Getting Around
Rangiroa's airstrip is on the main island, about equidistant between Avatoru and Tiputa passes. The hotels and pensions send buses or vans to meet their guests. Otherwise, you are on your own, since there is no public transportation on the island.
I usually rent a bicycle, scooter, or car for a day to explore the main island. Its only road crosses six bridges, none of them with guardrails and some of them only one lane wide. The pavement is uneven, adding to the need for constant caution when driving here.
Rangi Rent a Car is the local agent for Europcar (tel. 800/227-7368 or 96.08.28; www.europcar-tahiti.com). It has an agency near Avatoru and desks at the Hotel Kia Ora and Novotel Rangiroa. Cars rent for 12,000CFP (US$150/£76) a day. Scooters and open-air "Bugsters" (the most you'll need here) cost about 6,500CFP (US$81/£41) for 8 hours (which is longer than you'll need to see the islet). Bicycles rent for 1,500CFP (US$19/£9.50) for a half-day, 1,800CFP (US$23/£11) for a full day.
Arehahio Locations (tel. 98.82.45 or 73.92.84) in Avatoru rents cars for 8,400CFP (US$105/£53) per day, scooters for 5,200CFP (US$65/£33) a day, bicycles for 1,600CFP (US$20/£10) a day.
You can cross Tiputa Pass to Tiputa village via Maurice Navette (tel. 96.67.09 or 78.13.25), which operates water taxis daily from 6am to 5pm. Call or check with your hotel staff for schedules and fares.
