ORIENTATION

AUSTRAL ISLANDS

The Austral archipelago makes up the southernmost group of islands in the South Pacific and is an extension of the same underwater volcanic mountain range as the southern Cook Islands to the northwest.  Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, and Rapa Iti comprise the inhabited islands of this group, though only the first four have airstrips; Rapa Iti is accessible only by ship. Collectively, they are one of the five administrative subdivisions of French Polynesia and are governed by France.  Only about 6,000 people live in the Australs, and the vast majority are of Polynesian descent. Because of the islands’ remote location and the infrequency of flights, the Australs are the least visited region of French Polynesia.