4x4 tour in Moorea

On Monday, December 19^th, before the wedding, the Rickman boys and the Rothery family took the 4x4 tour of the island of Moorea. First stop was a view of of the famous Mount Mouaroa, also known as the “Cathedrial”. This mountain is on the 100 French Polynesian Franc coin (about 1 US $).

The truck drove us up to the top of Magic Mountain, where the view was breathtaking of D'Opunohu bay and Mount Rotui, which is the mountain that separates, Cook's bay and D'Opunohu bay.

From here you can also see the outer reefs and the deep inside channel.

The Octagon shaped church in Papetoai, was originally built by the London Missionary Society back in the 1820s.

We could not help but have our photos taken with this amazing view!

The road is VERY steep going up and down from Magic Mountain!! Watch out for those switchbacks!!

Next stop was the pineapple plantation. The leaves first grow red.

Then a pineapple grows right on top of the plant.

There are huge fields of pineapples on Moorea, most of which go to the Rotui juice factory.

The view of Cooks bay from the Belvedere look out point. Can you see Avatar anchored in the bottom right corner?!?

From the Belvedere you can see both Cooks and D'Opunohu bays.

We stopped for a walk in the ferns in the woods near the Marae Titiroa.

These are the famous “Chestnut” trees. They have a nut that is in the shape of a kidney and apparently if you eat it, it can heal your kidney too! Very majestic trees, like the pixie fairies should be popping out at any moment!

Not sure what the name of these large red barked trees are, but I had Dad stand there so you could see how big they were!

When we got down the trail to the second Marae, Ahu-o-Mahine there was a group of local teenagers on the trail with some chaperons. The decided to give us a show and did one of the tribal Haka dances for us, right there at the Marae!! Special!

Mom, Mike and Dad on the trail.

The trail turns to steps where it gets a bit steep.

Marae Ahu-o-Mahine with out the crowds.

Mount Mouaputa has a great story how she got her hole. One dark night, Hiro the Polynesian God of Thieves, tried to steal Mt. Rotui and tow it behind his mighty canoe to Raiatea. But he was spotted by Pai, a legendary Polynesian hero. Climbing to the top of Tataa Hill on Tahiti, Pai hurled his mighty spear at Hiro, but missed. This created the hole seen on Mt. Mouaputa today. Hiro still managed to plunder a small hill and take it back to Raiatea, where the vegetation is similar to that on Mt. Rotui, unlike any of the surrounding growth on the island of Raiatea!

This is the photo I always dreamed of having of my own boat. Avatar anchored in Cooks Bay, with Mt. Mouaroa in the distance.

When we got back to Club Bali Hai, where everyone stayed for the wedding, Kevin decided to try out the kayak.

And Dad took Mom for a paddle in the outrigger canoe, same one to be used later in the wedding. I think they are having fun!! Wonder who's mega yacht that is anchored out there?