Moorea / Raiatea / Tahiti / Bora Bora (French Polynesia)

Leaving Maui & Kicking Chill Mode into Overdrive: Onto French Polynesia 

It was wonderful 12-month run in Maui.

The original game plan was simple: hunker down and completely recharge our batteries before hitting the open road again.  To be honest, before we committed to that initial six-month lease, Barbie and I were both a little worried about staying put in one single spot for that long.  We’re used to moving.  But time just evaporated.  Before we knew it, we pulled the trigger on a six-month extension.  And even with that extra time, the full year flew by faster than a beginner surfer wiping out on a Hawaiian wave.

Sadly, our time in the Aloha State officially wrapped up, and we set adrift to begin Year 4 of our round-the-world journey.  It was incredibly tough to leave such a beautiful place—a spot where we could always effortlessly find our own private slice of paradise for the day.

We spent a ton of time debating our next move, but the most logical option kept staring us right in the face: another legendary South Pacific island chain.  We were heading to French Polynesia.

Why French Polynesia?

When you’re living the flashpacker lifestyle, you want destinations that make sense for both your vibe and your route.  French Polynesia ticked every single box for us:

• The Seamless Transit: Papeete, Tahiti was only a five-hour, non-stop flight directly south of Maui on Hawaiian Airlines. Compared to the brutal, marathon flights departing from the mainland US, this flight was an absolute cake walk.
• The Next-Leg: When looking at where to go after French Polynesia, New Zealand was a ridiculous steal—only $220 per person.  Snagging that cheap airfare meant we could easily return to NZ and cover the entire other half of the country we missed during our two-month road trip a year and a half ago.
• The Unhurried Return: We’ve already been to French Polynesia once on this RTW journey. But returning to this magical part of the world with zero time constraints meant we could hit the Society Islands—Raiatea, Mo’orea, Bora Bora, and Tahiti—at a completely leisurely, slow-travel pace.
• The Haku Factor: Barbie’s new hobby of crafting Hakus (traditional Hawaiian flower crowns) was peaking during our final months in Maui.  Since French Polynesia is practically the world capital for lush, vibrant flowers and tropical plants, this trip was the ultimate excuse for her to perfect her craft.
• The Mindset: Our minds and bodies were already totally entrenched in that laid-back island groove. Transitioning to a new corner of the South Pacific didn’t require any effort at all. All we had to do was show up, step off the plane, and kick our chill mode up a notch.

OUR RAIATEA AIRBNB –

MATIRA BEACH (BORA BORA) –

OUR MOOREA AIRBNB –