The Arahoho Blowhole sits on the north coast of Tahiti, about 15 km east of Papeete along the coastal Route 5, and is one of the island's easiest-to-reach natural spectacles. Ocean swell forces water through a gap in the lava rock at the shore, compressing it into a jet that can shoot 10–15 metres into the air when the swell is significant. It is the kind of phenomenon where timing matters — come on a day with a westerly swell and the performance is dramatic; on a flat day it is underwhelming.
The blowhole sits alongside the road with minimal facilities, which means you can pull over, watch for a few minutes, and continue around the island without making a detour. Most visitors combine it with the Faarumai Waterfalls a couple of kilometres further along the same road. There is a small parking area; no entrance fee.
The surrounding coastline is dramatic in its own right — dark volcanic rock sculpted by Pacific surf, with the deep green volcanic mountains rising steeply behind. This stretch of north-coast road is noticeably less developed than the western side of the island around Papeete, and the drive itself is pleasant.