Hauru Point Beach
Best for. Snorkelers and value travellers who want white sand, a clear lagoon and turtles offshore for nothing, on an island where most of the shore sits in front of resorts.
Best spot. The lagoon near the pier by Captain Taina for the best chance of turtles, with your own mask brought from home.
Know this. The beach is free with rare public toilets and parking, but the park closes in the late afternoon, so treat it as a daytime spot.
Hauru Point is the beach that quietly answers a real problem on Moorea. Much of this island's spectacular shore sits in front of resorts, which is lovely if you are staying at one and awkward if you are not. Here, on the northwest coast near the Petit Village shops, is a genuine public beach, a stretch of soft white sand and shallow turquoise lagoon that is free and open to everyone. Locals know it as Plage de Tiahura, and for a value minded traveller it is one of the most useful patches of sand in French Polynesia. You get the same postcard water as the overwater bungalows, without the room rate.
The honest read is that you come here for the water more than the beach furniture, because the snorkeling is the real prize. The lagoon is calm and shallow and holds plenty of reef fish, and the channel offshore is visited by sea turtles and rays. Snorkel out near the pier by Captain Taina and your chances of meeting a turtle are as good as anywhere you can reach from a public shore on Moorea. The smart move is to pack your own mask and fins from home, since bringing your gear turns a world class snorkel into something you do for free, rather than paying island rental rates every time you want to get in the water.
Play it well and Hauru Point is a rare thing, a famous island beach that costs nothing and still delivers. There is free parking and there are public toilets, both genuinely uncommon on Moorea, and a restaurant sits just behind the sand if you want lunch without packing one. The one catch to plan around is that the beach park tends to close in the late afternoon, commonly around half past five, so this is a daytime beach rather than a sunset one. Come earlier for the clearest water and the easiest parking, bring your own snorkel gear and a picnic, and you have the best value beach day on the island.
No club, just free sand and turtles
Hauru Point is a free public beach, not a club scene. The lagoon is the reason to come, and it costs nothing.
There is no day bed and cocktail scene at Hauru Point. This is public sand with free parking, toilets and a restaurant behind the beach, so you bring a towel and your snorkel gear and the lagoon does the rest. For a value traveller that is the whole appeal, a top snorkeling beach that asks nothing at the gate.
If you want loungers or a resort day, the nearby Hotel les Tipaniers has its own well regarded beach a short walk along the shore, and Moorea's resort day passes are arranged elsewhere on the island. Those are worth it for a pampered day, but at Hauru Point your money is better kept in your pocket, which is exactly why this beach earns its place. The Moorea beach clubs guide covers the paid options if you want them.
On the northwest coast
Hauru Point lies on the northwest coast of Moorea, in the Hauru and Tiahura area, a short way past the Petit Village shopping centre when arriving from Papetoai. Most visitors reach it by rental car or scooter on the island's coast road, and free parking sits right by the beach, which is a real bonus here. Moorea itself is reached by the fast ferry from Papeete on Tahiti, a short crossing, so the beach is an easy day out from wherever you are staying on the island.
Bring your own mask and fins, sun cover, water and a picnic to keep the day free and easy, though a restaurant behind the sand is there if you would rather buy lunch. The lagoon is usually calm and shallow but there is no lifeguard, so snorkel with a buddy, mind any boat channels and swim within your depth. The beach park generally closes in the late afternoon, so plan a daytime visit and arrive earlier for the clearest water and space on the sand. Conditions change with wind and season, so treat calm, clear water as typical rather than guaranteed.
Photo: Vinay Anantharaman via GoogleNot ready to book?
Keep the good shorelines coming. Shore Notes is our occasional letter on the best beaches and the clubs worth your day, sent straight to your inbox. One field, unsubscribe any time.
Book a beach club
Hauru Point is a free public beach, so tell us your dates and we will help arrange a resort day or lagoon experience elsewhere on Moorea. We reply by email.
Independent and honest · 1,340 beaches ranked across 103 destinations · We answer to no resort
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Hauru Point Beach
Is Hauru Point beach free?
Yes. The public beach at Hauru Point, also called Plage de Tiahura, is free to use, with free parking and public restrooms on site, which is a rare thing on Moorea where much of the shore sits in front of resorts. You get white sand and a clear lagoon at no cost.
Is the snorkeling good at Hauru Point?
It is among the best shore access snorkeling on Moorea. The shallow lagoon holds plenty of reef fish, and the channel is visited by sea turtles and rays. Snorkel near the pier by Captain Taina for the best chance of turtles, and bring your own mask to avoid rental costs.
Are there facilities at Hauru Point beach?
More than most Moorea beaches. There is free parking and there are public toilets, both uncommon on the island, and a restaurant sits just behind the sand. The beach park closes in the late afternoon, commonly around half past five, so it is a daytime spot rather than a sunset one.
Does Hauru Point have a beach club?
No. This is a free public beach, not a club scene. The nearby Hotel les Tipaniers has its own well regarded beach a short walk away, and Moorea's resort day passes and loungers are arranged elsewhere. Here you simply bring a towel and your snorkel gear.
When is the best time to visit Hauru Point?
The drier Austral winter from May to October usually brings the clearest water and the least rain, which is ideal for snorkeling. Come earlier in the day for calm, clear conditions and space, and remember the beach park tends to close in the late afternoon.
