Must-see attractions in Tahiti

  • French Polynesia, Society Islands, Windward Islands, Tahiti Island, Papenoo

    Papenoo

    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…

  • Pointe Vénus & Matavai Bay

    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…

  • Taravao

    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,…

  • Faarumai Waterfalls

    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…

  • Jardins Botaniques

    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…

  • Marae Mahaiatea

    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…

  • Musée Gauguin

    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…

  • Teahupoo

    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…

  • Lagoonarium

    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…

  • Mataiea

    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 –…

  • Musée de Tahiti et des Îles

    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…

  • Marae Arahurahu

    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…

  • Plage de Taharuu

    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…

  • Arahoho Blowhole

    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…

  • Maui Beach

    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…

  • Marae Nuutere

    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…

  • Marae Marae Taata

    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…

  • Plage de Vaiava

    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…

  • Mara’a Grotto

    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…

  • Marae Farehape

    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…

  • Plage de Hitimahana

    Around Tahiti Nui

    The black-sand Plage de Hitimahana is exposed to the prevailing winds, which makes it an excellent kitesurfing and windsurfing spot.

  • Petroglyphs

    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.

  • Marina Taina

    Around Tahiti Nui

    The elegant Marina Taina is a trendy spot featuring restaurants, bars, two diving centres and, of course, lots of yachts.

  • Plage du PK23.5

    Around Tahiti Nui

    This rather wide (by Tahiti standards) beach is popular with families and has public facilities. The sand is white-grey.

  • Vaipoiri Cave

    Tahiti

    Popular day trip from Teahupoo. Walk into blackness till your eyes adjust then swim to the back through the icy waters.

  • Plage du Mahana Park

    Around Tahiti Nui

    Plage du Mahana Park has calm waters and a snorkelling reef close to shore. On weekends there are kayaks for hire.

  • Anaihe Cave

    Tahiti

    A gem of a cave accessible only by foot or boat, looking out over a wild stretch of reef-free coast.

  • Queen's Cave

    Tahiti

    Waves move in and out of this hidden cave from the coast. It's like a natural (not hot) hot tub.

  • Plage de Toaroto

    Around Tahiti Nui

    This narrow stretch of white coral sand is suitable for swimming and has public facilities.

  • Hitiaa Lava Tubes

    Tahiti

    Three long cave lava tubes that make for a very wet and adventurous hike (guide mandatory).

  • Taravao Lookout

    Tahiti

    View over the bucolic plateaus of Taravao to the blue coastlines and towering Tahiti Nui.

  • Marae Anapua

    Tahiti

    Another beautifully restored archaeological site, Marae Anapua is worth a gander.

  • Lighthouse

    Tahiti

    Impressive 1867 towering lighthouse right next to Point Venus's beach.

  • Presidential Palace

    Tahiti

    Massive building where the president hangs out and gets work done.

  • Plage de Hitimahana

    Around Tahiti Nui

    Lovely black sand beach with Motu Martin just offshore.

  • Marae

    Tahiti

    Ancient site accessible only on foot.

More destinations you need to see