Island Drive & Museum of Tahiti
![](https://au-www.princess.com/images/global/learn/shorex/tour_images/lg/PPT/PPT_115_1.jpg)
Points of Interest
- Point Venus
- Island Drive
- Tahara'a "One Tree Hill"
- Museum of Tahiti
Description
Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.
Your tour begins as you board your motorcoach for a grand tour of Tahiti's most spectacular sights. Keep your camera ready for photo opportunities at virtually every turn.
You'll drive to Tahara'a "One Tree Hill" and witness a spectacular view of Matavai Bay. Captain James Cook sailed the "Endeavor" into Tahiti's Matavai Bay in 1769 and sighted a single tree with bright red-orange flowers growing on the promontory above the bay. Cook used the tree as a navigational landmark and named this reference point "One Tree Hill." Although the gnarled old tree has long since disappeared, the lookout provides impressive panoramic views of the island of Moorea, the Sea of Moons and the surrounding coral reefs and lagoons.
Next, you'll travel to Point Venus, Tahiti's northernmost extremity. Now a park and beach recognized by locals as the most popular on the island, Venus Point was the site from which Captain James Cook's astronomer tracked the transit of Venus across the sun in the 18th century.
Your tour continues to Arahoho Blowhole, where waves crashing through the volcanic basalt rock create the famous blowhole.Â
After reboarding your bus, a short drive will bring you to the over water "Restaurant du Musee Gauguin". Here you can enjoy a scrumptious International buffet lunch with some local delicacies with a picturesque view of the lagoon and Tahiti Iti in the distance.
Our next stop is the pictuesque Vaipahi Gardens and waterfall, a private property with a garden of local fruit trees, native trees and flowers, and a picturesque waterfall setting. At the Maraa Fern Grotto Cave you can witness giant elephant ear taro and natural ferns hanging from the cave entrance. Inside, natural springs seep through the ceiling of ferns in this cavern formed by the sea thousands of years ago. A short distance away is the ancient archeological site Marae Arahurahu (sacred temple) where traditional Tahitian rituals were held before the advent of Christianity.
Our last stop is at the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands at the Fishermen's Point. Set into a coconut grove grounds with a picturesque view of the lagoon and Moorea in the background. This ranks as one of the best museums in the South Pacific that focuses on the Polynesians and their history, people, language and culture. Displays and exhibits range from early European explorers ship anchors, ancient canoes, traditional weaving, tapa-cloth making, early tools, body ornaments, tattooing, games, sports, sacred tikis and funerary practices.
This excursion was chosen last season by Princess passengers for overall tour quality and outstanding customer service and awarded Shore Excursion of the Season in Papeete.
Special Notes:
As a disembarking tour, transfer to the airport is an additional cost and will have to be purchased separately.Child Price:
12 years and under onlyTour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc.
Depart from ship for photo stop at One Tree Hill
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Motorcoach
- Transport Capacity:
- 40
- Travel time:
- 00:15
- Time at site:
- 00:10
- Inside visit:
- Yes
- Air conditioned:
- No
- Walking distance:
- 10
- Steps:
- 4
- Wheelchair accessible:
- No
- Restroom available:
- No
- Shopping available:
- No
- Photo/video restrictions:
- No
- Photo/video opportunity:
- Yes
Photo stop at Point Venus
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Motorcoach
- Transport Capacity:
- 40
- Travel time:
- 00:10
- Time at site:
- 00:20
- Inside visit:
- Yes
- Air conditioned:
- No
- Walking distance:
- 300
- Steps:
- 5
- Wheelchair accessible:
- No
- Restroom available:
- Yes
- Shopping available:
- Yes
- Photo/video restrictions:
- No
- Photo/video opportunity:
- Yes
Visit to Arahoho blowhole
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Motorcoach
- Transport Capacity:
- 40
- Travel time:
- 00:20
- Time at site:
- 00:10
- Inside visit:
- Yes
- Air conditioned:
- No
- Walking distance:
- 20
- Steps:
- 4
- Wheelchair accessible:
- No
- Restroom available:
- Yes
- Shopping available:
- No
- Photo/video restrictions:
- No
- Photo/video opportunity:
- Yes
Lunch at restaurant
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Motorcoach
- Transport Capacity:
- 40
- Travel time:
- 00:05
- Time at site:
- 01:00
- Inside visit:
- Yes
- Air conditioned:
- No
- Walking distance:
- 20
- Steps:
- 2
- Wheelchair accessible:
- Yes
- Restroom available:
- Yes
- Shopping available:
- No
- Photo/video restrictions:
- No
- Photo/video opportunity:
- Yes
Visit to Vaipahi Waterfalls and Gardens
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Motorcoach
- Transport Capacity:
- 40
- Travel time:
- 00:10
- Time at site:
- 00:10
- Inside visit:
- Yes
- Air conditioned:
- No
- Walking distance:
- 30
- Steps:
- 4
- Wheelchair accessible:
- No
- Restroom available:
- Yes
- Shopping available:
- No
- Photo/video restrictions:
- No
- Photo/video opportunity:
- Yes
Visit to Fern Grotto Caves
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Motorcoach
- Transport Capacity:
- 40
- Travel time:
- 00:20
- Time at site:
- 00:10
- Inside visit:
- Yes
- Air conditioned:
- No
- Walking distance:
- 30
- Steps:
- 4
- Wheelchair accessible:
- No
- Restroom available:
- Yes
- Shopping available:
- No
- Photo/video restrictions:
- No
- Photo/video opportunity:
- Yes
Visit Marae Arahurahu
- Transport Capacity:
- 40
- Travel time:
- 00:05
- Time at site:
- 01.00
- Inside visit:
- Yes
- Air conditioned:
- Yes
- Walking distance:
- 50
- Steps:
- 5
- Wheelchair accessible:
- No
- Restroom available:
- Yes
- Shopping available:
- Yes
- Photo/video restrictions:
- Yes
- Photo/video opportunity:
- Yes
Inside visit to Museum of Tahiti
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Motorcoach
- Transport Capacity:
- 40
- Travel time:
- 00:45
- Time at site:
- 00:30
- Inside visit:
- Yes
- Walking distance:
- 50
- Steps:
- 2
- Wheelchair accessible:
- Yes
- Restroom available:
- Yes
- Photo/video opportunity:
- Yes
Re-board motorcoach for return to ship
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Motorcoach
- Transport Capacity:
- 40
- Travel time:
- 00:45