Things to do in Papeete, Tahiti: One day three ways

PENNY PINCH

Start the day with a croissant ($2) at the Marche de Papeete. After perusing the wares – vanilla, pearl jewellery, handicrafts - get some exercise on one of the island's loveliest hikes. Pick up your permit ($8) at the town hall and a pre-packed lunch ($14.50) from Foodies supermarket. The Fautaua Valley hike passes through verdant jungle studded with stands of torch ginger and takes about three hours, including a stop for lunch at Fautaua Falls. In the afternoon, visit the pearl museum (robertwan.com), then watch the sunset from the pretty Paofai Gardens. Enjoy dinner at one of Tahiti's typical food trucks. Try the poisson cru – similar to ceviche – from La Roulotte ($20.50). Turn in for the night at the Tiare Tahiti Noa Noa ($140, facebook.com).

TOTAL: $185

EASY DOES IT

Ready to explore Tahiti's wild side? With its high peaks and fern-filled valleys, this volcanic island is an adventurer's playground. If you are up for underground action, exploring the lava tubes ($83, tahitirevatrek.com) is a great choice. It's a very early start and lunch is not included; fortunately, most supermarkets offer pre-packed meals ($14.50) so pick one up the day before. You'll be spending the day alternately trekking and swimming through mossy caves studded with waterfalls and underground lakes. In the evening, enjoy dinner at The Blue Banana ($30.50, facebook.com) before sleeping at Manava Suite resort ($288, manava-suite-resort-tahiti.com).

TOTAL: $416

SPLASH OUT

You're going to be moving around the island today, so pick up a hire car from Europcar ($212, europcar.com), then have a quick breakfast at Les Tipaniers ($7). Make like Gauguin with an art lesson at Le Meridien ($60, lemeridientahiti.com) and create your own Tahitian landscape. From here, hop in your car for a circle tour of the island. It's a 114-kilometre trip but there is a lot to explore along the way. Apart from stopping for lunch at Chez Loula & Remy at Taravao ($22), check out the Maraa Grotto, the Faarumai Waterfalls and the Arahoho Blowholes. Dinner is at Le Coco's ($108, lecocostahiti.com) before spending the night at Le Meridien ($290, lemeridientahiti.com).

TOTAL: $699

The writer travelled courtesy of Tahiti Tourism and Air Tahiti Nui.