The Austral Islands of French Polynesia consist of the Tubuai Islands and the Bass Islands.
Islands
[edit]Tubuai Islands
[edit]The Tubuai Islands are the northwesternmost part of the Austral Islands, and they consist of:
- 1 Iles Maria
— an uninhabited atoll.
- 2 Raivavae
— (900 pop.), considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
- 3 Rimatara
— (750 p), the smallest by land area.
- 4 Rurutu
— (2,000 p), the second largest of the Austral Islands, with some interesting maraes.
- 5 Tubuai
— (2,000 p), the main island of the Australs, with the main airport.
Bass Islands
[edit]The Bass Islands are southeast of the Tubuai Islands, and they consist of:
Understand
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The Austral Islands are the southernmost group in French Polynesia.
Get in
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Air Tahiti provides non-stop and one-stop service from Papeete to Rurutu four days a week, Tubuai five days a week, and Raivavae three days a week. Non-stop flight time is 01:30 to Rurutu, 01:40 to Tubuai, and 01:50 to Raivavae. Air Tahiti also provides connecting services from Rurutu to Tubuai two days a week and further service from each island to Raivavae one day a week.
For the rich, it is possible to travel to these islands by ship. The container/passenger ship Tuhaa Pae IV makes 2-3 trips per month from Papeete to Raivavae, Rimatara, Rurutu and Tubuai. Contact Patrice Colombani at [email protected] or by phone on (689) 40413606. Prices range from US$1,900-2,400 per person (depending on type of cabin) with discounts for children.