Lush greenery, endless beaches and tropical culture, a visit to the Society Islands gives a real taste of luxurious island living at its best.

The Society Islands are a group of 14 islands in the South Pacific Ocean and are the most populated archipelago of French Polynesia.

They are generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honour of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands.

Today, the islands are divided geographically, politically and administratively into two groups - the Windward and the Leeward islands.

Some of the most well known of the islands are Tahiti and Bora Bora, but it is some of the smaller less touristy islands that can really give you a glimpse into the real French Polynesia.

Huahine Island is, arguably, the most picturesque island in all of French Polynesia. With steep mountains descending into protected bays of azure blue and emerald green, not to mention an abundance of lush green tropical foliage and wild jungle-like scenery, the island is known as "The Garden Island".

In actual fact, Huahine is made up of two islands, known as Huahine-Nui and Huahine-Iti (Big Huahine and little Huahine), which are connected by a bridge. The two islands are surrounded by coral and separated by a few hundred yards of water.

Visitors who visit the island come to look for a more authentic experience, with relaxation and a stress free break high on their agenda. And they aren't disappointed by Huahine with its laid back lifestyle and long and beautiful white sandy beaches.

For the more active there are also an abundance of watersports, activities and island tours. A particularly popular excursion is to have a picnic on a deserted island (motu). Here your table is set in the water and you sip Polynesian fruit cocktails while eating fresh foods from around the island.

One of the famous attractions on Huahine is its 'sacred' eels. These 3- to 6-foot (1.8 m) long eels live in a stream that is spanned by a bridge upon which tourists can watch and feed them.

The administrative centre of the island is the colourful and animated settlement of Fare on Huahine Nui. This town centre boasts various small businesses, banks, Tahitian-style "roulottes" (mobile restaurants and cafes), Internet cafes and souvenir shops. Boats also constantly bring supplies to the island's main harbour and in the early morning farmers and fishermen come to the dock to sell their freshly harvested or fished goods

The village of Maeava hosts one of the island's other spectacular tourist attractions - an abundance of treasures from ancient Polynesia. By way of a white sand and coral trail, and in the shade of tall coconut trees, you can encounter impressive "marae" - ancient Polynesian temples and places of worship. Hidden among the vanilla plantations there is also an outdoor archaeological museum that details the history of this archaeological site, which is the second most important in the archipelago.

The Mauarii Pension hotel is just one of the charming and beautiful places on the island to stay. Located in the most picturesque bay of the island, the hotel comprises of several types of accommodation: private rooms, beach bungalows, garden bungalows and 'family style' rooms. This accommodation is constructed in the traditional Polynesian style and sits on the edge of the quintessential tropical white sand beach. Meanwhile, the grounds are carpeted with bright green soft 'Japanese grass' and hedges of tropical flowers abound. Overlooking the lagoon, the Mauarii restaurant has an excellent reputation and boasts a menu bursting with local vegetables and lagoon caught fish.

The leeward islands of Raiatea and Taha'a lie side by side and, indeed, were once joined. These two fascinating islands offer the visitor an experience of a true unspoiled French Polynesia.

Both Islands have an abundance of Pearl Farms, which are legendary for their superb quality, high aesthetic appeal, and value. Nowadays, these islands are the leading exporter of fine black pearls in the world and visiting a Polynesian Black Pearl farm is one of the more classic sightseeing things to do. As part of one of these tours you'll take a boat out to the hanging oyster strands in the lagoon to learn how the whole process of Black Pearl farming is done - from cultivation and harvesting to the final product of shiny black beauties they are so famous for.

Raiatea and Taha'a also share a wonderful lagoon that is rich in sea life and watersports activities, such as scuba diving, windsurfing, and outrigger canoeing. The surrounding waters of both Islands are also known the world over for their legendary sailing, yachting, and sport fishing opportunities.

Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands and is both the largest and most populated island in the Leeward Islands.

In the Tahitian language its name means 'bright sky' and the island is recognised throughout French Polynesia as its 'Sacred Island' or cultural heart. According to historians, Raiatea was the main stopover point for early Polynesians newly arrived from Hawaii, which was then known as Hav'aii.

The chief town on Raiatea is Uturoa, which is the main administrative centre for all of the Leeward Islands. It is particularly well known for its harbour, a stroll along which will reveal a variety of businesses catering to both traditional and modern needs. Here you can sip ice coffees, relax, and enjoy the view as you breathe in the fresh South Seas air.

There is also a colourful market where visitors can see the fresh fish catches of the day, sample Polynesian foods, discover local treasures and enjoy the atmosphere. This daily bustling market is guaranteed to excite your taste buds with unusual fruits and delicious pastries and provide you with ample opportunity to buy arts and crafts from the local artisans.

Raiatea's most famous site, and indeed the most important in the whole archipelago, is the Marae Taputapuatea. This site features a number of marae and other ancient stone structures and was once considered the religious centre of Eastern Polynesia. The marae was a place of learning where priests and navigators from all over the Pacific would gather to offer sacrifices to the gods and share their knowledge of the genealogical origins of the universe and of deep-ocean navigation. The archeological remains of Marae Taputapuatea were restored in 1994 and work to preserve the site continues.

The smaller island of Tahaa is famous for producing 70-80% of all French Polynesia's vanilla or 'Black Gold'. Due to this the island has a pervasive aroma of vanilla, meaning it is known as the "Vanilla Island". The plantations where this vanilla is grown are interspersed throughout the island's lush green valleys, along with Pineapple and Coconut orchards. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of various different vanilla plantations to see how this aromatic product is cultivated and processed.

Tahaa is also home to a turtle nature preserve and sanctuary, which strives to protect these under-threat marine creatures. At this sanctuary visitors can observe several species of Tahiti- Polynesia's turtles living in their natural environment.

The most exclusive resort in French Polynesia can be found just a five minute boat road from Tahaa, on the small coral reef islet of motu of Tautau. Opened in July 2002, the Taha Pearl Beach Resort and Spa is a slice of ultimate luxury set in breathtaking surroundings.

The resort offers 48 Over Water Suites and 12 Beach Suites, which are more than a hundred square metres in size. Facilities included with this luxury accommodation include private patios and tropical gardens, private swimming pools, spacious lounges and terraces and private decks with direct access to the lagoon.

The resort also boasts a fresh water infinity swimming pool that overlooks the beach and is surrounded by decked and tiled areas with lounge chairs.

There are three restaurants and two bars; La Plage is located by the pool and beachside. Meanwhile, main restaurant Vanille and fine dining restaurant Ohiri are located in the heart of the resort amongst the trees.

For all your pampering needs there is the Manea Spa, which is built from natural materials in pure Polynesian style. This Spa features twin massage rooms beside the lake, a double massage room with Jacuzzi, a double open-air Vichy-shower (a shower taken reclining on a table as water jets play along the length of the body), and a host of different treatments. Visitors can even choose to be pampered in the privacy and luxury of there own rooms or decks.

For that authentic French Polynesian experience there is nowhere on earth like the Society Islands.

MUST CREDIT PHOTOS BY: Rex Features

Words by: Katy Brown