Understanding Uturoa: Escaping To A Quiet Place
Uturoa is a town in the largest island of French Polynesia. There are about 3200 people or so in the city. They have plenty of beaches and water activities, but unlike other parts of the islands, this is a quiet place. This is where normal life resumes and there aren’t as many tourists. If you want to visit a tropical island but you want to escape from the usual list of things to do, then you should visit Uturoa. It's much like you would expect, a sunny tropical coastal city, where you can walk along the beach with bare feet, enjoy a fresh catch at the local restaurants and also hike up the hills to get the best view you have ever seen. Let’s explore some of the things you can do here.
Go wherever you want
Even though it's an island, we recommend that you rent a car. Go with a trusted brand like Burswood Car Rentals where you can rent a family car, a modern crossover, a 4x4 offroader or a truck if you want to go camping. This allows you to go up the hills and through the town without needing to rely on public transport or a taxi, both of which are scarce and take their time getting anywhere. What can you expect from an island town right? The majority of people visiting will find that this is the best way to get around because when the cruise ships make port, all of the taxis and public transport are full.
Te Mara Nui diving club
If you go to a tropical island, you need to go diving. Scuba diving is one thing, but here you get to go diving to the bottom of the sea onto the floor where you can see all manner of tropical fish and crustaceans. Don’t worry, there is a professional on hand to guide you, tell you how to use the equipment and stay on the surface at all times as you are diving. The depths they go down to are pretty shallow, about 10-15 meters. You have plenty of natural light to see everything so you don’t feel like you're that far down.
La Raie'Gate
You should expect nothing less than some of the best French cuisine on a French tropical island. In La Raie'Gate you can find fresh squid, fried in garlic olive oil, mushrooms and a rich creamy white wine sauce. We found that the outside seating was best, it's comfortable and you get to smell the sea air as you eat. They also do pizza here, so you can get your fill on your favorite pizza and then take a walk on the beach. The restaurant is right next to the harbor!
If you want to go find a quiet place on a tropical island, where you can take it slow and enjoy yourself without the noise of tourism outside your window, go to the small town of Uturoa.