When to go · French Polynesia
French Polynesia in September
Great month. Dry, calm and whale season; the Marquesas enter their best months.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- Medium
- French Polynesia
- Prices
- Medium
- French Polynesia
Verdict
Dry, calm and whale season; the Marquesas enter their best months.
Is another month better than September?
No other month rates higher than September for French Polynesia in this guide.
Weather in September
- Society Islands · Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiateabest weather
Dry season May–October with trade winds (the maraamu can blow hard for days in July–August); December–March brings heavy showers, humidity and the main cyclone risk.
- Tuamotu atolls · Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehaubest weather
Drier than the high islands; diving is good all year, with hammerheads Dec–Mar and the Fakarava grouper spawning around June–July.
- Marquesas · Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Poubest weather
Close to the equator, hot all year with no clear wet season; September–December is usually the driest and seas calmest for the Aranui.
- Austral Islands · Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavaebest weather
Cooler and windier; humpback whales at Rurutu from July to October.
- Marquesas Islands: Marquesas Islands · Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa and the smaller islandsbest weather
Hot and humid year-round; the drier, cooler stretch runs roughly September to November. Rain is possible in any month, and the islands sit outside the main cyclone belt but can still be hit.
- Society Islands: Society Islands · Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'abest weather
Dry season roughly May–Oct, cooler and breezier; wet season Nov–Apr is hotter, humid and cheaper, with cyclone risk Jan–Mar.
- Tuamotu Islands: Tuamotu atolls · Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau, Manihifine
Hot and humid all year, water around 27–29 °C (81–84 °F). The drier, cooler months are roughly May to October; November to April is the wet season and the cyclone season, and a passing system can cancel inter-island flights for a day or more.Hot and humid all year, water around 81–84 °F (27–29 °C). The drier, cooler months are roughly May to October; November to April is the wet season and the cyclone season, and a passing system can cancel inter-island flights for a day or more.
- Papeete30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 7 rain days
- Bora Bora29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 10 rain days
- Fa'a'ā28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 7 rain days
- Fakarava29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
- Hiva Oa28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain days
- Manihi28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
- Rangiroa29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 6 rain days
- Tikehau29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 6 rain days
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · French Polynesia
- Medium
- Prices · French Polynesia
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in French Polynesia, side by side.
Verdict
Sep: Great
May: Great
Crowds
Sep: Medium
May: Medium
Prices
Sep: Medium
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Sep: 0
May: 2
September: Dry, calm and whale season; the Marquesas enter their best months.
May: Dry season starts; one of the best value months.
French Polynesia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in September
Rated best or good this month
Society Islands
Best weather of the year (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea)
Tuamotu atolls
Best weather of the year (Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau)
Marquesas
Best weather of the year (Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Pou)
Austral Islands
Best weather of the year (Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae)
Dry; good month.
Best months: May–Oct (dry season)
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: All year; May–Oct for drier weather and calmer seas
Best months: Sep–Dec
Best months: May–Oct (dry season, calmer seas)
Best months: All year; May–Oct for drier weather