Tahiti: Rental Car or Tour?

[Deluzy]

We will be staying in Tahiti for a couple days before embarking on TP.

We would like to see the island (waterfalls, scenery, etc.). Would it be better to rent a car or to arrange an excursion? Is it pretty easy to find the waterfalls and whatnot?

Thanks!

~Suzy

"Our" Maiden Voyage: Tahitian Princess Aug. 25
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;08;25;12;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000

[mamapyjama]

It is a really small island - you can rent a car and get pretty good maps.

However, lots of the waterfalls are not accessable except by 4 x 4. I would sign up for a tour for at least one day to get a tour with someone who knows where everything is - then take a few days to explore on your own.

Have a wonderful time - you will love Tahiti

[kb9mu]

We rented a car in Tahiti and Moorea and found it really easy to get around and find waterfalls etc. (except those that require 4WD).
I used a guide book a got from the library and it was great for giving directions. It's hard to get lost when each island has one road that just goes around it in a circle. Especially when you can drive around the whole island in a short time.

KB9MU

[Deluzy]

Mmmh, so perhaps a 4x4 on our second day (we arrive three full days before the cruise). Any suggestions? Patrick's 4x4?

Then if that works well, maybe we will tour in a car on our last day in Papeete from the boat.

??? So many decisions ???
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~Suzy

"Our" Maiden Voyage: Tahitian Princess Aug. 25
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;08;25;12;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000

[NitaBcruising]

Suzy,
You can pick up a touring map of Tahiti from the visitor's info building on the pier. It was quite helpful when we rented a car. The island is marked in pk's, meaning pointe kilometers, like our mile markers. They are on the mountian side of the road. But, they are marked from Papeete to Taravao going east, and also from Papeete to Taravao going west. So, they will have one number on one side of the marker, then another on the other side! Not too confusing, if you realize they go from 1 to 60, and if you go all the way around, at Taravao, will start at 60 and go back to 1, at Papeete again. Make sense???

Also, did you read my Mar. 8th review? It had info on our car rentals, and what we saw on our own. It's buried back 3-5 pages, but not too far!

Nita

[kb9mu]

Nita is correct.

The mile markers work (if you can read them!)

They actually make it pretty easy to navigate.

A mile marker (http://community.webshots.com/photo/96233812/132601182mhobCH)

KB9MU