Welcome to the Rangiroa cruise port guide. If Avatoru, Rangiroa is on your cruise itinerary you have to count yourself lucky. It is a true unique experience to visit this incredible wonder of nature.
Rangiroa is one of the largest atolls in the world. It consists of about 240 tiny islands that create a total length of 180 km which encircle a lagoon. You truly appreciate this geological wonder when you see it on a satellite picture, because you basically only see a white circle in the water.
Most islands are only 300 to 400 meters wide and there is no road that connects them. The lagoon covers 1500 km2 and is only about 35 meter deep. It is an immense body of water where sea water floats into via one of the 100 passages in between the islands. It creates a strong swells and gives the opportunity for underwater life to flourish. This is why Rangiroa is considered one of the best diving spots in the world.
In total about 2500 people live on the islands of Rangiroa. These people mainly live divided over the 3 towns that exist on the islands. So when a cruise ship is in town you will most likely easily double the population there.
Your cruise ship will sail into the lagoon and drop anchor here. Sailing into it is a true spectacular sight as your ship will have to navigate itself through the narrow Tiputa passage where the sea and lagoon water always make challenging currents. Aside from this there is also a chance to see dolphins who are often challenged to swim in front or aside the ship as you enter or exit the lagoon. These are bottlenose dolphins. Make sure to keep an eye out for them during arrival and departure.
Read our Rangirao cruise port guide underneath to see al there is to see and do in this port of call.
Rangiroa – French Polynesia: tender port
Cruise ship at anchor in the Rangiroa lagoon.
Cruise ships tender you to this tiny pier in Rangiroa
There are limited facilities at this cruise port.
There is a small market where you can buy some souvenirs.
There are a few shore excursions offered at the cruise port.
The dock is also within walking distance of a dive center
There is basically only one road that goes in and out of the cruise port. From here there is little to explore except for the dolphin beach and beach resort.
There is no dock large enough to accommodate a cruise ship. Rangiroa offers a spot in their famous lagoon where cruise ship can drop anchor and tender you to shore.
Your ship will sail through the Tiputa passage and will make a strong turn to starboard side. Where your ship will drop anchor and tender you to shore is up to the port authorities and this can vary a bit from time to time.
Sometimes your ship will drop anchor and ferry your straight into the busier part of Avatoru, and most of the times your ship will drop anchor close to the Tiputa passage and ferry you to shore there.
These places are both on the same island and are actually only miles apart from each other. If you are making plans to do things independently you might want to be flexible in your planning. Both tender ports offer same facilities shops, limited local tours and resorts within short distance.
As most cruise ships will drop anchor near the Tiputa passage we will base the information underneath on this tender pier.
Rangiroa tender dock
The tender dock is located on Avatoru island.
At the tender dock you will find some souvenir shops, some local tours on offer, small cafe’s en not much else. There are two tiny shell beaches within a 100 yards/meters of the tender dock, but not much else to do around there.
To make sure you get to see the beauty of Rangiroa you want to make sure to visit the famous pearl farm, go snorkelling /diving or visit a resort.
Shore excursions
Check what shore excursions your ship has available for the day. Please know you can also venture out and book a private tour online. The alternative is to book something on the dock, but please know the tours offered on the dock might not be available for you because transportation is simply very limited here.
Usually tours offered on the dock are to the Snorkeling aquarium and to the beach.
Transportation
Ground transportation on Rangiroa is basically non existing because there is simply no road that connects the island with one another. To leave the Avatoru island you will be best off to utilise a water taxi.
Find the water taxi directly at the tender port. Make sure to check what the price is, which currency and when their last run back to the cruise pier is.
Another way to get around is to use one of the Twizy (small 2 persons vehicles) that are usually for rent on the pier. Please know they don’t take you very far as there is simply just a few kilometers of road on the island.
Beach
The islands of Rangirao all offer white sandy but very narrow beaches. The beach on the Pacific side is rugged and wild, whereas the beach on the lagoon side is often ideal and picture perfect.
We strongly advice you to wear water shoes when going into the water at Rangiroa.
Although there are two tiny shell beaches available within a 100 yards of the cruise tender pier, you do want to take the effort to get a little further afield and visit those beaches for which Rangiroa is so famous for.
From the Rangiroa cruise tender dock you can either take the water taxi to the beach or walk to a resort nearby.
Watertaxi to the beach
There is usually a watertaxi offered on the cruise tender dock which goes to a beach. The watertaxi is offered for about 10 US dollars return per person. Check with the operators what the price and hours are. You don’t want to miss the last tender back to the ship.
Walk to the resort
When you arrive at the cruise tender dock you will see there is only one road which goes straight ahead to the other side of the island. Follow this road to get to one of the resorts. Please know, there is no short cut to the resort. You simply have to walk all the way around. The walk is around … mile and takes about 20 minutes.
One of the most high end resorts you will come across is Hotel KiaOra Resort and Spa. Go here for a drink at their amazing bar. You can pay in US dollars or in the local currency.
Diving
Rangiroa is renowned for its diving locations. The water in the lagoon is warm and full of marine life and colourful life. Any beach in Rangiroa is suitable for snorkelling, but it never near what you are able to see if you are going diving.
There is a diving school right off the dock called Rangiroa Diving Center. To be able to ensure you are planned for a dive we’d highly recommend you to book ahead of time. There are also some other dive centers on the island which are happy to take you out there.
Wi-fi
It is rare to come across free wi-fi in this cruise destination. Most often the resorts might offer an internet connection for a fee.