Moorea
Location: Polynesia
Type of village: Farés then bungalows from 1985
Date of opening: 1962
Year of closing: 2001
For the record: After the Puna'auia village opened in 1955, the Club had somewhat "lost interest" in the destination, preferring more "Mediterranean" destinations. Rebuilding a village on the other side of the world is expensive and, people in Paris think, not profitable.
It is true that at the time the use of planes for intercontinental travel was not yet democratized. The only long-distance means was still the boat, and Tahiti was 1 month from Paris!!
But everything changed in the early 1960s. With the development and the start of the democratization of the first so-called fast, non-stop intercontinental air links thanks to the Boeing 707, Tahiti then became easily accessible from Paris.
At the same time, Gérard BLITZ, the great visionary that he is, sees this Pacific region as a promising destination for great tourist development. The future shows that this great man was right!!
In 1961, Gérard Blitz succeeded in convincing the Club to open a new village in Polynesia, specifically in Moorea.
At that time, the island was already known to Club Méditerranée. Bivouacs from Puna'auia were organized there.
In early 1962, the Club sent Dominique LE BOURGEOIS from the Club's research office to explore the island. It should be noted that at the time, Moorea was very isolated and did not have a skilled workforce locally. Everything was and went through Tahiti, a 5-hour trip by Tahitian boat.
With the help of Tamarri CADOUSTEAU, he travels the island to find a location where a village could be established.
After many difficulties, and without help from Paris, despite his calls for help, Dominique LE BOURGEOIS completed the work just in time to welcome the first 360 GMs sent by air from Paris on June 2, 1962.
In Moorea, there are no Polynesian huts, but rather stilt dwellings called Farés. Each one has a shower and a sink. A great luxury for the time; the club's other villages (except for ski resorts) have none of this.
Dominique Le Bourgeois managed the village for part of the first season.
While the first GMs came from Europe, it was more likely the American market that would drive its success and ensure the village was full.
The village in the first Tridents was not called Moorea but was proposed under the much more commercial and sales-oriented name of Tahiti.
People go there for spearfishing, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, picnicking on the Tapu motu, excursions to the islands of the archipelago and spending evenings to the sounds of the Tamuré.
Windsurfing, water skiing and tennis will also be sports that will be offered depending on the season.
You'll also come across a few celebrities there. Singer Carlos is a regular there. Diego Maradona, in 1986, just after the World Cup, which saw Argentina crowned world champion against Germany (3-2), played a friendly match against AS Dragon on the Club's football pitch.
Major works, with expansion and complete renovation of the village were undertaken in 1984. When it reopened the following season, the village occupied 7 hectares and the legendary farés were replaced by 350 bungalows!!!
The Journey:
In the 1960s, the direct Paris-Papeete journey was made by Air France Boeing 707 or TAI DC8, with stopovers in Montreal and Los Angeles. The end of the journey from Tahiti FAA to the village of Moorea was made by seaplane.
When the Boeing 747 was put into service, only the stopover in Los Angeles remained.
Temae Airport on the island of Moorea only opened in 1967, allowing small Air Tahiti planes to land there.
The village closed with Lionel PIROTTE in December 2001. That of Bora Bora, a few years later in 2005 putting an end to 50 years of history between the Club and Polynesia
Today :
The club left the site in December 2001 due to a lack of agreement to renew the lease. The
village's unique feature is that it is located on land belonging to a number of Polynesian owners, and they are unable to agree on the amount of rent to be set for the occupied land.
In March 2011, a fire started by burning rubbish destroyed a large part of the common areas and over the years, the remaining bungalows unfortunately gradually fell prey to dismantling, destruction or squatting.
Finally in 2017, the Polynesian government managed to buy back part of the land and make Tiahura beach public.
If you have memories of your stays or seasons spent in Moorea, I invite you to share your experiences in the space reserved for you at the bottom of this page under the videos section.
Videos
Club Med Moorea, Commercial
Clip from Vacation in Moorea 1983
Club Med Moorea 1989
Club Med Moorea 1987
Guy Bernardin Photo Compilation (La Truffe)
Holiday Film – with Pierre Hermet, Village Chief
Moorea was, and probably still is, an enchantment!! Season 81 with pH.Raison! Resp.excursions, was able to travel around Polynesia!! Branded with a hot iron by the Tahitian mana and the Himénés!!! So many friends left there but sometimes found!!! Aïta pea pea!!!
So many memories, my last season at the club 1990
Summer go bar winter 82 summer 83, 10 years left in Polynesia didn't want to leave
For me it was also in 90, CDV Dany Stabili. It remains undeniably one of my best seasons. First scuba diving, water skiing, my first appearances on stage and then,….I was young…
Thank you for this page. Magical Moorea. An indescribable, unreal privilege.
René Hoffer at the Rupe Rupe Ranch from 1976 to 1987 and always in Tahiti since.
rsa.tahiti@gmail.com
Facebook: renehoffer
Extraordinary memories. Teddy Bear GO Bar in 93/94. I can't say anything more than all those who have been to Moorea will say and they know deep down what I could say hihihihihi.
Virginie in 93 GO diving
Moorea, unforgettable in 1998-1999/ GO management assistance
Always in my heart ❤️❤️
I had the chance to return there in 2006 on a business trip.
And I will definitely return one day.
I went there these two years
Wonderful memories of our stay in 1975 at Club Med, 3 unforgettable weeks with Nanar as village chief. We were in bungalow 135. I kept the club documentation.
Club Med Moorea, 1978. Three weeks of happiness and a lifetime of memories. Visited Fare Club (Air BnB), in 2022. The history is known but the spirit cannot be imagined. Such is life!
Scuba doctor morrea 1977 78
Unforgettable memory with Philippe Abraham as village chief with whom I had done a season in Cadaqués in 92 where he had just been appointed head of sports and I land sports.
An unforgettable memory also in the painting gallery of Ravelo where I met Vick a former village chief who introduced me to the famous Thai mai which made my return to the club village very difficult lol
Unforgettable memory of a stay at Club Med in 73 or 74 where we stayed during the filming of the TV series Paul Gauguin... according to the kind costume designer "a dream stay during the day but a Kafkaesque atmosphere at night because of the lizards that ran around the train stations at night..." she even found some in her costume trunks back in Paris!! The sunsets with music facing the sea... the kindness of the Tahitians giving pineapple along the small road where I was cycling... in short, happiness...💓
I went to Moorea in 1999. I was really down and crying as I boarded the plane. Two weeks later, I was reconciled with life. I loved the island's landscapes and the unique atmosphere of the village. Many of us were traveling alone - couples were heading to Bora Bora. I took the small plane from Papeete with two boys and a girl. The Fab Four. What wonderful memories! We sang and danced every night "la bonne franquette"...
Wonderful stay to celebrate the year 2000
I returned to Polynesia in 2004 to Moorea and I was very sad to see the club abandoned I hesitate to come back a third time for fear of being disappointed?
I remember this week where happiness and serenity filled the whole club
I was at the Club in 1969 – I think March-September – another life! Anyone else?
1968, three weeks in July. That time I was 9 yo. During my first week I fell badly while running along the shore of Motu Fareone. Today I'm still very proud of the scars I wear on my skin.
Roberto, Trieste, Italy
SCUBA DIVING DOCTOR during the winter of 1979-1980.
Passing Level 4 in diving after a season in Playa Blanca (Mexico) – winter of 1978-1979.
Before leaving, I was able to visit Rangiroa, Huahine and Bora-Bora;
What a joy.
I would have liked to contact a former diving instructor named VINCENT – whom I had met in Playa Blanca. Very nice guy.
Thank you for these beautiful reports on an exceptional time of optimism. I lived 6 years in Moorea from 81 to 87. We were lucky enough. We frequented the Sunday Club Med with family and friends and your videos take us back exactly to these very nostalgic atmospheres of our memories. Many miss the days of the Club Med in Moorea and wanted to return there but its closure upset more than one….Your site does a lot of good to the old people who rediscover memories that they thought they had totally forgotten… Maururu
Georges
Technical Assistance Volunteer in 1989-1990, I made two trips to the club and stayed 3 months in Moorea
I worked at the Club Med in Moorea, I was a butcher, what good memories
I went back there in 2023 with my wife and I had a pang in my heart when I saw everything in ruins but really only very good memories
Less Tahitian always so kind