About

  We loved everything at out stay on Ninamu! The Cabanas and the snorkeling just in front was a blast! The Staff was always friendly and the kitchen was exquisit. They... read more have always good free activities everyday(all the gear you need is available and free of charge) whether its snorkeling, visiting the village or fishing out in the atoll.
The best was that its not that crowded like other „fancy“ resorts out here.
We can recommend this Resort to everyone who is looking for an unique experience in French Polynesia!
Thank you for having us and greetings to Cheffy, Melanie, the 2 dogs and everyone of the Staff at Ninamu

  We visited with three young-ish children (4, 8, 10) and made wonderful memories on Ninamu.

SUMMARY: It's a unique place - paradise but not much luxury. If you... read more are water confident and want a remote place to vacation, this may be your place. Set your expectation around hostel level rather than resort level, and you'll be happy with what you get.

GOOD:
- Gorgeous island with beautiful water. Easy to reach from Tikehau.
- Lots of sea life (fish, octopus, a few rays) and snorkel opportunities right off the motu.
- Relaxed environment with self-paced activities. Free and easy access to lots of gear (snorkeling, boats, etc).
- Not crowded.
- Lovely to have meals included, and Cheffy did a wonderful job with fresh fish.

GOOD TO KNOW:
- Bring water shoes to save your feet when accessing the sea.
- Bring snacks because lunch and dinner are fixed portions on the small side and food is not available outside of meals. (Use sealed containers so you don't share with rodents/birds.)
- Be ready to eat fish + rice on repeat.
- Gregory makes a great mojito, and happy hour comes with nuts or popcorn.
- Don't count on wifi.
- Remember to stargaze.
- Be prepared for insect bites.
- Know that they take a laid back approach to safety. I don't recall seeing life vests beyond the ones we brought for our children.

NOT SO GOOD:
- The communication was lacking. Our travel agent couldn't get questions answered before we arrived. While we were there, there was almost no communication with us and no point person available for questions. The French/English barrier was likely a factor, but even a thorough welcome guide would have been helpful. There were so many hidden gem experiences that we were just beginning to uncover after 7 days (and pretty much only from swapping info with other visitors).
- There are definitely critters (insects and rodents) on the island, including inside the unsealed villas. They have traps but could stand to repair mosquito nets and take some additional steps.
- The prime outdoor lounge area is occupied by a large, dirty, smelly bird cage.
- The waterfront villas are on the windward side, which is facing pretty serious erosion.

As long as you know what you're getting, I think there's a lot of enjoyment to be found at Ninamu. I do wish they would capitalise on their potential to show guests how to get the most of out of their visit and bring people together for a more friendly environment.

  What a gem! Just back from Ninamu with a group of 13 friends and it was quite a magical experience. Chris and Greta are lovely hosts, eager to help make... read more the most of your time at their home, arranging activities as frequent or infrequently as...More

  Seriously this place could be renamed Eden!!! Unbelievably beautiful from all perspectives: the sea, the coral, the pink beach, the small houses made with so much taste, but that's not... read more it. It is not a typical western hotel in Polynesia, it is a truly Polynesian experience, extremely authentic. You are in the middle of nowhere with only 20 people around you, you eat all together, become friends with the staff and with the other tourists. The kitchen is divine based on the catch of the day and the creations of an amazing French Chef who could be a star on his own. All of this without mentioning the amazing excursions you can do every day. The warmest hello to the whole Motu by Dalia & Alex, thanks again. More

  We throughly enjoyed our 8 day stay at Ninamu, the daily excursions were exactly why I chose Ninamu Resort. The snorkeling on the reef outside the passage way contained the... read more highest concentration of tropical fish I have ever seen in a lifetime of freediving. All the meals prepared by Cheffy were excellent!! Breakfast consisted of fresh baked bread, tropical fruit and juice plus eggs cooked to order. Lunch and dinner was excellent tasting local fish plus a French dessert and espresso and Cheffy would come out of the kitchen and converse with us about his life and the dishes he prepared. Where else could you ever experience this type of interaction. Our Miki Miki room was an awesome open air benchfront treefort style room built with island wood and coral. The owner Chris was the most down to earth, interersting, entertaining, one of a kind personalities that we couldn't get enough of. His stories and comments were hilarious. I appreciated he was always in the dining room each evening to talk with guests and joined us for dinner at our table one night. If you are looking for a St. Regis/Four Seasons style resort Ninamu is not for you. But if you want the freedom to explore the surrounding reefs on your own and create adventures and unforgettable memories then this island is spot on. Note to self: be sure not to bring sand onto the captain's boat unless I... We throughly enjoyed our 8 day stay at Ninamu, the daily excursions were exactly why I chose Ninamu Resort. The snorkeling on the reef outside the passage way contained the highest concentration of tropical fish I have ever seen in a lifetime of freediving.
All the meals prepared by Cheffy were excellent!! Breakfast consisted of fresh baked bread, tropical fruit and juice plus eggs cooked to order. Lunch and dinner was excellent tasting local fish plus a French dessert and espresso and Cheffy would come out of the kitchen and converse with us about his life and the dishes he prepared. Where else could you ever experience this type of interaction. Our Miki Miki room was an awesome open air benchfront treefort style room built with island wood and coral.
The owner Chris was the most down to earth, interersting, entertaining, one of a kind personalities that we couldn't get enough of. His stories and comments were hilarious. I appreciated he was always in the dining room each evening to talk with guests and joined us for dinner at our table one night. If you are looking for a St. Regis/Four Seasons style resort Ninamu is not for you. But if you want the freedom to explore the surrounding reefs on your own and create adventures and unforgettable memories then this island is spot on. Note to self: be sure not to bring sand onto the captain's boat unless I want to swab the decks. In closing the staff became as close as family members with their interesting and fun conversations and we learned some French, "Vola". We actually shed tears and exerienced emotion separation when we departed. Can't wait to return to the most special place on Earth. Chris and Colleen Machado
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  This is a difficult review to write. I have never written a critical review before. We stayed for 5 nights in October. I would have awarded 3.5 stars if possible.... read more />
The good.
The island is stunning with incredible snorkelling off the main beach. We loved the bungalows and the style of the resort. The food was sublime. Bravo Cheffy!

The could be improved.
Sadly Chris was not on the island when we visited. The fun element that previous reviews mention was definitely not there. In fact, Greta and Gregory, the waiter/bartender, were actually unfriendly. We chatted to 2 other groups on the island and they volunteered they felt the same way. I also overheard an Italian lady complaining to her companions that, on arrival at the bar the first night, Gregory had not welcomed her and there was absolutely no eye contact or friendly interaction. This was completely our experience too. We tried to get a smile but it was hard work. Every night the appetisers were placed on the table with no explanation of what it was. We were never asked if we wanted a drink at lunch or dinner. I would expect a waiter to ask this question. Gregory and Greta are the only front of house staff so they set the atmosphere and it was sadly lacking.

One guest said she felt Chris must be the glue which makes it work when he is present.

I am writing this as this resort is expensive and the staff can make or break an experience like this. Future guests should understand the implications of not having Chris around.

Chris, you have a beautiful island and a great chef. I think you should think about having a relief manager with some great hospitality skills when you are absent. (Cheffy was very personable and friendly but obviously busy in the kitchen most of the time).

  This is going to be a hard review to write, because for me, Ninamu was perfection. We fell head over heels in love with this place and plan to return.... read more But, before you book, you need to know a few things as I know this place is not for everyone. This was our second resort on our 12 day trip to French Polynesia. After doing the traditional Overwater Bungalow at Le Taha’a, we wanted something different, so I was eager to stay at Ninamu. We arrived at the miniature Tikahau airport and were greeted by a woman who didn’t say anything, but smiled kindly, gave us flower lei’s and motioned us to a van. We put our luggage in the back and she drove us less than a mile to the dock. We were met by a young man who was also quiet, but loaded our bags, had us sit in the boat and proceeded to take us to the island. When we got off the boat, we were greeted by a very soft spoken young lady who said very little, but gave us a brief introduction and showed us to our bungalow. It was clear that they were glad we were there, but we had a slight language barrier because we don’t speak French. This place is the definition of relaxed and casual. It’s quiet, peaceful, private and romantic. Our days consisted of getting up, having a leisurely breakfast... This is going to be a hard review to write, because for me, Ninamu was perfection. We fell head over heels in love with this place and plan to return. But, before you book, you need to know a few things as I know this place is not for everyone.

This was our second resort on our 12 day trip to French Polynesia. After doing the traditional Overwater Bungalow at Le Taha’a, we wanted something different, so I was eager to stay at Ninamu.

We arrived at the miniature Tikahau airport and were greeted by a woman who didn’t say anything, but smiled kindly, gave us flower lei’s and motioned us to a van. We put our luggage in the back and she drove us less than a mile to the dock. We were met by a young man who was also quiet, but loaded our bags, had us sit in the boat and proceeded to take us to the island. When we got off the boat, we were greeted by a very soft spoken young lady who said very little, but gave us a brief introduction and showed us to our bungalow. It was clear that they were glad we were there, but we had a slight language barrier because we don’t speak French.

This place is the definition of relaxed and casual. It’s quiet, peaceful, private and romantic. Our days consisted of getting up, having a leisurely breakfast and then going on an excursion to snorkel, or swim with the manta rays, go fishing, and then return for lunch. The afternoons were spent snorkeling, kayaking, lounging, reading and relaxing around the resort. We headed to the main area at about 6pm, sat and had a cocktail and then dinner was at 7pm. We were always in bed by 10pm. By the second day, I wasn’t even wearing my flip flops to meals. It was during the first excursion that I paused and realized that this was a true Polynesian experience beyond my wildest dreams. I had disconnected from technology and modern day life, and was in heaven.

We stayed in the air conditioned bungalow Teahupoo. It was so quirky and cool. The bathroom is outdoors, which my partner and I love! We love outdoor showers, and it also had a hottub, but it’s not heated. However, the water warmed up quite a bit with the sun, and it was super refreshing to sit in it at night and look up at the stars or relax in after an excursion. The bed was super comfortable, the room was extremely spacious and the deck facing the water was where we lounged and read books every day, watching sharks hunt right outside our room! The rooftop deck was fun to go up and look out at the scenery. Yes, there are mosquitos, a few bugs, cute lizards, coconut crabs and hermit crabs all over the island, we wore brought bug spray used it daily. This was not an issue for us.

The meals we had here were simple, but really good. Breakfast consisted of pastries, toast, fruit, pancakes, juice and they offered eggs every morning. Lunch was usually rice, veggies and fish. Dinner was usually a potato item, fish and veggies. All were very tasty, and you literally ate the fresh fish you caught during the day. Portions were reasonable, but your typical American might not think it’s enough food. I would also note that I think it would be ridiculous to expect or want to eat red meat or chicken here, so I would expect to eat fish daily.

In speaking with Greta, the owner, she explained that they see themselves more as a pension, not a resort. It really feels like you are a personal guest on someone’s private island. Personally, I think that Ninamu is not for high maintenance people. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you book:

Do you need a hair dryer? Do you need to wear make up? Do you have to dress up for dinner? Will you be miserable if you get mosquito bites? Do you require several choices at every meal? Do you need complex meals? Do you need to control and schedule out every activity you do on vacation?

If you said yes to any of these, I would pause before booking.

Ninamu is for people who are not fussy, who are flexible and adventurous. If you get joy from going with the flow and being delighted and surprised, you’ll love it. If you want to get away from it all, and see some of the most beautiful parts of French Polynesia, this place is a dream come true.

Until next time Ninamu. More

  Ninamu was the highlight of our honeymoon to French Polynesia. We found it originally in the Lonely Planet, then after looking on Tripadvisor knew it was for us. No Pool,... read more no aircon, limited internet, bungalows that are created out of drift wood and coral and...More

  My expectations of Ninamu were very high, and yet they were still exceeded. My husband and I stayed there in early November for 4 nights and the whole experience... read more was seamless, exhilarating, and relaxing. We loved the feel of the resort and enjoyed getting to...More

  We spent five nights here and had a great time. It was the perfect place to escape Covid because it truly feels like you're in the middle of nowhere. This... read more is a very casual and relaxing hotel. The staff treats you like family and they were great to talk to - I learned so much from Chris, Greta, Melanie, and Cheffy. There are two adorable dogs that are more than happy to show you around the island. We had so much fun following them around and watching them swim/hunt fish during our stay! Food is great - we didn't have one disappointing meal. The croissants are some of the best I've had, so I ate three every morning. Lunch and dinner usually featured fish, which we loved. It's all-inclusive, and portions were perfect for me. The bungalows are very unique and rustic. Do not come here with the expectation of luxury. This is definitely more of a glamping/upscale pension feel. Rooms have the bare minimum (towels, shampoo, soap). If you want anything else, you should bring it because they will try to accommodate but may not have it (for example: tissues). I stayed in a beach bungalow (Kahaia), all of which are open to the outside (and mosquitos, occasional coconut crabs, geckos, etc.). Wear bug repellant (preferably DEET) at all times! That was the only major downside of this motu. Otherwise, the room was comfortable and the bathroom was roomy... We spent five nights here and had a great time. It was the perfect place to escape Covid because it truly feels like you're in the middle of nowhere. This is a very casual and relaxing hotel.

The staff treats you like family and they were great to talk to - I learned so much from Chris, Greta, Melanie, and Cheffy. There are two adorable dogs that are more than happy to show you around the island. We had so much fun following them around and watching them swim/hunt fish during our stay!

Food is great - we didn't have one disappointing meal. The croissants are some of the best I've had, so I ate three every morning. Lunch and dinner usually featured fish, which we loved. It's all-inclusive, and portions were perfect for me.

The bungalows are very unique and rustic. Do not come here with the expectation of luxury. This is definitely more of a glamping/upscale pension feel. Rooms have the bare minimum (towels, shampoo, soap). If you want anything else, you should bring it because they will try to accommodate but may not have it (for example: tissues). I stayed in a beach bungalow (Kahaia), all of which are open to the outside (and mosquitos, occasional coconut crabs, geckos, etc.). Wear bug repellant (preferably DEET) at all times! That was the only major downside of this motu. Otherwise, the room was comfortable and the bathroom was roomy and serviceable. I had no issues with water temperature, but my travel companion stayed in a different bungalow and said her shower didn't really get hot. Room lighting wasn't great and the island gets dark, but I knew that in advance and brought a powerful headlamp. I was worried about no AC, but the breeze and fan was actually quite sufficient.

We did excursions every day that the weather allowed it (we were there in the rainy season and had a couple bad days), and they were great! Snorkeling with the mantas was fun, and the trip to the Blue Lagoon was so relaxing. One day we went scuba diving with Dive Tikehau in The Pass. The dive shop was great and very professional, although the diving was only okay. Maybe it was an off day, but we preferred the snorkeling. When we weren't on excursions, we walked around the motu, lay in the beach huts, kayaked out to the reef, and fed the fish right off the shore. One day we went snail and urchin hunting with the staff on the reef, which was a very cool, authentic experience.

Overall a great stay, and I'm glad we added TIkehau and Ninamu to our French Polynesia itinerary. It was exactly what we were looking for and a perfect start to our 2 week trip. More