Mehetia Coast

The Mehetia coast surrounds the steep volcanic island east of Tahiti, on the approaches between the Tuamotu islands and the Society group. Its physical setting differs from a broad lagoon enclosed by a mature barrier reef.

On 2 April 1768 Bougainville's expedition sighted a high, steep mountain apparently surrounded by sea. He named it the Boudoir, or Peak of the Boudeuse, before turning towards the larger land seen to the west: Tahiti. His published voyage then describes the later canoe exchanges and search for anchorage off Tahiti. Bougainville used Mehetia as a navigational landmark during the passage; no French landing or trading station is recorded on this coast.