TRIPGUROO

Guide to Austral Islands

To visit Austral Islands, check entry requirements, connectivity and this guide’s local references.

The Australs combine lagoons, volcanic landscapes and villages with living weaving traditions. Tubuai, Rurutu and Raivavae reward an unhurried trip rather than a race between islands.

Places in Austral Islands · 1 catalog places →

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Conditions and other situations

Short tourist stays with an ordinary passport. Residence, other visas, stay length and transit can change the requirement. Check with the authority before booking or travelling.

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Embassy

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Highlights

Mataura (Tubuai)

The main settlement on Tubuai, beside the lagoon in the Austral Islands.

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Introduction

The Austral Islands of consist of the Tubuai Islands and the Bass Islands.

Islands

Tubuai Islands

The Tubuai Islands are the northwesternmost part of the Austral Islands, and they consist of:

  • Iles Maria — an uninhabited atoll.
  • Raivavae — (900 pop.), considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
  • Rimatara — (750 p), the smallest by land area.
  • Rurutu — (2,000 p), the second largest of the Austral Islands, with some interesting maraes.
  • Tubuai — (2,000 p), the main island of the Australs, with the main airport.

Bass Islands

The Bass Islands are southeast of the Tubuai Islands, and they consist of:

  • — population 500.
  • Marotiri island — four small, volcanic, uninhabited islands.

Understand

The Austral Islands are the southernmost group in French Polynesia.

Get in

Air Tahiti provides non-stop and one-stop service from to Rurutu four days a week, Tubuai five days a week, and Raivavae three days a week. Non-stop flight time is 01:30 to Rurutu, 01:40 to Tubuai, and 01:50 to Raivavae. Air Tahiti also provides connecting services from Rurutu to Tubuai two days a week and further service from each island to Raivavae one day a week.

For the rich, it is possible to travel to these islands by ship. The container/passenger ship Tuhaa Pae IV makes 2-3 trips per month from Papeete to Raivavae, Rimatara, Rurutu and Tubuai. Contact Patrice Colombani at pcolombani@snathp.com or by phone on (689) 40413606. Prices range from US$1,900-2,400 per person (depending on type of cabin) with discounts for children.

Text by Wikivoyage contributors. Article edition: 2026-07-17T02:29:43Z · Source and revision · Authors and history · CC BY-SA 4.0

Local food

Taro

A staple on Rurutu tables, cooked as a side dish.

Uru

Breadfruit from the shared Polynesian culinary tradition.

Comida de ahima’a

Meat and roots cooked in an earth oven, depending on the occasion.

Local drinks

Agua de coco

Young coconut water, shared with other Polynesian islands.

Alcohol-free

Jugos de fruta

Ask about seasonal fruit; there is no single archipelago-wide recipe.

Alcohol-free

Plan your itinerary

Between islands

Confirm flights and guesthouse transfers before finalising your itinerary.

Rural rhythm

Arrange meals with your accommodation; distances and options vary considerably between islands.

Hosts first

Arrange hikes and workshop visits with local guides; ask before taking photographs.

Local reading and routes

Shared Polynesian preparations are not exclusive to the Australs; availability depends on each host.

Choosing your Austral island

Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae and Rimatara have air connections with Tahiti. Rapa also belongs to the Australs but is not among those air destinations: check its logistics separately before adding it to your journey.

Our suggestion: choose one island as a base, then decide whether a second adds something different. Check flights for your dates before allocating nights; a list of islands is not a connected touring circuit.

Crafts, coast and observation

Austral weaving uses pandanus leaves and reeds to make hats and baskets. In Rurutu, Tahiti Tourisme also highlights seasonal whale watching from the coast. These offer two ways to approach the landscape: through its inhabitants and through the sea.

Ask where you can learn about craft makers and agree on photography. If whales are your priority, check the season and conditions with a local operator before choosing dates; a sighting is never guaranteed.

A guesthouse as your starting point

Accommodation in the Australs consists mainly of small family guesthouses. That scale lends itself to a stay centred on one house and its hosts, rather than moving accommodation every day.

Before booking, ask which meals, pickups and outings can be arranged and which cost extra. Explain your interests and dietary needs in advance. Build your programme around what hosts can actually confirm for your dates.

Sources

Tahiti Tourisme · Australes · Tahiti Tourisme · gastronomía · Tahiti Tourisme · islas y llegada · Tahiti Tourisme · actividades · Tahiti Tourisme · artesanía austral · Tahiti Tourisme · alojamiento

Wikivoyage contributors; selection, abridgement, translation and regional planning by TRIPGUROO · CC BY-SA 4.0

CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikivoyage · Austral Islands