“Motu Nao Nao is French Polynesia for travellers who don’t just want a beautiful room — they want the island itself. Set in Raiatea Lagoon, this private motu combines handcrafted villas, chef-led dining, lagoon life, cultural depth and a strong sustainability focus in one of the Society Islands’ most meaningful locations.”
After one stay, Motu Nao Nao becomes the private island you don’t want people to know about.
Motu Nao Nao is made for travellers who want more than a resort room.
This is a private island experience. It is intimate, secluded and deeply connected to the lagoon that surrounds it.
Days can be slow or full. You might wake to the sound of the water, walk the island trails, snorkel, kayak, join a Polynesian sailing canoe experience, enjoy a private meal by the beach, or settle into the evening with a South Pacific sunset.
The beauty of Motu Nao Nao is that the island becomes yours for the stay. Acres of lush grounds that feel like your own private estate. This is the luxury of Nao Nao.
It suits couples, families, groups of friends, milestone celebrations, private retreats and travellers who want French Polynesia to feel personal, generous and exclusive.
Motu Nao Nao sits in the lagoon of Raiatea, one of the sacred islands of French Polynesia.
Raiatea is part of the Society Islands, within the Leeward Islands group. It is known for deep Polynesian heritage, lush mountain scenery, lagoon life and its connection to neighbouring Taha’a.
Motu Nao Nao gives travellers a different way to experience Raiatea. Instead of staying on the main island, guests retreat to a private motu with beaches, docks, trails, tropical gardens and wide lagoon views.
It feels remote, but not cut off. Raiatea is close enough for access, yet far enough away for the island to feel truly private.
The villas at Motu Nao Nao are handcrafted and designed to reflect the surrounding landscape.
The style is relaxed, refined and deeply connected to the island. Each villa has its own character, generous outdoor space and a strong indoor-outdoor feel.
Local design, custom furniture, open decks, private living spaces and tropical surroundings make the stay feel less like a hotel and more like a private island home.
This is not a large resort experience. It is slower, more personal and more immersive.
And for the right traveller, that is the whole point.
Motu Nao Nao works beautifully for special journeys.
It can suit a private wedding, honeymoon, a milestone birthday, a family island escape, a small group celebration, or a retreat where privacy matters.
There is a strong sense of occasion here, but it does not need to feel formal. The island can be shaped around the guests.
A chef can create personalised meals. Experiences can be arranged. Days can be planned around the lagoon, the beach, the garden, wellness, food, music, cultural moments or simply doing nothing at all.
You can truly feel the Polynesian soul.
Motu Nao Nao is a strong choice for travellers who want something different from the classic Bora Bora overwater bungalow story.
Bora Bora is iconic and cinematic. Motu Nao Nao is quieter, laid back and more private.
It offers the feeling of a private motu, a closer connection to Raiatea, and a more tailored style of stay.
Guests come here for space, personal service, private dining, nature, lagoon activities and the rare pleasure of having an island experience shaped around them.
Motu Nao Nao is a highly exclusive, 75-acre private island in French Polynesia, located just 40 minutes from the Raiatea airport. This eco-chic retreat is praised for its unmatched seclusion, pristine white-sand beaches, bespoke service, and sustainable, locally-sourced gourmet dining.
Motu Nao Nao is a private motu in the lagoon of Raiatea. The island offers beaches, trails, docks, tropical gardens and peaceful lagoon scenery.
This is the central feature of the stay. Guests are not simply checking into a resort. They are stepping into a private island environment where the pace, space and atmosphere feel completely different from a larger hotel.
Motu Nao Nao’s food story is closely tied to the island.
The cuisine draws on fish caught by local fishermen, vegetables and fruits from the fa’apu, or Tahitian vegetable garden, fresh eggs from free-range hens and other carefully selected regional ingredients.
This gives the dining experience a strong sense of place.
It feels considered, local and personal, with each meal becoming part of the island’s rhythm.
Wellness at Motu Nao Nao is natural and relaxed.
Guests can breathe in the ocean air, listen to the sounds of the island and enjoy activities such as yoga, Pilates and massage by arrangement.
After a day spent exploring the island, the pace naturally slows. A cocktail at sunset, a quiet deck, the sound of the lagoon and a soft evening sky become part of the wellbeing experience.
Motu Nao Nao is a beautiful choice for private weddings, milestone celebrations and special occasions.
The setting brings together turquoise lagoon water, white sand, tropical gardens and starry Polynesian skies. It is private, memorable and highly personal.
For couples, families or groups, the island can be shaped around the occasion, whether that means a barefoot ceremony, a private dinner, music, dancing, or a quiet celebration under the stars.
Motu Nao Nao has a strong sustainability focus.
The island has achieved Benchmark Bronze status through EarthCheck. Its approach includes solar energy, water-saving measures, waste sorting, composting, reduced plastic bottle use and local community support.
The dining program also reflects this commitment, with a focus on local, seasonal and responsibly sourced ingredients.
This makes Motu Nao Nao a strong fit for travellers who want private island luxury with a more conscious footprint.
Villa Miti is a generous two-person villa with a king-size bed and a strong indoor-outdoor feel.
It includes a bathroom with panoramic shower, dressing table, day bed and outdoor bathtub. The living area includes a sofa and desk, while the outdoor deck offers space to relax with deck chairs and umbrellas.
Size: 72 sqm / 775 sq ft
Deck: 57 sqm / 613 sq ft
Bedding: King-size bed
Capacity: 2 guests
Best for: Couples wanting a spacious private villa with an outdoor bathtub and generous deck
Key features include a king-size bed, bathroom with panoramic shower, outdoor bathtub, day bed, living room, sofa, desk, deck chairs, umbrellas, Sonos Wi-Fi speaker, minibar, Nespresso machine, air conditioning, fan, iPad and Wi-Fi.
Villa Mana is the largest of the main named villas and is ideal for guests who want more living and entertaining space.
It includes a queen-size bed in the mezzanine, a fully equipped kitchen, dining room, wine cellar, minibar and ice machine. The large deck includes an outdoor dining area and lounge with fire pit, making it a beautiful choice for relaxed private-island living.
Key features include a queen-size bed in the mezzanine, fully equipped kitchen, bathroom with shower, wine cellar, minibar, ice machine, Nespresso machine, dining room, large deck, outdoor dining area, outdoor lounge, fire pit, deck chairs, umbrellas, poufs, air conditioning, remote-controlled fans, Sonos Wi-Fi sound system, iPad and Wi-Fi.
Villa Miri is a refined two-person villa with a king-size bed and a relaxed living area.
It includes a bathroom with shower and bathtub, a living room with sofa and desk, and a private deck with space to relax outdoors.
Key features include a king-size bed, bathroom with shower and bathtub, living room, sofa, desk, deck chairs, parasols, Sonos Wi-Fi speaker, minibar, Nespresso machine, air conditioning, fan, iPad and Wi-Fi.
Amenities vary slightly by villa, but Motu Nao Nao is designed for comfort, privacy and an easy private-island stay.
Main villa features include:
Travelling to Motu Nao Nao from Australia usually begins with an international flight to Papeete, on Tahiti Island.
Most Australian itineraries reach Papeete via an international connection, commonly Auckland, although exact routing depends on airline schedules, departure city and travel dates.
From Papeete, guests continue by domestic flight to Raiatea. Raiatea is the gateway for Motu Nao Nao and one of the main islands of the Society Islands’ Leeward group.
Motu Nao Nao sits in the lagoon of Raiatea, around 1.5 kilometres from the island. It is around 40 minutes from Raiatea Airport and the town of Uturoa.
Private boat or helicopter transfers can be arranged to take guests directly to the island.
Island Escapes can help coordinate the full journey, including international flights, Tahiti stopovers, domestic flights, private transfers, helicopter options and wider Society Islands combinations across Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti Island.
MAKE AN ENQUIRY
Photo credits: Motu Nao Nao
Motu Nao Nao is located in the lagoon of Raiatea, in French Polynesia’s Society Islands. It sits close to Raiatea, with private boat or helicopter transfers arranged for the final journey to the island.
Motu Nao Nao is in the Society Islands, within the Leeward Islands group of French Polynesia. For Island Escapes planning, it sits under the Raiatea destination region.
Yes. Motu Nao Nao is a private motu in Raiatea Lagoon. It is designed for travellers who want a highly private island escape with handcrafted villas, personalised service, lagoon activities and space to truly switch off.
Travellers from Australia usually fly to Papeete, Tahiti, often via an international connection such as Auckland. From Papeete, guests take a domestic flight to Raiatea. Private boat or helicopter transfers can then be arranged to Motu Nao Nao.
Motu Nao Nao is in Raiatea Lagoon, around 230 kilometres from Tahiti. Guests usually travel from Tahiti to Raiatea by domestic flight, then continue to the private motu by arranged transfer.
Motu Nao Nao is an extremely intimate private island stay. The main named villas are Villa Miti, Villa Mana and Villa Miri, with each villa designed for two guests.
The villas were designed and decorated by local designer Alain Fleurot. The style is handcrafted, refined and connected to the island’s natural setting.
Villa Miti has a king-size bed, panoramic shower, day bed, outdoor bathtub and large deck. Villa Mana has a mezzanine queen bed, full kitchen, dining room, wine cellar and expansive outdoor lounge. Villa Miri has a king-size bed, bathroom with shower and bathtub, living room and private deck.
Villa Miti is designed for two guests. It includes a king-size bed, panoramic shower, dressing table, day bed, outdoor bathtub, living room, private deck, minibar, Nespresso machine, air conditioning, fan, iPad and Wi-Fi.
Villa Mana is designed for two guests. It includes a queen-size bed in the mezzanine, fully equipped kitchen, dining room, wine cellar, minibar, ice machine, large deck, outdoor dining area, outdoor lounge and fire pit.
Villa Miri is designed for two guests. It includes a king-size bed, bathroom with shower and bathtub, living room, sofa, desk, private deck, minibar, Nespresso machine, air conditioning, fan, iPad and Wi-Fi.
Motu Nao Nao is couples-first in feeling, with private two-person villas and a deeply secluded atmosphere. It can also work beautifully for small groups or families wanting a private island-style stay with tailored dining and experiences.
Yes. Motu Nao Nao is a beautiful choice for honeymoons, especially for couples who want privacy, private chef dining, lagoon activities, wellness experiences and the feeling of having a private island escape shaped around them.
Yes. Motu Nao Nao suits small groups, milestone celebrations and private retreats because the island experience can be shaped around the guests, from dining and activities to wellness, culture and special moments under the stars.
Yes. Dining is built around a private chef and tailor-made menus. Meals are planned around guest tastes and preferences, with a focus on fresh local and sustainable ingredients.
Dining focuses on French Polynesian culture, fresh local produce and sustainable ingredients. Meals may feature lagoon fish, organic vegetables, fruits from the fa’apu, free-range eggs, regional produce, tropical plants and wild ingredients found on the island.
Activities can include snorkelling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, biking, outdoor movie nights, karaoke, fitness equipment, board games, Va’a Holopuni, Tahitian dance, kitesurfing and other bespoke island experiences.
Yes. Motu Nao Nao offers meaningful cultural experiences such as Va’a Holopuni sailing canoe experiences and Ori Tahiti, or Tahitian dance. These experiences connect guests with lagoon navigation, rhythm, movement and Polynesian tradition.
Yes. Motu Nao Nao offers a relaxed wellness experience shaped by the island setting. Yoga, Pilates and massages can be arranged, while the private island environment naturally supports rest, reconnection and slow island time.
Yes. Motu Nao Nao has a strong sustainability focus, with EarthCheck Benchmark Bronze status, solar energy initiatives, waste sorting, composting, reduced plastic bottle use, water-saving measures and support for Raiatea and Taha’a communities.
Motu Nao Nao is in Raiatea Lagoon, not Bora Bora. It can pair beautifully with Bora Bora as part of a wider Society Islands itinerary, especially for travellers who want iconic lagoon scenery as well as a more private Raiatea escape.
Motu Nao Nao is special because it offers a rare private island experience in Raiatea Lagoon. Handcrafted villas, private chef dining, cultural experiences, wellness, sustainability, lagoon activities and personalised service make it one of French Polynesia’s most distinctive private motu stays.
OR SEARCH MORE TAHITI ISLANDS RESORTS