Rimatara (Austral Islands) — How to Visit One of Tahiti’s Quietest Corners (Ep. 9)

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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