CC BY-SA 3.0, FRED / Wikimedia CommonsLandmark· Aukena· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Aukena Watchtower and Re'e Seminary Ruins
23° 7.7′ S · 134° 54.7′ W · approximate
Easy forest trails on Aukena lead to the ruins of the Re'e seminary college, described as French Polynesia's first college, plus a stone watchtower looking across to Mt Duff and a coral-lime kiln that supplied the missionaries' churches.
Practical
approx: Wikipedia gives no positions for these ruins. The pin is inland from the southern anchorages and may be off by up to 1 km. Irie (2013) describes easy trails to the southern point, through the forest to ruins and a nice beach, and a trail to the top of the ridge with a spectacular view. Stay off the private north side.
Best for
History hike on a near-empty island
Nearby
- Pointe Puirau Anchorage (Aukena)0.3 NM away
- Aukena Anchorage (Gambier)0.4 NM away
- St Raphael Church (Aukena)0.4 NM away
- Aukena SE Reef Snorkel0.6 NM away
- Aukena Private North Shore (no access)0.7 NM away
- Gambier Ciguatera Warning (no lagoon fish)2.1 NM away
- Gambier Cyclone-Season Summer Cruising2.1 NM away
- Gambier Winter Fronts (Jun to Sep)2.1 NM away