Five years ago, Elie bought a Swift Trawler 42 motorboat to explore Polynesia with his wife, two children and family dog. Today, this passionate boater is fortunate enough to have his boat moored outside his house in the lagoon at Tahiti, and he sails on it regularly.

He was very satisfied with his purchase and agreed to help us create this article. Which Polynesian destinations does he consider to be the best to visit by boat?

In the Society Islands, the Windward Islands archipelago comprises the following five Polynesian destinations: Tahiti, Moorea, Maiao, Mehetia and the Tetiaroa Atoll. If you are setting off on a motorised cruise, returning from one or simply travelling through the region, we recommend visiting at least three of these islands.

As the largest island in French Polynesia, Tahiti is the perfect place to start your motorboat cruise. Why not take a tour of the island?

You can stop off at Papeete Marina, where most charter catamarans depart, or at Arue Marina in the north of the island. Alternatively, you can stay in the west of the island at anchor or at Taina Marina, where you can explore the famous Papeete market and the city centre, and enjoy the island’s magnificent hikes and beaches.

Élie advises: ‘In Tahiti, you’ll find all the necessary infrastructure to prepare a motorboat before setting off on a cruise, including supplies, nautical services and fuel.’

One of the destinations you can visit on a motorboat cruise from Tahiti is the island of Moorea.

“It’s just over 15 miles from Papeete — barely an hour at a good speed by motorboat,” says Élie. Once you arrive in Moorea, the legendary setting of Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay, surrounded by green mountains, awaits you.

According to Élie, there are two things in particular worth seeing when stopping over in Moorea:

• Reach the snorkeling spots quickly on your motorboat to admire the rays and small blacktip reef sharks.
• At Motu Tiahura, visit the Coco Beach establishment for a drink or a meal.

Another place you can reach by motorboat from Tahiti is Tetiaroa. This crystal-clear lagoon is surrounded by motus and is located just 30 miles from Papeete. The island was once owned by Marlon Brando, and we think it’s definitely worth a visit, especially if you want to immerse yourself in nature during your stay!

With a liveaboard motorboat like Élie’s Swift Trawler, you can easily spend a night or two, or even a long weekend there, enjoying complete autonomy.

‘To land at Tetiaroa, however, you have to slalom across the reef flat between the coral heads. It’s essential to have a high-performance RIB with a powerful engine!’ explains Élie.

Go further: 10 reasons to sail in French Polynesia

During your motorboat cruise, you can easily access the most famous Leeward Islands: Maupiti, Bora Bora, Tahaa, Raiatea and Huahine. These islands are all gems waiting to be discovered and offer a wide range of activities.

Huahine, also known as “Woman Island”, often charms boaters with its authenticity. When arriving by motorboat, the lagoon is easily accessible and pleasant to navigate. The Yacht Club in Haapu Bay… There are several anchorages where you can disembark comfortably and explore the two islands of Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti.

Activities not to be missed on site include pandanus leaf weaving, pareo painting and coconut bread making!

Surrounded by the same lagoon, the islands of Raiatea and Taha’a offer a unique boating experience. There are vanilla plantations, distilleries and pearl farms to explore. There is plenty to explore during your stopover at these two Polynesian destinations!

The port of Uturoa is ideal for refuelling, restocking supplies and taking advantage of local amenities. When it comes to anchorages, there are plenty of options in the lagoon, such as the mouth of the Faaroa River in Raiatea, Faaaha Bay, Apu Bay and the Coral Garden in Taha’a.

Continue your Polynesian cruise by motorboat to Bora Bora, a must-see destination located west of the Leeward Islands archipelago.

The island is renowned for its beauty and its lagoon, teeming with fish, which is a regular delight for snorkellers and divers! There are several anchorage areas available, and a mooring buoy system has been set up to protect the local ecosystem.

In Élie’s opinion, ‘Bora Bora is a very touristy and expensive island, but the lagoon is great for sailing’. On land, you’ll find all the necessary facilities and plenty of ways to enjoy yourself. The Yacht Club is very convenient for leaving your dinghy and for renting a car or bicycles to explore the island for the day.’

Located more than 200 nautical miles from Tahiti, the Tuamotu Archipelago differs greatly from all the other destinations presented so far. There, immense lagoons are encircled by coral rings: each atoll has its own unique identity and is more or less accessible, often being quite geographically distant from its neighbours.

Autonomy is generally the watchword in the Tuamotus: only a powerful, economical and high-performance motorboat will enable you to reach the most distant islands of this archipelago from Tahiti.

When travelling to the most beautiful destinations in the Tuamotus, the first stop is Makatea, a high island located just over 100 nautical miles northeast of Tetiaroa. It is a magnificent place with incredible industrial ruins waiting to be discovered on land.

Unfortunately, it is not easy to stop there as there are only two mooring buoys under huge cliffs and it is not possible to anchor as the seabed is too deep.

As Élie explains, ‘To reach the Tuamotus by motorboat, you need a good supply of fuel as the only fuel station in the archipelago is in Fakarava. If you arrive at Makatea and the moorings are already occupied, you must be prepared to sail on to Rangiroa, which is 60 miles away.’

Read further : new moorings in Makatea

Measuring 80 km long by 32 km wide, the Rangiroa Atoll is another endless playground for motorboating.

The turquoise waters are home to thousands of fish, sharks and dolphins, and the Tiputa and Avatoru passes offer unforgettable diving experiences. Younger visitors can discover marine life while snorkelling in a natural aquarium. The island also has a vineyard and produces its own wine.

It’s no surprise that Rangiroa is visited by the largest cruise ships and their passengers!

Fakarava is the last destination to discover on a motorboat cruise in Polynesia — at least on our list — and it is also very famous. Divers from all over the world come here to explore the seabed of the lagoon and experience diving in the two spectacular passes.

Fakarava is the ideal stopover for motorboat enthusiasts in the Tuamotu Islands, offering the chance to stock up on food and fuel. Take the opportunity to buy some cultured pearls, then explore the surrounding area and discover other atolls such as Apataki, Makemo or Toau.

If you have a Swift Trawler, you can easily equip it with a diving compressor to make you self-sufficient — provided, of course, that you are experienced. Find out how to equip your boat: our article on diving from your boat

Compared to sailing, travelling by motorboat in Polynesia offers a real added bonus. For example, a Beneteau or Four Winns motorboat, a Wellcraft model or a catamaran from the Twin Hulls range by Four Winns allow you to:

• enjoy cruising thanks to the comfort and thrill of speed;
• cover medium and long distances safely and quickly;
• access the best anchorages thanks to their shallow draft;
• enjoy your destinations more, with more time on site;
• increase the number of stopovers;
• leave at the last minute.

Does the idea of taking a motorboat cruise around Polynesia appeal to you?

Why not consider buying your own boat? It’s probably the best way to explore all of Polynesia without having to choose between its many magnificent destinations!

Does the idea of taking a motorboat cruise around Polynesia appeal to you?

Why not consider buying your own boat? It’s probably the best way to explore all of Polynesia without having to choose between its many magnificent destinations!

With over 10 years’ experience based in Polynesia, the experts at Sail Tahiti will assist you every step of the way. Whether you are looking for a small or large motorboat, a RIB, a day cruiser or a trawler-type motorboat, we can help you with the following:

• choosing the model and engine
• expertise
• financing
• importation
• insurance
• rental management
• resale.
• We can also take care of the maintenance and preparation of your motorboat on site, so it will always be ready to set sail as soon as you arrive at the dock!