In Arue, on the water’s edge, signposted and just a short detour off the coastal road, is the tomb of the last of the Pomare family. The Tomb of Pomare V looks like a stubby lighthouse made of coral boulders.
It was actually built in 1879 for Queen Pomare IV, who died in 1877 after 50 years in power. Her ungrateful son, Pomare V, had her remains exhumed a few years later and when he died in 1891 it became his tomb.
2.98 MILES
A Pape'ete institution. If you see one site in town, make it this market, which fills an entire city block. Shop for colourful pareu (sarongs), shell…
4.04 MILES
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…
2.66 MILES
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
18.47 MILES
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…
7.95 MILES
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…
18.92 MILES
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…
17.95 MILES
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…
19.67 MILES
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…
0.36 MILES
Towards the outer edge of Pape’ete’s urban sprawl in Arue is this lovely little replica of Mutiny on the Bounty co-author James Norman Hall’s house. The…
0.54 MILES
On the edge of Matavai Bay, this wide curve of sparkling black sand is great for a dip. It never gets crowded. The eastern side is framed by steep…
3. Pointe du Taharaa – One Tree Hill
1.5 MILES
At the top of the hill at around PK8, pull off to the lagoon side of the road and park in the lot that once belonged to Tahiti’s very upmarket Hyatt…
2.28 MILES
You’ll be impressed by the massive proportions of the vividly colourful Chinese temple, also known as Kanti de Mamao. It’s a 10-minute stroll east from…
6. Pointe Vénus & Matavai Bay
2.66 MILES
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…
2.85 MILES
Pape’ete’s mairie is two blocks back from Blvd Pomare and a block north of Marché de Pape’ete. It was completed in 1990, in vague imitation of the old…