The Fautaua Valley climbs directly behind Papeete into the green mountain interior of Tahiti and contains one of the easier serious walks on the island: a 4-hour return hike to a 300-metre waterfall, said to be the third-highest in the world depending on how you measure. The trail starts at the gate on the avenue Georges Clemenceau where a fee of about 600 XPF is collected.
The first half is along a dirt road to the old French fort that once guarded the valley; the second half is a steeper jungle path with stream crossings and a couple of fixed ropes near the top. Don't attempt it in heavy rain — the river floods fast. The valley used to be Papeete's water supply and is still visibly pristine.