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Anchorage· Moorea· French Polynesia — Society Islands

ZMR de Paopao Sud (Cook's Bay, Moorea)

17° 30.0′ S · 149° 49.3′ W

The big visitor anchorage in the southern half of Cook's (Paopao) Bay: room for 20 boats with a 7-day limit, ringed by Mouaputa and Rotui, with the village of Paopao, Super U and a fuel dock at the head of the bay.

Society IslandsTahiti & Moorea

Practical

Decree 910 CM polygon spans 17°29.776'S–17°30.317'S and 149°49.157'W–149°49.46'W (centre given). Quota 20 boats under 20 m (+1 superyacht berth), 7 days max: the only long-stay ZMR on Moorea. Anchor in 15–20 m with generous scope until the planned permanent moorings are installed (planned for 2026). Well protected except in northerlies, but williwaw/venturi gusts drop off the mountains. Shore access via the small Paopao fishing-boat marina (dinghy area on the outer section). Waste collection and drinking water at the quay; a fresh produce and fish market was under construction (expected 2026). Gendarmerie for clearance on the bay's east shore. Enter via Avaroa Pass. 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

Long stay, provisioning, clearance, Coral Gardeners

Season

Year-round; gusty in strong trades

Itineraries that stop here

Nearby