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The South Pacific
Destination Guides:
Exclusive Resorts:
Exploring the Island of Tahiti
Beautiful Tahiti has so much to offer to its guests visiting on holiday. Unfortunately, many visitors merely make their way to Papeete after arriving at the airport and don’t take the time to see the rest of the 1,048 km² (404 square miles) that make up this largest of the French Polynesian islands.
Exploring the nooks and crannies of the island puts visitors in touch with the real Polynesia of yesterday and provides breathtaking scenery that will be difficult to surpass. Often, the best sights are found off-the-beaten-track, so ask a local where they’d go if they wanted to see the best the island has to offer. Chances are you’ll be visiting some of the most beautiful places on earth!
West Coast
Once you leave Papeete on the upper portion of the island - Tahiti Nui - and head west, you’ll find yourself in an area of the island that includes suburbs as well as more rural areas that are popular with ex-pats and foreign investors. Nonetheless, there are a few must-sees as you begin your counter-clockwise trip around the island.
• Museum of Tahiti and her Islands – Considered one of the best museums in the South Pacific, this diverse museum profiles the history and culture of the islands and the Polynesian people and provides interesting geologic/natural science information about French Polynesia as well.
• Lagoonarium de Tahiti – View more than 1,000 different species of local marine life without ever getting wet. See them via an outside boardwalk or through an underwater glass wall.
South Coast, Including Tahiti Iti
Exploring the lower part of the island, specifically the region known as Tahiti Iti, can be a bit more difficult than traveling around the rest of Tahiti Nui. Roads aren’t as good and don’t continue all the way around the lower coast, making it necessary to back-track to return to Tahiti Nui. However, there are a few stops you may want to make despite the inconvenience.
• Village of Tautira – This charming village on the North Coast of Tahiti Iti was once the home of Robert Louis Stevenson. The coastal road is beautiful here and the people of the tiny town are friendly and eager to share stories of life on Tahiti.
• Teahupoo – At the end of the South Coast road, you’ll find the best surfing location in Tahiti. If you visit, you’re likely to see some of the world’s great surfers honing their skills.
• Maui Beach – Unlike many of Tahiti’s beaches, you’ll find white sand here rather than the black variety. Many consider it the best beach on the island.
• Papaeari – Back on Tahiti Nui, guests can visit the island’s oldest village. You may find locals selling handicrafts as well as fruits and vegetables at roadside stands as you travel through this village, thought to have been settled around 400 AD.
East Coast
The East Coast of Tahiti Nui is much quieter and more secluded than the North and West Coasts. Here you’ll find a number of natural attractions that attest to the beauty of the island, often overlooked for the excitement of Papeete and its large resorts.
• Faatautia Valley – This is the area that time forgot. It is said that this mysterious- looking valley appears much the same as it was 1,000 years ago. Many a movie has been filmed here, though the valley is uninhabited.
• Mahaena Battlefield – Experience a little Tahitian history at this battlefield, where the French defeated Tahitian soldiers in 1844. This field is the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Tahitian rebellion against their mother country.
• Fautaua Waterfall – One of the highest waterfalls on the island, Fautaua plunges 300 meters (985 feet) down the side of a cliff into a large, sparkling pool. A guided tour can get you to the foot of the falls and the accompanying Fautaua Valley.