A day in Bora Bora

Bora Bora, France

Golden Hour - overwater deck

Pink light lies across the wooden deck and warms my bare feet. I stand still and watch the lagoon turn soft gold. June to October brings drier weather and cooler trade winds, so this hour feels easy on the skin.

Golden Hour - wooden pier

Under my feet, the wooden pier runs over the lagoon in the last gold light. I walk its length and keep my eyes on the clear water. A boat trip reaches the shallow sandbars, where stingrays and reef sharks glide close to people standing in the water.

Golden Hour - shallow lagoon

Warm water closes around my ankles as I step through the shallows. I pause and let the lagoon move past my feet. With a certified guide I can swim in the Lagoonarium among sea turtles, blacktip reef sharks, stingrays and colourful reef fish.

Golden Hour - white beach

Fine white sand gives under my feet as I walk beneath the palm trees. The air is warm and the light is low and gold. This public shore, Matira Beach, has shallow turquoise water that is good for swimming and unhurried walks.

Golden Hour - beach hammock

A hammock hangs between the trees and the late light falls across it. I rest there and feel the warm air on my skin. People here wear lightweight cotton shirts, shorts and a colourful pareu, a length of hand-dyed fabric tied in many styles.

Golden Hour - palm grove

The palm trunk is rough against my shoulder as I lean in the grove. Gold light comes through the leaves and warms the sand at my feet. Fresh coconut, harvested from these plentiful palms, is a sweet refreshment often roasted or served alongside seafood.

Night - waterfront deck

The first stars show in the dark sky above this waterfront deck. I stay outside and watch them gather over the lagoon. Every evening, mobile food trucks in the central village parking area serve generous plates of grilled fish, steak frites and stir-fries.