Destination information - French Polynesia

What to see and do: The capital, Papeete, on Tahiti has been transformed into quite a busy city by the islands tourist industry. Attractions here include a traditional market and Venus Point, where the Europeans first landed on the island. There is also plenty of shopping and nightlife, but exploring a busy city is not the best reason to visit Tahiti. The area around Papeete also has many interesting sights. Several spectacular waterfalls and a blowhole (called the Blowhole of Arahoho) which catapults the surf several hundred feet into the air.

On Bora Bora sights to see include the two main mountains, Otemanu and Pahia. There are also several small traditional villages dotted around the islands which the visitors can explore at leisure.

Finally, the French impressionist painter Paul Gauguin, lived the last 9 years of his life in French Polynesia is buried on Hiva Oa in the Tuamotu group of islands. You can see his grave, which has become a shrine of sorts, not far from where he died of a heart attack in 1904.

Regional Activities: There is some fantastic scuba diving to be had in French Polynesia. With over 30 diving clubs and year round high visibility and temperatures this is a paradise for both the experienced and novice diver.

The waters around French Polynesia are also ideal for other kinds of Waterskiing, windsurfing, snorkelling, yachting and deep sea fishing.

Other activities include golf, horseriding, climbing, tennis, badminton and squash.

And, of course, you can always just laze on the beautiful white beaches for which French Polynesia is so famous.