Rurutu is the biggest of the Austral islands that form an archipelago in the southern part of French Polynesia. The word Rurutu means “the rising cliff” in the Polynesian language. Taros, pineapples, bananas and coffee are all grown here. The temperate climate is responsible for having earned the archipelago its nickname of “the Polynesian granary”. There is just one shop of local handicraft on the island, where women carefully work with the dried Pandan leaves. Most of Rurutu is surrounded by a coral reef, but there are still many places where snorkelling and scuba diving are allowed. From July to October the waters are crowded with whales from the Antarctic; they reach these mild seas to mate and give birth to their young, after having crossed the shores of New Zealand. Rurutu, like all the other islands of Polynesia, takes part in the Heiva I Tahiti, the most famous dance festival in the Pacific. Polynesian dance is among the most important expressions of Polynesian culture.