What's on in Papeete (Tahiti), French Polynesia through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

• Festival

  FIFO documentary festival

  6–15 FebFilm festival

  Ten days of Pacific documentary at the Maison de la Culture in early February, in the wettest part of the year, which is exactly why it is indoors. Source ↗

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Busy — Austral winter, the dry half

• Season

  Austral winter, the dry half

  1 May – 31 OctDry seasonCrowded

  May to October is drier and a few degrees cooler, and it carries the whole visitor season with it: flights, ferries and hotel rates all move with these six months.

Busy — Austral winter, the dry half, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Heiva i Tahiti

  2–18 JulMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Three weeks of ori tahiti competition at the To'ata amphitheatre in July, plus sport, outrigger racing and stone lifting around it. Groups rehearse all year and the finals sell out. Source ↗

Still on: Austral winter, the dry half (1 May – 31 Oct)

Peak crowds — Austral winter, the dry half, Heiva i Tahiti

• Nature

  Humpback whale season

  20 Jul – 20 Nov

  Humpbacks are off the coast from late July to late November, and the in-water season is legally fixed to those dates with licensed boats only. Most trips leave from the west coast or Moorea. Source ↗

Still on: Austral winter, the dry half (1 May – 31 Oct), Heiva i Tahiti (2–18 Jul)

Peak crowds — Austral winter, the dry half, Tahiti Pro at Teahupo'o

• Festival

  Tahiti Pro at Teahupo'o

  1–25 Aug · usuallySurf seasonCrowdedBook early

  The world tour event runs on a waiting period at the reef pass an hour and a half down the coast, so it is called day by day. The village fills and the boats out to the channel are booked out. Source ↗

Still on: Austral winter, the dry half (1 May – 31 Oct), Humpback whale season (20 Jul – 20 Nov)

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Austral winter, the dry half

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Austral winter, the dry half (1 May – 31 Oct), Humpback whale season (20 Jul – 20 Nov)

Busy — Austral winter, the dry half, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Austral winter, the dry half (1 May – 31 Oct), Humpback whale season (20 Jul – 20 Nov)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Cyclone season

  1 Nov – 30 Apr

  The wet season doubles as the cyclone window. Direct hits on the Society Islands are rare; the ordinary version is a run of heavy rain, a swollen valley river and a cancelled inter-island ferry. Source ↗

Still on: Humpback whale season (20 Jul – 20 Nov)

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)