Temae is Moorea's most challenging wave—a fierce right-hander breaking over shallow reef in one of the world's most beautiful settings. When south swells wrap around Tahiti's sister island, Temae transforms into a powerful, hollow wave that demands commitment and skill. The paddle out from Temae Beach is straightforward, but the wave itself is not—shallow reef, fire coral, and resident sharks add consequence to every session. For experienced surfers willing to handle the intensity, Temae offers world-class barrels in a tropical paradise setting that feels like surfing inside a postcard.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
27°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: 15-20 min paddle or short boat ride from Temae Beach.
Temae is a reef break in Moorea, French Polynesia, that mostly breaks right.
Temae picks up swell from the SSE round to the SSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the S. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 2m, with the sweet spot around 1.3 to 1.7m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
A SW wind is dead offshore at Temae, and anything from the S round to the W keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
Temae is at its best around the mid to high tide, roughly 0.5m to 1.5m on the local chart. Below 0.3m it gets dangerously shallow.
The most reliable run of swell at Temae comes Apr to Sep. Autumn/Winter best. April often cleanest.
The water at Temae averages around 27°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Not really. It's rated 7/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Shallow reef. Fire coral and sharks present.
The nearest airport on our list is MOZ, then it's roughly a 10-minute drive. From there you need a boat to reach the break (we estimate around $50 USD, but confirm with an operator). 15-20 min paddle or short boat ride from Temae Beach.
The closest breaks we track are Hauru Point (16 km), Taapuna (22 km) and Papenoo (35 km), handy when Temae isn't working.
Peak: Apr-Sep
Autumn/Winter best. April often cleanest.
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