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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

GreatVoykit month rating for French Polynesia

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.

  • Papeete30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days
  • Bora Bora29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Fa'a'ā28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days
  • Fakarava29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days
  • Hiva Oa28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days
  • Manihi28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days
  • Rangiroa29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Tikehau29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 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.

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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)

  • Papeete

    Dry; good month.

  • Bora Bora

    Best months: May–Oct (dry season)

  • Fa'a'ā

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Fakarava

    Best months: All year; May–Oct for drier weather and calmer seas

  • Hiva Oa

    Best months: Sep–Dec

  • Manihi

    Best months: May–Oct (dry season, calmer seas)

  • Tikehau

    Best months: All year; May–Oct for drier weather