TX5EU Team will be active from Raivavae Island, IOTA OC - 114, Austral Islands, French Polynesia, 12 - 25 March 2026.
Team - PG5M, Gerben; PA3EWP, Ron; DL2AMD, Rainer; PA2KW, Evert; DK2AMM, Ernö and DL2AWG, Guenter (leader).
They will operate on HF Bands.
QSL via DL2AWG.
DXCC Country - Austral Islands, FO/A.
QTH Locator - BG66ed,
The Austral Islands
Coral reefs, uninhabited atolls, pristine ocean waters, and rituals preserved since time immemorial... All this is the mysterious and beautiful Austral Islands. They are barely visible on the map, and you will probably have to study the area near Australia for a long time to find this group of two archipelagos. But they are definitely worth discovering! Because you won't see anything like this anywhere else.
How to get to Austral
The islands are part of French Polynesia and are located in the Pacific Ocean. If you look at a map of Oceania, you will see seven small dots close together in the northeast of Australia and south of the Society Islands. This is Austral, two island groups united under a common name.
In fact, the name itself causes confusion. Russian-language sources attribute a second name to the islands — Tubuai — but this is only partially true. Tubuai is a region comprising four small islands and one volcanic atoll suitable for habitation. The second group, which is categorically unsuitable for habitation, is called the Bass Islands. Together, they form the Austral Islands, or Tuha'a Pae in Tahitian.
Although Tuha'a Pae is part of Polynesia, it has always been somewhat isolated from the processes taking place in the region. This situation has remained unchanged to this day. Internal communication on the islands is well established (mainly using water transport), but contact with other parts of Oceania is difficult.
Each island has a port, but they are small (which is not surprising given the total area of the islands: ~150 square kilometers). Tubuai has an airfield, and Rai'ava has an airport that accepts international flights. Air Tahiti flies throughout French Polynesia. It serves 48 islands in Oceania, including five inhabitable islands from the Tuha'a Pae group.
Regular flights depart from Tahiti or Moorea, but they do not fly every day. You can reach the port of Raiwa'ae by ship from Australia or New Zealand, but you will have to make several transfers along the way. However, once you reach the islands, there will be no problems with internal transportation. You can travel between the islands by motorboat, catamaran, or — the most exotic option — by proa, the famous Polynesian boats. The locals have not lost touch with their history and carefully preserve the tangible and intangible heritage of Tuha'a Pae.
TX5EU Raivavae Island DX Pedition Logo.
It is clear that nothing is clear
The ancient history of the Austral Islands is shrouded in mystery. It is evident that Europeans colonized them in the 18th century (on August 9, the famous James Cook landed on Tubuai Island in his ship, the Bounty). What happened before Cook's arrival remains a mystery.
It is obvious that people once settled on the islands. When exactly is unknown: there is virtually no radiocarbon data. New Zealand archaeologist Atoll John Anderson concludes from his research that the first people arrived on the islands around 1200 BC. But maybe not.
It is known for certain that there is a kinship between the Polynesian nobility of Ostra. For example, Chief Tamatoa of Tubuai boasted that he was descended from an ariki from the island of Raiatea. But if you start to delve into the origins of the clans and ask questions, the storytellers will lead you into the depths of history and leave you there to suffer from the lack of clarity. And all this with the sweetest smile and a radiant gaze. In Ostra, it is customary to smile and not to be nervous — that's just how life is here.
In general, one thing can be said: before the arrival of Europeans, the locals lived in what was essentially the Stone Age. The first iron weapons were brought here by Europeans — at least, that is what the Europeans themselves claim. Interestingly, the tribes began to use razor-sharp knives and dangerous spears not for war, but to improve their daily lives. And now, more than three centuries after colonization, the inhabitants of Ostral collect paua shells with European blades and loosen the fertile soil with metal hoes. Even though they have the opportunity to take advantage of the achievements of the industrial revolution, the islanders prefer to work with their hands and resort to automation as rarely as possible. For them, connection with nature is more important than the speed of achieving results. And this is not surprising, because the nature here is beautiful.
Seven Wonders of Austral Islands
The Tuha'a Pae Islands are united by common cultural values, but each of them has something unique and inimitable. Travelers advise: once you are in this region of Oceania, be sure to visit all the islands to enjoy their magical atmosphere.
What to see in Ostra? Here are seven locations that will remain in your memory forever.
Tubuai is the center of the region of the same name. This blooming island, called the “garden of French Polynesia,” is located in a cozy bay protected from storms. Here, on an area of only 48 square kilometers, almost everything grows: flowers of all colors, the sweetest fruits, vegetables... The locals are especially proud of the latter. Vegetable markets are scattered all over the island and literally crowd each other. Take a look at the stalls: you won't find tomatoes, cabbages, and potatoes like these anywhere else in the world.
Rurutu is a mystical island steeped in secrets. It is protected from ocean storms by a mountain range which (despite the island's volcanic origin) consists of limestone. Over thousands of years, water has eroded the limestone, forming deep, mysterious caves in the rocks. The islanders performed rituals and buried their dead in these caves.
Rimatara is the westernmost point of the Tubuai archipelago. The island is exposed to salty winds and powerful currents. This is hardly a source of joy for the locals during the storm season, but when the storms pass, flowers bloom, vegetables and fruits ripen, and fish come here to spawn. Fishing is the livelihood of the 815 people who live on this 9 km² island. Another occupation is the creation of fabrics from pandanus fibers. Local women use this leaf fiber to make capes, weave hats, and weave peue carpets.
Raivavae is an island worth visiting for its landscapes alone. European painters came here to be inspired by the riot of colors and harmony of lines. And it's no wonder: the green cape juts out into the white-blue lagoon, and the island itself is surrounded by a pinkish coral reef.
Maria Atoll is a low-lying island that looks like a perfect triangle from a bird's eye view. For a long time, it remained untouched, so traces of pre-Christian cults lost elsewhere remained on it: traditional marae — sacred places where chiefs gathered.
Rapa Iti is the treasure trove of Ostral. It is here that the largest number of monuments — both natural and historical — have been preserved. Despite the fact that Europeans actively developed the island (in particular, they built factories and quarries), the Polynesian religious buildings on Rapa Iti remain intact and preserved. And you can admire the waterfalls, grottos, and caves endlessly.
Marotiri is the southernmost point of French Polynesia. Rugged, uninhabited cliffs rise above the ocean, marking the end of the road. There is no place here for humans or animals — only for birds, which spread their wings and circle above the endless ocean.