camping in tahiti

We have 2/3 day stopover (due to lack of flights out of Papetee) on the way to NZ. We are on a very tight buget but are armed with a tent. I have read on some useful replies/links on this site about camping on other islands but not as far as i can work out, the island tahiti itself. Can anyone give me directions to camping on tahiti as i dont think we have enough time to catch a boat out to another island? Alternatively, a buget place out of the town papette as we really prefer it less bulit up? Can you get cheap buses/trucks all the way around the island?
I know it is a tall order but i hope you can help.
All the best

ASFAIK the only place to camp in Tahiti is on the far side of remote Tahiti Iti, as far as you can be from Papete. It's aimed at surfers.
It might be easier to hop over to Moorea, which is better set up for campers.
If sticking to Tahiti, you should be able to get pretty much all around the bigger half by public transport, but not right around Tahiti Iti, I think.

Supposedly you can pitch a tent in the garden of Pension Bonjouir. On their site they mention having a tent in the food section. It will take you longer to get there than to Moorea. Plus you have the problem of meals, on Moorea you can just walk to the market for food.

Moorea is a great idea, a couple of good campgrounds. But alot depends on when your flight arrives, and when your departing flight leaves. If you come in at night, you'll need to stay on Tahiti unless it'saround 3 or 4am, then you can just stay up and then get the ferry to Moorea around 6:30am. Otherwise it may not be worth the hassle of ferrying to and from Moorea, etc. and then coming back to Tahiti. When are your flights??

Raro makes a good point about the flight times but if the times work catch the ferry to Moorea... it's only about 45 mins (I think, from memory?!)... there's a public bus on Moorea which will be waiting for ferry passengers and which passes all of the accom places...

There are two camp sites on the far side of the island (maybe a half hour drive).... Camping Nelson and Camping Moorea... both are beside each other so you can check out facilities etc when you get there and choose which you prefer.... they're within walking distance of some shops etc....

There are no busses going around Tahiti. At least that's what we were told and I believe it. We caught a bus from downtown Papeete going out to the Gauguin Museum, but the return bus never came as the bus driver had promised. We had to hitchhike back.

The nice family who took us back said that the busses usually run inbound in the morning and outbound in the afternoon for the people who work in Papeete. Never mind that there is a schedule for all day. I would go to Moorea. The ferry is faster than the Tahiti bus was.

Is there a place near the airport (on Tahiti) called 'chez titi' or something similar? One of the backpackers we met mentioned it as a cheap place to stay.

You can camp at Bonjouir. There is also a small motel just across the street from the airport.

Ed

Heve Camping in Rangiroa?

Vairuna Campground is listed at THIS site.

Ed

Hi Eipiii, you now the Price fron this camping? Thanks

At Bonjouir? I think it was about $10/day, no meals. You would have to catch fish or go jungle gathering since there isn't anything like a store unless you walk into Teahupoo, which is a 1-2 hour walk along the beach. There is a small Magasin there, but it ain't cheap. Nothing on Tahiti-iti is.

Ed

Hey Laszlo, do you have any more info on that camping ground on Tahiti iti? Ive been looking into budget accomodation and it seems that camping areas are fairly light on. Im heading over for the surfing tour around May-ish so staying near teahupoo would be ideal. Thanks!

They have a website HERE. really great people, great place.

Ed