Anchorage· Moorea· French Polynesia — Society Islands

Ta'ahiamanu Anchorage (Opunohu Bay mouth, east)

17° 29.4′ S · 149° 51.1′ W · approximate

The popular sand-shelf anchorage off Ta'ahiamanu public beach on the east side of the Opunohu Bay entrance, with Rotui towering behind and the beach a short dinghy ride away.

Society IslandsTahiti & Moorea

Practical

Coordinate is approximate: placed about 250 m west of the AVP-designated dinghy landing (S 17°29.387' W 149°50.949'); confirm sand on your chart and by eye. Not a designated ZMR under the annulled 2025 decree, and in Aug 2026 it was the focus of tension with residents. AVP's good-neighbour requests (Aug 2026): land and anchor dinghies only at S 17°29.387' W 149°50.949' facing the aito trees; don't leave dinghies near the small family dock; leave no valuables in the dinghy; don't use residents' trash bins; stay clothed on board; keep vessels clear of the shore strip between S 17°29.329' W 149°50.901' and S 17°29.401' W 149°50.954'. A night-time boarding attempt by a paddleboarder was reported here in Jan 2023 (Noonsite). Busy weekends on the beach. Legal status (Oct 2026): the ZMR quotas come from arrêté 910 CM of 26 June 2025, which the Administrative Tribunal of French Polynesia annulled on 15 July 2026 (case 2500441, brought by the Association des Voiliers en Polynésie); the anchoring articles of the 2021 PGEM were also annulled by the Paris appeal court with effect from 1 June 2026. Noonsite (Aug 2026) reports the restrictions are not currently ratified and talks between AVP and local groups are ongoing. Until a replacement rule is published, treat the ZMR quotas and 48-hour limit as the expected good practice, check escales.gov.pf or call DPAM (40 54 45 78, 24/7) before arriving, and expect the nautical patrol (87 704 657) to ask about your stay.

Best for

Easy beach access and a base for the Opunohu Valley

Season

Year-round; exposed to northerly swell

Itineraries that stop here

Nearby