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THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS

Let’s TravelISSUE 35 APRIL-MAY 2015

$9.95 inc GST

A mile high in Denver

Riding onThe Ghan

Koh SamuiRevisited

MonumentalMilford Sound

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Destination ➜ Tahiti

The TuamotusAmazing white sand, beaches lined with coconut trees, crystal clear ocean that’s warm to the touch…the 76 islands and atolls within the Tuamotu archipelago are spread over an area of more than 20,000 km2 and where the myth of Robinson Crusoe can truly exist!

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Living up to their reputation, the Tuamotu islands are a must-see for keen divers. The atoll lagoons are a protected paradise where underwater life is spectacular. This area is also the cradle of the

legendary Tahitian cultured pearl, grown with love, patience and respect, lying in a blue elegant oyster. Pearl farms lie on the Tuamotu lagoons in a weightless manner where the pearls source their unmatched colours and shades.

Some Tuamotu atolls are just endless white sandy beaches with a few acres of coconut plantations. Others, such as Rangiroa, the second largest atoll in the world, are much larger.

These mini paradise islands, dotted idyllically amidst the aqua blue ocean, are remote yet easy to reach via boat/plane.

You will find family pensions/guest houses around most of the islands and the largest atolls host international resorts, all welcoming visitors from around the world.

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Rangiroa:Located an hour away from Tahiti, Rangiroa is a huge atoll – the largest in French Polynesia and the second largest atoll in the world. 240 motu circle the lagoon of an area of 1,640 km2. It is a natural aquarium, which Jacques Cousteau referred to as one of the most beautiful dive sites on Earth. It is a renowned divers’ paradise featuring different kinds of aquatic encounters and sheltering amazing marine life. Non-divers can also enjoy it as the crystal clear water ensures sightings of underwater ballets visible with the naked eye or while snorkelling. Rangiroa also hosts dream beaches with pale pink sand, which is as soft as the inside of a seashell. It is a lagoon within a lagoon…just like the islanders who live here, everything is suited for you to enjoy life on and under the water.

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Tikehau:Located 300km from Tahiti and just 12km from Rangiroa, Tikehau and its lagoon look very similar to a natural outdoor swimming pool.

Within its waters, where fish are plentiful, the most amazing species will literally blow away snorkellers. In the air, admire the bird colonies where many species hold magical names such as red-footed boobies, greater crested terns, blue noddies, or lesser frigatebird.

Tuherahera is the only village around the atoll. Life is peaceful and follows the rhythms of fishing, copra and religious services. It is a fabulous opportunity to indulge oneself in the typical easy-going atmosphere of a Tuamotu atoll.

Ahe:Located between Rangiroa and Manihi, Ahe atoll is a place for visitors on a quest for authenticity. This is one of the most dynamic atolls in terms of pearl farming as her lagoon is covered in picturesque farms. Go and visit a pearl farm and learn all the secrets of this amazing activity and the passion and the respect the islanders have for this heavenly but fragile environment. Extremely rare in the rest of the Tuamotu, you will see Pisonia grandis or puka tea or gatae, majestic trees whose spectacular shape matches no other! In the 1970’s the French navigator, Bernard Moitessier, chose to live with the local people and enjoyed this relaxed paumotu lifestyle. Ahe has become a mythical stop for sailboats arriving from the Marquesas.➜ www.tahitinow.co.nz

Societ y iSlandS | tuamotu iSlandS | Gambier iSlandS | marqueSaS iSlandS | auStral iSlandS

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