Ta'ahiamanu Beach
Best for. Snorkellers, couples and families who want a free, easy, genuinely public beach on Moorea with calm lagoon water and reef life a short swim out, rather than a resort strand.
Best spot. The grassy palm backed lawn behind the white sand for shade, then a snorkel out toward the reef drop off for the coral, rays and turtles.
Know this. It is loved by locals, so it fills on weekends. There is no lifeguard, water shoes help over the coral, and the food trucks nearby come and go.
Moorea keeps most of its best sand in front of resorts, which is what makes Ta'ahiamanu such a quiet pleasure. On the north coast between Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay, this is one of the island's few genuinely public beaches, a modest stretch of soft white sand backed by a grassy lawn and leaning palms, with the green ridges of Opunohu rising across the water. Locals know it as Mareto and love it, and for a traveller who wants the real island rather than a fenced hotel strand, it is the beach that lets you simply turn up, spread a mat under a palm, and swim in a calm clear lagoon without paying for the privilege.
The water is the reason to come. The beach sits well inside Moorea's reef, so the lagoon is usually gentle and clear, an easy swim for couples and families alike, and the snorkelling is the quiet highlight. Swim out toward the reef drop off and the colour arrives, coral heads and reef fish, and often the rays and turtles that glide through this stretch of lagoon, with the richest life gathering where the floor falls away. Bring your own mask and fins, because nothing is hired on the sand, keep off the coral, and take more care as you move out into deeper water where any current is stronger. There is no lifeguard, so you judge the sea and swim with a companion.
The honest note is that a beloved public beach is not a secret one. Ta'ahiamanu fills on weekends and around the middle of the day when island families and tour groups arrive, and it is a small beach, so it can feel busy. Come on a weekday, early or late, and the whole mood softens, the lawn empties and the light over Opunohu Bay turns lovely, which is when it becomes genuinely romantic for two. The recent renovation helps, with shaded picnic tables, clean toilets and showers and a big free car park, and food trucks that often gather nearby for a simple lunch, though their days and hours come and go and are to be confirmed. Bring water, sun cream and your snorkel gear, time it away from the crowd, and Ta'ahiamanu gives you the easiest, most honest beach day on Moorea.
A public beach, resorts across the bay
Ta'ahiamanu has no beach club on the sand, only a public lawn and food trucks. Moorea's lounger and daybed scene lives at the resorts around the two bays.
There is no beach club at Ta'ahiamanu, and that is exactly why people love it. This is a free public beach with a grassy lawn, picnic tables and food trucks rather than daybeds and service, the simple island alternative to a resort strand. For a low key romantic day it is hard to beat, a mat under the palms, a snorkel out to the reef and a plate from a truck, with nothing to book and no minimum spend. Bring what you need for the day, since the only thing for sale is at the trucks nearby, whose days and hours are to be confirmed.
If you want loungers, a pool and full service on the sand, Moorea sends you to the resorts around Cook's Bay, Opunohu Bay and the northwest corner, some of which offer day access or a meal to non guests. Our Moorea beach clubs guide has the honest picture of where that works and where it does not, and we can help you plan a day that pairs a free morning snorkel at Ta'ahiamanu with a resort afternoon elsewhere on the island. Keep this beach simple, come prepared, and let the lagoon be the luxury.
Off the coast road
Ta'ahiamanu Beach sits on the north coast of Moorea between Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay, on the Opunohu side near Papetoai. It is signed off the island's coast road with a spacious free car park, and is easy to reach by hire car or scooter in a few minutes from either bay. There is no useful public transport, so a car, scooter or bicycle is the practical way in, and parking is straightforward even on a busy day.
Come prepared, since nothing is hired on the sand: bring water, sun cream, your own mask and fins and a mat, and take all your rubbish away. Water shoes help over the coral and seagrass as you snorkel out. Read the lagoon before you swim, keep children close and take more care toward the reef where the floor deepens, as there is no lifeguard. The renovated toilets, showers and shaded tables are handy, and food trucks often gather nearby, so time a weekday morning for the calmest water and the quietest sand.
Photo: Alessandro Dimasi via GoogleNot ready to book?
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Ta'ahiamanu is a free public beach with no club, but tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange resort day access, a lounger or a table elsewhere on Moorea. We reply by email.
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Common questions about Ta'ahiamanu Beach
Where is Ta'ahiamanu Beach on Moorea?
Ta'ahiamanu Beach, which locals often call Mareto, sits on the north coast of Moorea between Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay, on the Opunohu side near the village of Papetoai. It is one of the island's few genuine public beaches, signed off the coast road with its own car park, and easy to reach by hire car or scooter from either bay in a few minutes.
Is Ta'ahiamanu Beach good for snorkelling?
It is one of the most rewarding easy snorkels on Moorea. The lagoon here is clear and calm, and swimming out toward the reef drop off brings colourful fish, coral and often rays and turtles, with the richer life gathering as the sea floor falls away. Bring your own mask and fins, keep off the coral, and take more care as you move out where the water deepens and can carry more current.
Are there facilities at Ta'ahiamanu Beach?
Yes, and it is well kept for a public beach. A recent renovation added shaded picnic tables on the grassy lawn behind the sand, public toilets, showers and a spacious free car park. There is no beach bar on the sand, but food trucks and fruit stalls often set up nearby, so lunch is usually close. Opening days and hours of the trucks vary and are to be confirmed.
Can you swim at Ta'ahiamanu Beach?
Usually very easily. The beach sits inside Moorea's sheltering reef, so the lagoon water is typically calm and clear, gentle for a long swim and for families. The entry is soft white sand with patches of coral and seagrass further out, so water shoes help and you take more care over the coral. Conditions are typical rather than guaranteed and there is no lifeguard, so judge the water and keep children close.
Is Ta'ahiamanu Beach romantic?
Quietly, yes. It is a beloved local beach rather than a private resort strand, so it can fill on weekends, but on a weekday morning or late afternoon the palm backed lawn and calm turquoise lagoon make a lovely spot for two, with the green ridges of Opunohu Bay across the water. Come early or late, spread a mat under the palms, snorkel out together, and let the light do the work.
When is the best time to visit Ta'ahiamanu Beach?
The dry season from about May to October, the austral winter, is cooler, less humid and the most reliable for clear calm water and good snorkelling. The wet season from November to April is hotter and brings more rain and tropical weather risk. Whenever you come, weekday mornings are quietest and calmest, and the light over Opunohu Bay is loveliest early and late in the day.
Is there an entry fee for Ta'ahiamanu Beach?
No. Ta'ahiamanu is a free public beach, one of the reasons it is so loved on an island where much of the shore sits in front of resorts. Parking is free as well. You simply arrive, and the only cost is what you spend at the food trucks that gather nearby. Bring water, sun cream and your own snorkel gear, and take all your rubbish away.