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Point Venus and Matavai Bay (PK 10, Mahina) is a historical spot on our Circle Island Tour because it was here that all the ships anchored before they started using Papeete as a port
of call in 1820. Captain Wallis, who discovered Tahiti, anchored here in 1767. Captain Bougainville anchored here in 1768 and Captain Cook, on an expedition for the Royal Geographical Society of England to
record the transit of Venus, anchored here in 1769. The infamous Captain Bligh also landed here in 1788 and collected breadfruit cuttings to take to the British West Indies to feed the slaves. When
their ship got close to Tonga, there was a mutiny led by Christian Fletcher and sixteen of the crew came back to Matavai Bay. Eventually their small group finally took refuge on Pitcairn Island.
Today at Point Venus there is a lighthouse which was built in 1868 and a monument that commemorates the arrival of the first Christian missionaries on Point Venus
in 1769. There is also a black sand beach where the Tahitians play and relax.
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