Papeete

The uninhibited waterfront town of Papeete lies on the island of Tahiti, the most magical name in the South Pacific. Spend a day on a palm-fringed beach, visit the Gauguin Museum or tour the lush interior to see the waterfalls. In town, sample boutiques and sidewalk cafes along Boulevard Pomare.

Attractions

• Tahara Hill and Matavai Bay - The perfect viewpoint of the bay where Lt. William Bligh's HMS Bounty anchored in the novel, "Mutiny on the Bounty."
• Point Venus - This lighthouse now stands where James Cook and the scientists of his expedition observed the Transit of Venus in 1769.
• Gauguin Museum - This museum chronicles the French artist's life in Polynesia and includes two sketches and a sculpture.

Adventures

For the active tourist, there is hang gliding, bowling, tennis, fishing, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, jetskiing, scuba diving, driving a lagoon jet or peddle boat and trimming the sails on a hobie cat. Other adventures include airplane and helicopter tours of Tahiti and nearby islands.

Currency

The currency used in French Polynesia is the French Pacific Franc (CFP).

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