A series of violent underwater eruptions nearly three million years ago spewed up lava and rock into the air that soon cooled into land - the island of Tahiti that floats in the gentle calm of the South Pacific.

Tahiti evolved into the mythical island paradise that lured to its shores such luminaries as Paul Gauguin, Herman Melville, Robert Louis Stevenson, Pierre Loti, Rupert Brooke, Jack London, W. Somerset Maugham, Charles Nordhoff, James Norman Hall, James Michener and Marlon Brando. Tahiti’s manifold charms are not just mythical - overseas visitors to French Polynesia receive a warm welcome, one that comes in the form of leis of fragrant gardenias and frangipani to the sounds of traditional Tahitian music

Tahiti looks like a lopsided figure of eight from a bird’s eye view - made up of the twin islands of Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti, joined together by a narrow isthmus called the Plateau of Taravo. The tall peaks of Mt. Orohena, (7,339 ft) and Mt. Aorai (6,786 ft) poke their heads out of the clouds that wreath the larger more rugged island of Tahiti Nui. The little one, Tahiti Iti has a low mountainous terrain with its highest point being Mt. Roniu at 4341 ft.

Both islands have extremely magnificent scenery that changes from lush green rainforest covered peaks, past dense stands of ferns to coastal plains that open out to the sea, bordered by either black sand beaches or those with silver sands. More drama is added by streaks of silver in the emerald green as waterfalls cascade down the slopes of valleys and cliffs to pool into turquoise lagoons and rippling ribbons of rivers.

Despite its myriad attractions tourists usually spend just a few days on Tahiti before moving on to one of the other islands. That’s partly because Tahiti is the gateway to the South Pacific Islands - the only French Polynesian island with an international airport, the Faa’a International Airport. The other way to arrive here is the way the first visitors came - sail into the excellent harbour in Papeete, the territorial capital and the commercial hub of French Polynesia on the island of Tahiti.

The capital, Papeete is a busy, bustling town, home to the territorial government, offices, hospitals, banks, travel agents and airline offices – not really a holiday destination.

But it houses a fair number of interesting options for any visitor. The Harrison Smith Botanical Gardens, Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands, the Paul Gauguin Art Museum and the Lagoonarium with its magnificent marine exhibits. Papeete’s waterfront is the epicentre of Tahiti with the main shopping district, the March� Central just a block away. The market is chockful of tropical fruits and vegetables, fish fresh from the trawlers, Tahitian crafts and lots more.

Other interesting sights on Tahiti are the historical Pointe V�nus lighthouse; the tombs of the Pomare Royal Family in Arue; the ancient Polynesian temple site, the Marae Arahurahu, churches and cathedrals; art galleries and scenic attractions like Lake Vaihiria, Mount Aoroi, valleys, the cascades at Tiaeri and the lava tubes of Hitiaa.

The adventurous and active traveller will find plenty to do as well. In common with the other islands, Tahiti too has excellent infrastructure for a variety of activities ranging from golf on a picturesque 18 hole golf course to treks into valleys and up mountains to helicopter rides for a quick once over of all the Tahitian wonders. The outlying reefs and the surrounding seas offer many opportunities for water enthusiasts like scuba diving, water skiing, snorkelling, sailing and wind surfing or big game fishing for marlin and tuna. Island tours, short cruises, helicopter rides, day trips to Marlon Brando’s island of Tetiaroa are some other happy ways to spend time in Tahiti.

Accommodation options abound on the islands of Tahiti – be it upmarket beach hotels or the inexpensive hostel style traditional Tahitian mares. Home stays or private guesthouses run by local families are a great and relatively inexpensive way to really get to know Tahitians and their ways.