Huahine's airport is on the flat peninsula paralleling the north side of the island, 3km (2 miles) from Fare. Unless you have previously reserved a rental car or are willing to walk into Fare, take your hotel minibus. At other times, Moe's Taxi (tel. 72.80.60) or Enite's Taxi (tel. 68.82.37) will carry you around. Fares are about 600CFP (US$7.50/£3.80) from the airport into Fare, and about 2,500CFP (US$31/£16) to the southern end of Huahine Iti.

Avis (tel. 800/230-4898 or 68.73.34; www.avis.com), Europcar (tel. 800/227-7368 or 68.82.59; www.europcar-tahiti.com), and Hertz (tel. 800/654-3131 or 68.76.85; www.hertz.com) have agents in Fare. Europcar's vehicles start at 9,400CFP (US$118/£60) a day. Avis charges about 12,000CFP (US$150/£76) a day for air-conditioned cars. Europcar rents scooters for 6,200CFP (US$78/£39) a day, bicycles for 2,000CFP (US$25/£13) a day. Huahine Lagoon, on the Fare waterfront (tel. 68.70.00) has bicycles for 1,500CFP (US$19/£9.50) for 8 hours. On Huahine Iti, Moana Turquoise (tel. 68.85.57), at Pension Mauarii, rents scooters for 6,500CFP (US$81/£41) a day and bicycles for 2,500CFP (US$31/£16) a day.

Each district has local buses, which run into Fare at least once a day, but the schedules are highly irregular. If you take one from Fare to Parea, for example, you might not be able to get back on the same day.

Fast Facts

Camera & Film -- AO Api New World, upstairs over the Manava Huahine Visitors Bureau (tel. 68.70.99), burns digital photos to CDs.

Currency Exchange -- Banque Socredo is in Fare, on the road that parallels the main street and bypasses the waterfront. Banque de Tahiti is on Fare's waterfront. Both have ATMs.

Drugstore -- The pharmacist at the drugstore, on the main road between Fare and the airport, speaks English (tel. 68.80.90). Open Monday to Friday 7:30am to noon and 2:30 to 5pm, Saturday 8am to noon, Sunday and holidays 8 to 9am.

Emergencies & Police -- The emergency police telephone number is tel. 17. The phone number of the gendarmerie in Fare is tel. 68.82.61.

Healthcare -- The government infirmary is in Fare (tel. 68.82.48). Ask your hotel for the names of doctors and dentists in private practice.

Internet Access -- You can pick up e-mail at AO Api New World (tel. 68.70.99), upstairs over the Manava Huahine Visitors Bureau. Open Monday to Friday 8:30am to noon and 4 to 7:30pm, Saturday 4:30 to 9:30pm. Access costs 15CFP (US20¢/10p) a minute. Restaurant New Temarara, on the Fare waterfront (tel. 68.89.31), has wireless access for 700CFP (US$8.75/£4.45) an hour.

Mail -- The colonial-style post office is in Fare, on the bypass road north of the waterfront area. Hours are Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 3pm, Friday 7am to 2pm.

Restrooms -- There are public toilets on the Fare wharf opposite the visitors bureau, but don't expect them to be clean. I use them for emergencies only.

Visitor Information -- On Fare's main street opposite the wharf, Manava Huahine Visitors Bureau (tel./fax 68.78.81) is open Monday to Saturday 8am to noon (more or less). Some local pensions and tour operators have banded together to host www.iaorana-huahine.com.

Water -- Don't drink the tap water on Huahine. Bottled water is available at all grocery stores.

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