
Rimatara (Austral Islands) — How to Visit One of Tahiti’s Quietest Corners (Ep. 9)
From Tahiti Travel by Normand Schafer
March 16, 2026 · 11 min
About this episode
This episode explores the unique lifestyle and community of Rimatara in the Austral Islands, highlighting its appeal for low-volume travelers.
In this episode, we talk about Rimatara in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia and what it’s like to visit one of the least-visited corners of “Tahiti” travel. If you’re exploring French Polynesia beyond the most common island names, start with Far and Away Adventures.com and get planning help at https://farandawayadventures.com . This episode blends local perspective with practical reality: Rimatara is small, welcoming, and calm—but it’s also limited in access and built for low-volume travel. Normand Schafer speaks with Nila on the island, opening with what makes Rimatara distinct: it’s tiny, protected by a close reef, and home to a small community. Nila explains why she moved here from Bora Bora after marrying a local. From there, she describes the lifestyle in concrete terms: fewer cars, more nature, and fruit and gardens that support living off the land. It’s not a destination built around shopping and constant activity; it’s a place where day-to-day life is part of what visitors come to understand. Nila also offers a meaningful family and community perspective. She says raising children on Rimatara feels easier because the community is “family-ish,” with people looking…
People in this episode
Host: Normand Schafer
Guest: Nila
Topics covered
- travel
- local culture
- island lifestyle
- community
- low-volume tourism
Keywords
- Rimatara
- Austral Islands
- French Polynesia
- low-volume travel
- community
- island lifestyle
- hospitality
- nature
- travel planning
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Far and Away Adventures.com
Places: Rimatara, Austral Islands, French Polynesia, Bora Bora
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