Still in Paradise: Moorea, French Polynesia
We ended up spending 10 days in Moorea, and honestly, it was the perfect choice. Instead of rushing between islands, we settled into a rhythm of school, snorkeling, and soaking up paradise. Yes, Bora Bora looks dreamy on postcards, but it also comes with extra flights, a tighter schedule, and prices that didn’t quite match our “slow travel with kids” vibe. So we stayed put—and zero regrets.
Snorkeling Obsession
Every day, the kids begged to return to their favorite lagoons. Hours in the water, battling currents, spotting fish, and never wanting to get out. I think we may have future mer-people on our hands.
Whale Encounters (With a Side of Seasickness)
One of our biggest reasons for coming to Moorea was swimming with humpback whales. Seeing them from a boat is magical, but being in the water with them? Next level.
Day one: we swam hundreds of meters to a singing whale, saw a thunderous tail slap (family first!), and left buzzing. But here’s what Joey forgot to mention: Teddy got seasick, the waves were rough, and a sudden rainstorm left us huddled under ponchos on a tiny boat. Not exactly brochure-perfect.
Day two: redemption. Sunshine, calmer seas, and an encounter with a mama and her calf. Emma was over the moon seeing the baby whale, while Teddy opted for whale-watching from the boat (zero nausea, 100% smarter choice). Joey and I even got to slip back in the water to hear a male singing. The sound vibrated through our bodies—goosebumps forever.
Our guide made this video of our whale snorkeling day.
Fun Whale Facts
Humpbacks sing the same exact song across islands—it’s like their greatest hits tour.
Southern hemisphere humpbacks rock a white belly.
Newborns gain up to 50 kg a day (basically like raising a teenage boy).
One Night of Luxury
Since we skipped Bora Bora, we treated ourselves to one night in an overwater bungalow at the Hilton. Cue the panic when I realized our booking said “2 adults, 1 child.” Most bungalows max out at three guests… and we’re a family of four. After a nervous drive to the hotel to confirm, it turned out we were fine—phew!
That night was pure indulgence. Spacious bungalow, glass floor for fish-watching (and the occasional snorkeler), a private deck for diving straight into turquoise water. At that price, one night was plenty—but wow, did we live it up.
A Sweet Goodbye
On our last day, we explored the far side of the island, soaking up every last view. Then it was time to pack up and say Na Na to Moorea, hearts full and skin salty.
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