In this episode, we talk about the Austral Islands with archaeologist Mark Eddowes, including what travelers should understand about marae temples, taboo, tiki traditions, and respectful cultural etiquette when visiting remote French Polynesia. Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com are included early because Tahiti-region travel often requires thoughtful planning once you venture beyond the Society Islands—especially if you want the Australs to feel accessible and meaningful rather than confusing and rushed. Normand Schafer interviews Mark onboard Aranui 5 while sailing through the Australs, and the conversation offers a rare blend of historical insight and practical traveler guidance.

Mark begins by explaining how he entered archaeology: childhood interests in Māori history in New Zealand, university studies, and a graduate focus on Polynesian marae temples. A major collaborative research effort brought him to Tahiti’s Papenoo Valley, where archaeological sites needed to be documented and excavated in the context of proposed modern development. That experience grounded Mark’s career in both research and cultural protection, and it sets up a key point for travelers: in French Polynesia, many sites are not simply “old ruins.” They remain emotionally and culturally present, connected to ancestors and community identity.

He shares fieldwork across Rimatara and Tubuai—surveying marae and excavating early settlement sites—and he highlights a striking cultural distinction in Raivavae. In Raivavae, tiki figures are associated with deified female ancestors, unlike many other islands where male ancestors are more commonly represented. Mark also discusses how settlement influences appear to differ across the archipelago, with Raivavae showing strong ties to Marquesas origins while other islands connect more to Society Islands settlement patterns.

Mark then describes what visitors notice: natural landscapes with limited development, small populations, and a subtropical climate that can feel fresher than Tahiti or the Marquesas. Daily life still centers on plantations and fishing, with strong family and community solidarity. He also explains how artistry supports the cash economy, especially pandanus weaving—mats, hats, fans—and he notes a modern carving renaissance as young men revive historic motifs once suppressed by missionary influence. This is a key insight for Tahiti travelers: many of the most important cultural traditions you see today do not preserve in the archaeological record. They survive through teaching, innovation, and community memory.

The most useful travel section is Mark’s etiquette guidance. He explains the Polynesian concept of taboo and why marae sites remain sacred even in Christian communities today. His advice is clear: take photographs, but do not climb on sites, do not touch or rearrange stones, and never remove anything. He also notes specific boundaries such as observing certain cemeteries from outside only. Mark adds that the Australs are conservative and strongly Protestant, and he encourages modest dress away from the beach—shorts for men and a pareo or wrap for women, with no topless sunbathing—out of respect for local norms.

The conversation closes with memorable discoveries from Mark’s career, including a red volcanic tuff tiki connected to sacred symbolism of the color red across Polynesia, a reused ancestor figure found within a house alignment that hints at changing beliefs during early conversion eras, and turtle petroglyphs revealed only when restored stonework caught sunset light at the right angle. If you want to explore the Australs with deeper insight and respectful planning—before you ever step ashore—Far and Away Adventures can help you design and book the right Tahiti-region itinerary, including the best sailing and extensions for your travel style.

In this episode, we talk about Aranui 5 shore excursions with Lehi, including what’s included at every stop and what optional experiences you can add across French Polynesia. Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com are the best places to begin if you want help planning an Aranui itinerary and understanding how the island days unfold in real life. Normand Schafer records this conversation onboard, and Lehi’s 14 years of experience guiding guests through the Marquesas and beyond make this episode especially useful for travelers who want both inspiration and practical clarity.

Lehi explains the core promise first: Aranui includes excursions at every port. That’s a major differentiator in Tahiti travel because many visitors are used to building their days around resorts, rental cars, or independent bookings. On a deluxe freighter cruise, the experience is designed differently. The ship and local partners coordinate the day, transportation availability varies by island, and the most meaningful cultural moments often happen because the island community is actively part of the welcome. The result is a Tahiti-region trip that feels curated but not artificial—structured, yet still deeply local.

Nuku Hiva is a centerpiece of the discussion because it often serves as an early “this is what Aranui is” day. Lehi describes a safari-style full-day experience using local jeeps and four-wheel drives, visiting key stops including a cathedral and an archaeological site, and then sharing lunch ashore where hosts greet guests with songs and dance. Normand highlights a detail that surprises first-timers: the ship can reposition to the other side of the island while guests travel overland, meaning you don’t always return to the same harbor you started from. That movement gives the day a sense of true travel rather than a simple excursion loop, and it’s part of why the Marquesas feel so immersive on Aranui.

The episode also addresses traveler needs that matter in Tahiti planning, especially around meals and comfort. Lehi notes that food ashore can be prepared differently than onboard—sometimes using traditional methods—and that’s part of the cultural experience. At the same time, special diets can be supported by preparing appropriate meals on the ship and bringing them ashore, ensuring travelers aren’t forced to choose between participation and dietary safety. That detail is valuable for anyone planning French Polynesia who has allergies, medical diets, or strong food preferences.

Optional excursions are discussed in the context of where they naturally fit. In lagoon-focused areas such as Rangiroa, Lehi mentions optional add-ons like dolphin observation and glass-bottom boat style outings. In Bora Bora, optional aquatic experiences can be available, and Lehi points to the included motu picnic as a favorite moment—often feeling like a celebratory “final lunch” that caps the voyage with something quintessentially Tahiti: lagoon beauty, shared time, and a sense that everyone onboard has become a community.

For active travelers, Lehi describes the Fatu Hiva crossing from Omoa to Hanavave—about 15 km for hikers who want the challenge and the views. He also explains the alternatives, including a four-wheel-drive option or sailing around to meet the ship on the other side, which allows groups to share a destination without sharing the same physical intensity. And on Hiva Oa, he describes the day that connects to Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel, offering both hiking and bus options, sometimes using school buses that reflect the real infrastructure of island life. If you’re ready to plan Aranui 5 with the right blend of culture, hikes, and lagoon time, Far and Away Adventures can help you choose the best sailing and coordinate the full Tahiti-region journey.

In this episode, we talk about one of the most exciting developments in Tahiti-region cruising: the upcoming Aranoa ship and what it could mean for exploring the Austral Islands in a way that’s both authentic and operationally purposeful. Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com are mentioned right away because French Polynesia travel often looks simple on a map but gets complex fast—especially when you add remote islands, limited infrastructure, and the need for smart pre/post planning.

Normand Schafer sits down with Leo Colin from Aranui Cruises to discuss Aranui 5 and the Aranoa project. Leo shares why the company is committed to a combined passenger-and-cargo model and why that matters specifically in French Polynesia. On these routes, cargo isn’t hidden; it’s part of what passengers see and learn from. That “freighter cruise” component creates a different kind of travel memory: you’re not just consuming a destination—you’re observing how island life is sustained, what supplies arrive, and how communities remain connected across vast ocean distances.

Leo explains that Aranoa is planned to keep the spirit of Aranui 5 while adapting to the realities of the Australs. The Austral Islands are less populated than the Marquesas, which affects supply volumes and therefore ship design. Leo describes a smaller ship than Aranui 5, with capacity aimed at a personal onboard feel and a strong crew presence. For travelers, that suggests a more intimate experience—while still grounded in the working-ship identity that makes Aranui voyages so distinctive.

The episode gets into the details that matter to Tahiti planners: sea conditions and onboard comfort. Leo explains that the Australs can experience long, powerful swells depending on southern weather systems, and he talks about stabilizers planned for Aranoa to reduce rolling. He also describes dynamic positioning—technology that can hold a ship on station without anchoring. Beyond the technical novelty, this can be relevant for environmental impact, especially where anchoring areas are limited or where seabed protection is a priority.

We also explore operational flexibility: Leo shares an example of a tsunami alert that required leaving a bay and waiting at sea until authorities cleared the situation, demonstrating how safety guidance and ocean reality can override the “perfect plan.” Another memorable moment involves a diesel delivery and a mechanical problem that became urgent because islands depend on these shipments for power generation and daily needs. These stories are why freighter cruising feels different: the voyage has purpose beyond passengers.

Finally, Leo describes what it’s like to participate in bringing a ship to life—reviewing drawings, validating systems, and catching small problems early so crews aren’t forced into difficult fixes later. If you’re considering Aranui 5 now, or you’re watching Aranoa’s progress for a future Austral sailing, this conversation gives you practical insight without hype. When you’re ready to plan and book, Far and Away Adventures can help you align the sailing with the right island stays and extensions so your Tahiti-region trip feels cohesive.