About Rimatara
Rimatara is a small volcanic island in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia, located in the South Pacific and forming part of the territory of French Polynesia. It is a compact inhabited island with limited infrastructure and a single principal village.
The island hosts one main settlement, Amaru, which serves as the local administrative and population center, and the landscape consists of coastal plains and a central elevated interior. Services and transport connections are limited compared with the Society Islands, and access is normally by infrequent air or sea links.
Rimatara lies in the southern part of French Polynesia within the Austral archipelago, southwest of the Society Islands and hundreds of kilometers from Tahiti; it is remote within the South Pacific island groups.
- Political status: Part of the Austral Islands group in French Polynesia and administered as part of French Polynesia.
Best Time to Visit Rimatara
Visit during the drier months (May-October) for milder, less rainy conditions and easier island travel.
Weather & Climate near Rimatara
Rimatara's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with hot summers (peaking in February) and warm winters (coldest in August). Temperatures range from 18°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1861 mm/year), wettest in December.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 23° - 28° | 26° | 200 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 23° - 29° | 26° | 203 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 23° - 29° | 26° | 208 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 22° - 28° | 25° | 178 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 20° - 26° | 23° | 160 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 19° - 25° | 22° | 95 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 18° - 24° | 21° | 118 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 18° - 24° | 21° | 107 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 18° - 25° | 21° | 117 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 20° - 25° | 23° | 106 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 21° - 27° | 24° | 135 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 22° - 27° | 25° | 234 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Rimatara
Rimatara is a small Austral Islands atoll reached by air. Scheduled inter-island flights operate from Papeete (Faa’a International Airport) to Rimatara Airport (RMT); check Air Tahiti for current timetables. The airstrip is on the island, so on arrival you can reach villages by a very short taxi or walk from the airport.
There are no regular road or ferry services from Tahiti for this long-distance crossing; inter-island flight is the usual public-access option.
Tips for Visiting Rimatara
- Visit in the dry season (roughly May-October) when sea conditions and inter-island transport are most reliable; flights and boats are infrequent, so plan connections with generous buffer time.
- Use the small island airport near the main village (Amaru) or pre-arrange a boat pick-up - public transport on Rimatara is extremely limited, so confirm arrival/departure with your host or carrier.
- Don't rush through the single village and surrounding lowland: take time to meet local residents and look for small marae and traditional community sites that many day-trippers miss.