Motu Tapu, is a
private island
A private island is a disconnected body of land wholly owned by a private citizen or corporation. Although this exclusivity gives the owner substantial control over the property, private islands remain under the jurisdiction of national and som ...
in the
lagoon
A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into ''coastal lagoons'' (or ''barrier lagoons'') ...
of
Bora Bora
Bora Bora (French: ''Bora-Bora''; Tahitian: ''Pora Pora'') is an island group in the Leeward Islands. The Leeward Islands comprise the western part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, which is an overseas collectivity of the French R ...
in
French Polynesia.
It is the located between
Toopua, and
Ahuna.
Motu Tapu is located just outside the
Teavanui Passage, and has the
Teavanui front automated lighthouse installed, in Paparoto point on the north of the island.
History
The Island is known also as royal family island, because in former times it belonged exclusively to the royal family of the
Kingdom of Bora Bora
The Kingdom of Bora Bora was established during the early 19th century with the unification of the island of Bora Bora and official recognition by France and the United Kingdom in 1847 through the Jarnac Convention. It was one of a number of inde ...
.
In 1931,
Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau
Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (born Friedrich Wilhelm Plumpe; December 28, 1888March 11, 1931) was a German film director, producer and screenwriter.
He was greatly influenced by Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Shakespeare and Ibsen plays he had seen at th ...
filmed the famous
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...
"
Tabu: A Story of the South Seas", a mixture of
documentary and
feature film
A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...
with local laity masters, on the beaches of Motu Tapu.
Administration
The island is part of
Bora Bora Commune
Bora-Bora is a commune of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune is in the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands. Its population was 10,549 at the 2017 census. .
Tourism
The island was a private retreat owned by the Bora Bora Lagoon resort, but is currently up for sale.
Transportation
After arriving in
Fa'a'ā International Airport
Faa'a International Airport (french: Aéroport international de Tahiti-Faaa), also known as Tahiti International Airport , is the international airport of French Polynesia, located in the commune of Faaa, on the island of Tahiti. It is situate ...
, an
Air Tahiti
Air Tahiti is a French airline company which operates in French Polynesia, France. Its main hub is Faa'a International Airport. It is the largest private employer in French Polynesia.
Company history
Early Seaplane Operations
The company w ...
inter-island flight (50 minutes) will bring you to
Bora Bora Airport
Bora Bora Airport , also known as Motu Mute Airport, is an airport serving the island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia. It is located on the islet of Motu Mute.
The airport was opened in 1943, during World War II. Commercial service became avail ...
.
There, you will need to hire a boat at the
Rent-a-boat Office.
References
External links
Private islands of French Polynesia
{{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub