Opunohu Bay is a 3-km long bay on the island of

Moorea Moorea ( or ; Tahitian: ), also spelled Moorea, is a volcanic island in French Polynesia. It is one of the Windward Islands, a group that is part of the Society Islands, northwest of Tahiti. The name comes from the Tahitian word , meaning " ...

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austr ...

. The water is 80 metres deep at the mouth. The bay is subject to wind-driven currents and

upwelling Upwelling is an oceanographic phenomenon that involves wind-driven motion of dense, cooler, and usually nutrient-rich water from deep water towards the ocean surface. It replaces the warmer and usually nutrient-depleted surface water. The nutr ...

s. Sailboats and tour boats regularly enter the bay. Opunohu bay is west of Cook's Bay and Pao Pao.

Geography

It is located about 20 miles west of

Papeete Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeete'', pronounced ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. The Communes of France, commune of Papeete is located on the isl ...

, the capital of

French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" , image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of Frenc ...

. Opunohu bay is in western

where Mt. Rotui towers over the bay. Mt. Tohivea is Moorea's highest mountain just to the south. Papetoai is located to the west of the bay. People from the east of the bay would drive through the bay and reach

Papetoai Papetōai is an associated commune on the island of Moorea, in French Polynesia. It is part of the commune Moorea-Maiao. According to the 2017 census, it had grown to a population 2,329 people. Geography Climate Papetōai has a tropical rainfor ...

. Piheana is located to the east of the bay.

Tourism

People mainly come into the bay to get to Papetoai. They mainly come to Papetoai to shop at the shopping center. Pao Pao is not too far away from the bay. Some people stop at a small road that goes all the way to

Mount Tohivea Mount Tohivea (or Tohiea) is an extinct volcano on the island of Mo'orea in French Polynesia. It is the island's highest point at . The mountain is about from Pao Pao, and is easily visible from Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. Toheia ...

with views of the 2 bays of Moorea. International flights land at the Faa'a International Airport. The tourist would take either ferry or airplane to reach Moorea. Air Tahiti would land in the

Moorea Airport Moorea Airport (french: Aéroport de Moorea) is an airport serving the island of Moorea in French Polynesia, France. It is also known as Temae Airport or Moorea Temae Airport for its location near the village of Temae in northeastern Moorea. The ...

. Then the tourist would drive westbound toward Opunohu bay.

References

External links

Flickr images
Bays of French Polynesia Bodies of water of Tahiti Mo'orea {{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub