Moorea
Location: Polynesia
Village type: Farés (traditional Polynesian bungalows) then bungalows from 1985
Opening date: 1962
Closing year: 2001
A little background: After the Puna'auia resort opened in 1955, Club Med lost some interest in the destination, preferring more Mediterranean locations. Rebuilding a resort on the other side of the world was expensive and, in Paris, considered unprofitable.
It's true that at the time, air travel for intercontinental journeys wasn't yet widespread. The only long-distance option was still the ship, and Tahiti was only a month from Paris!
But everything changed in the early 1960s. With the development and the beginning of the democratization of the first so-called fast and non-stop intercontinental links by air thanks to the Boeing 707, Tahiti became easily accessible from Paris.
At the same time, Gerard Blitz, the great visionary that he was, saw this region of the Pacific as having great potential for tourism development. Time has proven him right!
In 1961, Gérard Blitz succeeded in convincing the Club to open a new village in Polynesia, specifically on Moorea.
At that time, the island was already known to Club Med. Camping trips from Puna'auia were organized there.
In early 1962, the Club sent Dominique Le Bourgeois from its research department to explore the island. It's important to know that at the time, Moorea was very isolated and lacked a skilled local workforce. Everything was routed through Tahiti, a five-hour boat ride away.
With the help of Tamarri CADOUSTEAU, he travels around the island to find a location where a village could be established.
After many difficulties, and without help from Paris, despite his appeals for help, Dominique LE BOURGEOIS finished the work just in time to welcome on June 2, 1962, the first 360 GMs sent by air from Paris.
In Moorea, there are no Polynesian huts, but rather stilt houses called Farés. Each one has a shower and a sink. A great luxury for the time; the other villages of the club (excluding the 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 the American market that ultimately ensured its success and kept the village full.
The village in the early Tridents was not called Moorea but was offered under the much more commercial and marketable name of Tahiti.
People go there for spearfishing, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, picnics on Motu Tapu, excursions to the islands of the archipelago, and evenings spent listening to the sounds of the Tamuré.
Windsurfing, waterskiing, and tennis will also be available, depending on the season.
You might also spot a few celebrities there. The singer Carlos is a regular. Diego Maradona, in 1986, just after the Football World Cup which crowned Argentina world champions against Germany (3-2), played a friendly match against AS Dragon on the Club's football pitch.
Major works, including expansion and complete renovation of the village, were undertaken in 1984. Upon reopening the following season, the village covered 7 hectares and the legendary thatched huts had been replaced by 350 bungalows!
The Journey:
In the 1960s, direct flights from Paris to Papeete were operated by Air France Boeing 707 or TAI DC-8, with stopovers in Montreal and Los Angeles. The final leg of the journey from Tahiti FAA to the village of Moorea was completed by seaplane.
When the Boeing 747 entered service, only the stopover in Los Angeles remained.
Temae Airport on the island of Moorea did not open until 1967, allowing small Air Tahiti planes to land there.
The village closed with Lionel PIROTTE in December 2001. The Bora Bora village closed a few years later in 2005, bringing to an end 50 years of history between the Club and Polynesia
Today :
The club left the site in December 2001 due to a lack of agreement on lease renewal.
The village's unique characteristic is that it is located on land owned by numerous Polynesian landowners, who have been unable to reach an agreement among themselves on the rent to be set for the occupied plots.
In March 2011, a fire that started from a rubbish fire ravaged a large part of the common areas and over the years, the remaining bungalows have unfortunately and progressively fallen prey to dismantling, destruction or squatting.
Finally in 2017, the Polynesian government succeeded in buying back part of the land and made Tiahura beach public.
Those of you who have memories of 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 video section.
Videos
Club Med Moorea, Commercial
Vacation clip from Moorea, 1983
Club Med Moorea 1989
Club Med Moorea 1987
Compilation of photos by Guy Bernardin (La Truffe)
Holiday Film – starring Pierre Hermet as the Village Chief
Moorea was, and probably still is, enchanting!! Season 1981 with pH.Raison! Excursions manager, I was able to crisscross Polynesia!! Indelibly marked by Tahitian mana and the Himene songs!!! So many friends left behind there but sometimes found again!!! Aïta pea pea!!!
So many memories, my last season at the club in 1990
Summer go bar, winter '82, summer '83, stayed 10 years in Polynesia, didn't want to leave
For me, it was also in 1990, CDV Dany Stabili. Undoubtedly, it remains one of my best seasons. My first scuba dives, 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 Rupe Rupe Ranch from 1976 to 1987 and still in Tahiti.
rsa.tahiti@gmail.com
Facebook: renehoffer
Amazing memories. Nounours GO Bar in 93/94. I can't say anything more than those who have been to Moorea will say and they know deep down what I could say hehehehehe.
Virginia in 93 GO diving
Moorea, unforgettable in 1998-1999 / GO aide gestion
Always in my heart ❤️❤️
I was lucky enough to return in 2006 on a business trip.
And I'll definitely go back one day.
I went there those two years
Wonderful memories of our stay at Club Med in 1975, 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
An unforgettable memory with Philippe Abraham as village chief, with whom I had spent a season in Cadaqués in '92, where he had just been appointed head of sports and I was in charge of land sports.
Another unforgettable memory is in the Ravelo art gallery where I met Vick, a former village chief, who introduced me to the famous Thai martial art, which made my return to the club's village very difficult, lol.
An unforgettable memory of a stay at Club Med in 1973 or 1974, where we were accommodated during the filming of the TV series Paul Gauguin… according to the kind costume designer, “a dream vacation by day but a Kafkaesque atmosphere at night because of the lizards that scurried around the train stations…” She even found some in her costume trunks back in Paris!! Sunsets with music overlooking the sea… the kindness of the Tahitians giving out pineapples along the little road where I was cycling… in short, pure bliss…💓
I went to Moorea in 1999. I was feeling really down and crying as I boarded the plane. Two weeks later, I was back on track. I loved the island's scenery and the unique atmosphere of the village. Many of us were traveling solo—couples usually went 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, just the good old days…
Wonderful stay to ring in the year 2000.
I returned to Polynesia in 2004, to Moorea, and was very sad to see the resort abandoned. I hesitate to return a third time for fear of being disappointed.
I cherish the memory of that week when happiness and serenity filled the entire resort.
I was at the Club in 1969 – I think March-September – another life! Anyone else still there?
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
my Scuba Diving Doctor certification during the winter of 1979-1980.
I also obtained my Level 4 certification after a season in Playa Blanca, Mexico – winter 1978-1979.
Before leaving, I was able to visit Rangiroa, Huahine, and Bora Bora;
pure bliss!
I would have loved to get in touch with a former diving instructor named Vincent – whom I had known in Playa Blanca. A very nice guy.
Thank you for these wonderful reports on an exceptional era of optimism. I lived in Moorea for six years, from 1981 to 1987. We were lucky enough to have that experience. We used to go to the Club Med on Sundays with family and friends, and your videos bring back those wonderfully nostalgic memories. Many people miss the Club Med in Moorea and wished to return, but its closure disappointed many. Your website is a great comfort to those who remember it and rediscover memories they thought they had completely forgotten. Thank you,
Georges.
As a 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, so many good memories!
I went back in 2023 with my wife and it was heartbreaking to see everything in ruins, but truly, only very good memories.
The Tahitians are still so kind.
I was Head of Sports in 1993 with Françoise Graviere as Village Chief.
So many good memories, and a special one for ANI Go Water Skiing.
I'd love to go back.