Things to do in

Baie de Matavai

This fascinating tour of the North East Coast of Tahiti Nui takes us to the most historically rich corner of Tahiti Nui and encompasses all that the island has to offer. Natural sites, breathtaking coastal and volcanic scenery, view points and local encounters are just a few of this tour's spectacular features. The East Coast is often referred to as the Jurassic coast and will interest anyone who likes history and natural beauty. The dramatic volcanic coastal scenery of the East Coast is in direct contrast to the classic lagoon and reef scenery of the Western coast. It is from the Bay of Matavai that Tahiti was discovered by Captain Wallis. On the beach, walk in the footsteps of Captains Cook, Bougainville and Bligh, the mutineers of HMS Bounty, the first Protestant missionaries and more recently Marlon Brando. The 1962 version of Mutiny on the Bounty was filmed from this Bay. The light house and monuments to the Bounty and Cooks mission to observe the transiting of Venus provide a perfect opportunity to learn about how the first Europeans presence in Polynesia was felt by the natives of the day and its repercussions since. Visit the ancient Leper Colony in a hidden valley, where we can meet the locals and feed the blue eyed, river eels. On week days watching local sculptors at work as they create the wooden Tiki statues in their workshop is a chance not to be missed to buy directly from the craftsman themselves. The silk screening factory to watch the printing and creation of beach wraps, famous flowery dresses and shirts of the Polynesians is another wonderful opportunity that this tour provides (on weekdays) to get up close to the local population and go home with a hand and locally made traditional souvenir. The view point of Tahara or Squirmish Hill, as it was named by Captain Wallis, provides a breathtaking view of Papeete with spectacular views of Moorea in the distance. The highlight of the tour is the spectacular and breath taking waterfall of Vaimahuta, in the Tiare valley, as well as our famous ‘blow hole’ on the coast with stunning views down the East Coast of Tahiti Nui.