Pointe Vénus Lighthouse

The Pointe Vénus Lighthouse is located in the commune of Mahina, in the far north of the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia. It marks the north of the island and the bay of Matavai. The lighthouse was constructed in 1867 by Mangarevian workers and was lit for the first time on 1 January 1868. It was the first lighthouse in the South Pacific and remains the only lighthouse in Tahiti.

The lighthouse has a square tower of eight floors, built in rubble and coral to a height of 25 meters. It was raised 9 meters in 1953, adding an extra floor to the original seven. The lighthouse was first fitted with an electric light in 1973 and is also used for aerial navigation thanks to additional lenses for aerial beams. The lighthouse has a rich history, having been used as an observatory by James Cook in 1770 to observe the transit of Venus, and was also camouflaged during the Second World War to prevent it from being used as a reference point for a Japanese landing fleet.

Today, the Pointe Vénus Lighthouse is still in use and renovations were announced in November 2023 to restore the lighthouse and install a new lighting system, with a budget of 160 million francs. The lighthouse is an important landmark and a significant part of Tahiti's history and culture. Its unique location and history make it a notable feature of the island's landscape.

Light and tower

The light has a focal height of 31 metres. The light has a range of 27 nautical miles. The NGA list of lights numbers it 2860. The Admiralty list of lights numbers it K4952.

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Le phare de la Pointe Vénus ✨