Moorea

MOOREA

Cooks Bay Anchorage
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Arriving Cooks Bay
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With the craggy peaks overlooking the two fiord-like bays on th North coast, covered with lush vegetation and occassional waterfalls, Moorea definately rivals Bora Bora for the title of Polynesia's most beautiful island. The island is triangular in shape and measures about 8 miles on 2 sides and 10 miles across the top.
   We anchored in Cooks Bay. This bay has a reputation as one of the most beautiful bays in the South Pacific. We dropped our hook near the head of the bay not far from a convenient dingy landing, where, just steps away, is a fully supplied grocery store and internet cafe. Then, a short bike ride down the road is the village of Paopao, where we found banks, a post office, more stores and several restaurants and galleries.
   Early one morning, we tossed our snorkle gear in the dingy and followed the markers inside the lagoon, west of Cooks Bay, into Opunohu Bay. Like the famous bay to the East of it, Opunohu Bay is a large, deep bay of outstanding beauty.At the bays head is a splendid view of Mt. Mouaroa, the point spire sometimes called "dent de requin" or shark's tooth. This is the peak immortilized as "Bali Hai" in the film, South Pacific.
   Another 4 miles west and we stopped to snorkle with a group of Sting Rays clamoring at our feet for handouts.