Around Tahiti Nui
There’s a popular surf break just before the headland that signals the start of the small village of Papenoo. A long bridge crosses the Papenoo River at…
Must-see attractions in Tahiti
Around Tahiti Nui
Part of Captain Cook’s mission on his three-month sojourn in 1769 was to record the transit of Venus across the face of the sun in an attempt to calculate…
Bain de Vaima & Vaipahi Spring Gardens
Around Tahiti Nui
Bain de Vaima (Vaima Pool) is where locals come from all over to bathe in the icy but exceptionally clear waters that are thought to have healing…
Around Tahiti Nui
Strategically situated at the narrow isthmus connecting Tahiti Nui with Tahiti Iti, the town of Taravao has been a military base on and off since 1844,…
Around Tahiti Nui
Through the village of Tiarei where the road swoops around a black-sand beach, you’ll see a sign on the mountain side of the road for the exceedingly high…
Around Tahiti Nui
The 137-hectare Jardins Botaniques has walking paths that wind their way through the garden past ponds, palms, a massive banyan tree and a superb mape…
Around Tahiti Nui
Just east of the village of Papara, the Marae Mahaiatea was the most magnificent marae on Tahiti at the time of Cook’s first visit (according to Cook it…
Around Tahiti Nui
This museum has been closed for years but hopefully it will reopen during the life of this book. The airy site surrounded by lush foliage is lovely, and…
Tahiti
Teahupoo is world famous among surfing circles for its monster wave. Until the early 2000s, the Teahupoo wave was only known to local surfers. It now…
Tahiti
Just outside Pape’ete’s urban sprawl, the Lagoonarium is a pleasant tourist trap with a meshed-in area of lagoon with a modest underwater viewing room; it…
Around Tahiti Nui
Between 1891 and 1893, Paul Gauguin lived in Mataiea where he produced works including Two Women on the Beach, Woman with a Mango and Ia Orana Maria –…
Around Tahiti Nui
Only 15km from Pape’ete along the west coast, this excellent museum, in Puna’auia, is divided into four sections: geography and natural history; pre…
Around Tahiti Nui
Whether or not you believe in the powers of the tiki (sacred statue), it’s hard to deny there is an amazing energy radiating from Marae Arahurahu in the…
Around Tahiti Nui
Everybody loves Plage de Taharuu – locals taking the kids for a swim, tourists on day trips from Pape’ete and surfers catching some great waves. This…
Around Tahiti Nui
When the swell is big enough, huge sprays of water shoot out from the trou du souffleur (blowhole) in a little park by the road just after the tunnel at…
Tahiti
A picturesque strip of white sand, Maui Beach gets packed and noisy on weekends, but is peaceful during the week. It’s right on the road but has shallow…
Tahiti
A signposted turn-off at PK9.5 leads a short distance inland to the rarely visited remains of Marae Nuutere, restored in 1994. There are three paved yards…
Tahiti
This very well-maintained site holds three adjoined stone courtyards, each with its own ahu (alter). It was probably used for religious fishing rituals…
Around Tahiti Nui
Beloved by locals, Plage du PK18 is a stunning beach to sun yourself on, but not that great for swimming or snorkelling due to the shallow water. The…
Around Tahiti Nui
Lush gardens, overhung caverns, crystal-clear pools and ferny grottoes are all standard features at gorgeous Mara’a Grotto. The fairy-tale park is found…
Tahiti
The restored Marae Farehape site is almost directly below the ridge line on which the Relais de la Maroto inn perches; you can see an archery platform…
Around Tahiti Nui
The black-sand Plage de Hitimahana is exposed to the prevailing winds, which makes it an excellent kitesurfing and windsurfing spot.
Tahiti
You'll need a guide to find Tahiti's best preserved petroglyphs deep on the Te Pari coast and accessible only on foot or by boat.
Around Tahiti Nui
The elegant Marina Taina is a trendy spot featuring restaurants, bars, two diving centres and, of course, lots of yachts.
Around Tahiti Nui
This rather wide (by Tahiti standards) beach is popular with families and has public facilities. The sand is white-grey.
Tahiti
Popular day trip from Teahupoo. Walk into blackness till your eyes adjust then swim to the back through the icy waters.
Around Tahiti Nui
Plage du Mahana Park has calm waters and a snorkelling reef close to shore. On weekends there are kayaks for hire.
Tahiti
A gem of a cave accessible only by foot or boat, looking out over a wild stretch of reef-free coast.
Tahiti
Waves move in and out of this hidden cave from the coast. It's like a natural (not hot) hot tub.
Around Tahiti Nui
This narrow stretch of white coral sand is suitable for swimming and has public facilities.
Tahiti
Three long cave lava tubes that make for a very wet and adventurous hike (guide mandatory).
Tahiti
View over the bucolic plateaus of Taravao to the blue coastlines and towering Tahiti Nui.
Tahiti
Lovely, massive residence where the high commissioner from France lives.
