Tahiti the Island of Love

Tahiti is the largest island of the Windward Group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. The island is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and is close to Australia. For its beauty, Tahiti is known as the Island of Love.

Faarumai Waterfalls are among the main waterfalls on the island. Locally they’re known as Les Trois Cascades, a series of falls in Tahiti Nui in the northwestern sector of the island.

Venus Point got its name when Captain James Cook recorded the planet Venus transiting the sun at the northernmost extremity in Tahiti in 1769. However, the lighthouse, Phare de la Pointe Venus was built in 1868. This has become a popular picnic spot and is among the best-known attractions. There is a snack bar and a souvenir and handicrafts shop here.

Mara Grotto is known for its amazing caves. You can explore the caves and enjoy swimming underwater.

Papeete is the charming capital of Tahiti.

The Papeete Market is located in a structure that is two stories high. It is known for its variety of local wares and other items, all at reasonable prices.

The James Norman Hall House is located in the suburbs of Papeete, It is a tribute to the American author who spent much of his life here after WW II. He is best known for his Bounty Trilogy co-written with Charles Nordhoff. The house is now a museum with over 3,000 books and personal items like the author’s typewriter and a model of the Bounty.

Notre Dame Cathedral is a church in buttercup-yellow with a red roof and a tall steeple. The altar is decorated with tropical flower arrangements and the church is a light from a dozen stained-glass windows. Holy water is held in a large clam shell.

Bougainville Park is a lovely green oasis that stretches from Boulevard Pomare to Rue du General de Gaulle in Papeete.

It was named for French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville. A statue in his memory is in the park. There are tranquil streams, a carp-filled koi pond, tropical vegetation, and a huge banyan tree. The park sits by the waterfront.

Vaipahi Gardens are located on the southern coast of Tahiti Nui. Here you can find trails for hikers and many streams and springs. It is lovely to walk among tropical plants like the giant elephant-ear plants, pagoda trees, and the red flowers of a Pride of Burma. There are picnic areas with views over the lagoon.

Punnauia Beach is the most accessible beach. Activities here include humpback whale watching, shark feeding, and swimming with sting rays among others.

The Lagoonarium offers many colorful tropical fish to observe. Other sea creatures like stingrays and sharks.

Musee Gauguin displays a collection of artwork by artist Paul Gauguin. The artist painted some of his best masterpieces while staying in Tahiti, There are exhibits of sketches, copies of documents, block prints, and reproductions of many of his famous paintings. The collection is located in a Japanese-informed building within the Harrison Smith Botanical Gardens.

Harrison Smith Botanical Gardens were named after American Harrison W. Smith, who was passionate about botany. Here you’ll find 450 species of flowers and trees from Africa, Asia, and America. Winding paths lead through the gardens along bamboo, mangosteen, and teak trees.

Plage de Taharuu is not your typical beach. This beach has black sand.

Tomb Of King Pomare V, who was one of the last ruling monarchs of Tahiti.

Motu Islets are small islets that surround the bigger Tahitian islands. People enjoy relaxing and picnicking here by a calm sea.

Mount Orohena is the highest peak and offers many hiking opportunities.

Arahoho Blowhole is an amazing natural phenomenon. When the ocean swell is big enough, huge sprays of water shoot out of the blowhole. It is located right under the coastal road.

Tiki Theater Village is a lovely cultural village that shows everyday village life in Tahiti. For tourists, there is a dance show and a Tahitian feast.

The first overwater bungalows in Tahiti were built in the 1960s. They were built to provide access to the lagoon where there were no sandy beaches. By 2021 they had become tropical luxury for the rich and famous or for honeymooners.

The Huahine Natural Aquarium just off Mahuti Bay in the south of the island is where you can see the marine life in the shallows of a natural lagoon. You can observe from platforms or dive into the water to get a closer look at the butterflyfish and black-tip reef sharks.

Teahupo’o is nicknamed “The End of the Road” it is home of the surf brand Billabong’s annual Pro Championships. This is the place to find six-to-25-foot waves. It is a favorite of big-wave surfers. Tahiti is celebrated as the birthplace of surfing. Sightseeing boat tours are available.

Petroglyphs of Te Pari are the best-preserved petroglyphs found in Te Pari, a wild and rugged coastline on the southern side of Tahiti Nui. They’re accessible on foot or by boat. It is best to arrange a guided tour. There are hidden caves and rock formations.