The Aranui III offers cruises around French Polynesia. Photo / Philippe Bacchet
The Aranui III, a freighter/cruise ship which is based in Tahiti and takes intrepid travellers to the Marquesas Islands, was in Auckland earlier this year and opened its hatches for a few travel agents and media to have a look.
For 50 years, the Aranui has serviced the remote islands
of French Polynesia and tourists have been tagging along for the past 20.
This state-of-the-art working ship can accommodate 170 passengers on its 14-day cruising itineraries, which combine daily hikes to amazing waterfalls, villages, beaches and mountain tops with dropping-off and picking-up supplies.
You're not going to find a casino or a cabaret, but you will find everything from carpeted suites with full-size bathrooms, queen-size beds and balconies, to bunk rooms that can sleep up to eight people.
The ship has a large open lounge with a bar and comfy chairs in the bow and an open-plan dining room upstairs where buffet meals are served. There's also a swimming pool at the stern.
