
Tahiti is easily accessible from most parts of the world including the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, France, Chile and Hawaii. Air Tahiti Nui is the national airline, flying once or twice daily from Los Angeles International Airport to Faa’a International Airport. Weekly flights are also available from Los Angeles on Air France and from Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. The flight time is around 8.5 hours from Los Angeles and five hours from Honolulu.
EXPLORE TURTLE ISLAND FIJI
If you’re going to compare Fiji vs Moorea, then you should take a closer look at Turtle Island Fiji. This South Pacific island is home to just one resort, allowing you to feel as if you’re the only people there. Shared with just 14 other couples, Turtle Island Resort really does feel like your own slice of paradise. With 500 acres of lush forests to explore and 12 private beaches, at Turtle Island you really can escape the crowds.
Get in touch today to start planning your next vacation to Turtle Island.
