In French Polynesia, a vast archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, the climate is tropical, influenced by the south-east trade winds, with a hot and humid season from November to April, and a cooler season from May to October. The hot season is also the rainiest, besides, from December to April, there's the risk of cyclones (except in the Marquesas Islands). The temperatures vary little throughout the year, they are high in the northern islands, and gradually cooler as you move to the south.

Index

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• Society Islands - Bora-Bora, Tahiti
• Tuamotu Islands
• Marquesas Islands - Atuona
• Austral Islands
• The cyclones
• When to go
• What to pack

Society Islands

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In the westernmost area of French Polynesia, we find the group of the Society Islands, divided between the Windward Islands in the east (Tahiti, Moorea, Tetiaroa, Mehetia, Maiao), and the Leeward Islands in the west (Bora Bora, Huahine, Maupiti, Raiatea, Tahaa, Manuae, Maupihaa, Motu One, Tupai). In these islands, temperatures are fairly stable during the year, however, they decrease slightly in the austral winter, from June to August.
The amount of sunshine is fairly uniform throughout the year, which means that even in the rainiest months, there's no shortage of sunshine: simply, showers and downpour are more intense and more frequent, but they don't last long. In the larger islands, which are equipped with highlands in the interior, like Tahiti, the slopes facing east and therefore exposed to the trade winds, are rainier than the western slopes, however, the islands are completely covered by forest, which means that there is no real dry season anywhere.
In the atoll of Bora-Bora, at 16 ° south latitude, the temperature during the day varies from 30 °C (86 °F) in the warm period, to 28 °C (82 °F) in the relatively cool period. Here are the average temperatures.

Bora-Bora

In Bora-Bora, about 2,000 mm (79 in) of rain per year fall, with a maximum from November to March, and a minimum from June to September. Here is the average precipitation.

In Bora-Bora the sun shines for a few hours a day even in the wettest period, however the sunniest period is the least rainy, from June to September.

Tahiti

In the island of Tahiti the temperatures are similar to those of Bora-Bora, just slightly lower for the position a little more to the south. However, in the interior there are mountains, about 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) high, so on the west coast (see Papeete, Punaauia, Paea), more sheltered from the trade winds, the temperatures in winter are a little higher than on the eastern one. In the island of Tahiti, in the hottest and sultriest months, during the night a breeze blows from the mountains, called Hupe, which is capable of reducing a little the feeling of sultriness.
Here are the average temperatures of Papeete, the capital, located on the north-west coast of the island.

Papeete receives 1,800 millimetres (70 inches) of rain per year, and the rain pattern is similar, so here too there's a minimum in the austral winter.

In Papeete too, the amount of sunshine is decent during the hot and rainy season, however the sunniest period is the least rainy, from June to September.

In the Society Islands, the sea temperature is high throughout the year, as you can see in the following table, concerning the water temperature in Tahiti.

The Society Islands can be hit by tropical cyclones from November to April (though less frequently than the westernmost islands of Oceania), as it has been the case with Oli, which hit Tahiti and Bora Bora in February 2010, or Hosea, which struck Bora Bora in late November 1997, a year of El Niño.



The best time to visit the Society Islands goes from May to mid-October, or better, from June to September, being the coolest and the least rainy.

Tuamotu Islands

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More to the east, the Tuamotu Islands, which cover a large area, have a climate similar to that of the Society Islands, just a little less rainy, especially in the eastern part, in fact they receive around 1,200 mm (47 in) of rain per year in the eastern part, and 1,500 mm (60 in) in the western part; also because they are flat atolls, without mountains that could enhance the condensation of moisture. The least rainy period generally runs from May to September. Here is the average precipitation in the north-western island of Takaroa.

In Takaroa the sun shines for a good number of hours all year round.

Furthermore, these islands are less exposed to tropical cyclones, since they are located in the eastern edge of the area where they can form.
Here are the average temperatures of Hao, located in the central part of the group.

The temperature of the sea in the Tuamotu Islands is similar to that of the Society Islands as well, as can be seen in the following table.

The atoll of Mururoa, now uninhabited, is located in the southern part of the Tuamotus. South of the Tuamotus lie the Gambier Islands, which are associated with them administratively, but they have a slightly different climate, because they are located more to the south, therefore we will discuss them later.

Marquesas Islands

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The Marquesas are the northernmost islands of French Polynesia, and therefore have a warmer climate, but above all are almost always out of the path of tropical cyclones. This means that in theory they can be visited all year round, although they are definitely muggy from December to April.

Atuona

Here are the average temperatures of Atuona, on the island of Hiva Oa.

Here the rains have a slightly different pattern: they are not very abundant, being below 1,500 mm (60 in) per year, and they have a peak in June and a minimum in October and November; however, the rains are quite erratic from year to year. Here is the average precipitation.

In the Marquesas Islands the amount of sunshine is good all year round, however it decreases a little in the wettest months.

The sea in the Marquesas is always warm, due to the location near the Equator, so that the water temperature never drops below 27 °C (81 °F).

In Atuona, in the island of Hiva Oa, the painter Paul Gauguin, which spent here the last years of his life, is buried, even though he had previously lived for years in Tahiti.



The Marquesas Islands are affected by the so-called ENSO cycle: during the years of El Niño, rainfall increases, while during the years of La Niña, periods of drought occur. Being equipped with elevations in inland areas, the Marquesas have different microclimates depending on slope exposure, so that some coasts are almost dry. However, considering also the rainfall records, the best time here runs from August to November.

Austral Islands

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The Austral Islands are divided into two groups: the Tubuai Islands (Tubuai, Rimatara, Rurutu, Raivavae, Îles Maria), which are located around the Tropic of Capricorn, and the Bass Islands (Rapa Iti, Marotiri), which lie more to the south; for their southern location, it's useful to include in this group also the Gambier Islands, which are the southernmost archipelago of the Tuamotu-Gambier administrative group, and are located south of the Tuamotus, of which we have already spoken.
The Austral Islands are cooler throughout the year: in the Tubuais and the Gambiers, the average temperature goes from 25 °C (77 °F) in January, to 20/21 °C (68/70 °F) in August; this means that the period from December to April is warm but not excessively, while the period from June to September, when the daytime temperatures are around 24 °C (75 °F), can be a bit cool for beach life.

Besides, in these islands the rains are frequent and relatively abundant even in the period from June to September, because in the austral winter they can be reached by disturbances brought by the flow of westerly winds. For example, in Rikitea, on the island of Mangareva (Gambier), in September, the driest month, still 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain fall. Objectively, it's difficult to find a better period for these islands. Here is the average precipitation in Tubuai.

At the Tubuais the sun shines less often than in the islands located closer to the Equator. Here are the hours of sunshine in Tubuai.

The sea temperature in the Tubuai Islands also decreases in the winter months, although it remains acceptable for swimming, since the water temperature drops to 23 °C (73 °F) from July to October, as can be seen in the following table.

The Bass Islands are located even more to the south, and south of the Tropic: here it's rare to see hot temperatures, since the daytime temperature goes on average from 27 °C (80 °F) in February and March, to 21 °C (69/70 °F) in the period from July to September. Here the rains are abundant throughout the year, and the total amount is above 2,500 mm (98 in) per year, moreover the wind is often intense. These islands do not lend themselves to beach tourism.
Here are the average temperatures of Ahurei, on the island of Rapa.

Tropical cyclones

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As mentioned, French Polynesia can be affected by tropical cyclones of the South Pacific. In general, tropical cyclones are formed from November to April, although they are more frequent from December to March. Since we are on the eastern edge in which cyclones are formed, in these islands they are less frequent than in other islands of the Pacific. However, cyclones become much more likely in the more intense years of El Niño, as happened in 1982-83 and 1997-98.

When to go

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The best time to visit the Society Islands (Tahiti, Bora-Bora) and the Tuamotus runs from June to September, while for the Marquesas Islands it runs from August to November.
For the Austral Islands there is no more advisable season, because the hot and muggy summer of the Southern Hemisphere, with heavy rains and thunderstorms and also some risk of tropical cyclones, is followed by the austral winter, which is a little cool, and even rainy and windy in the southernmost islands.

What to pack

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For the Marquesas, the Society and the Tuamotu Islands, all year round, tropics-friendly, loose fitting clothing, sun hat, a scarf for the breeze, a light sweatshirt for the evening, light raincoat or umbrella. For the reef, equipment for snorkeling, water shoes or rubber soled shoes.

For the Austral Islands, from June to September (ie in winter), light clothes for the day, a scarf for the breeze, a sweatshirt for the evening, possibly a light jacket, light raincoat or umbrella.

For the Bass Islands, from June to September (ie in winter), spring/autumn clothes, sweatshirt or sweater, jacket, raincoat or umbrella; from December to February, light clothing, a sweatshirt for the evening, light raincoat or umbrella.