Landmark· Raivavae· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Raivavae Tiki
23° 52.2′ S · 147° 40.7′ W
The 'laughing tiki': the one great stone tiki left on Raivavae, with a smiling face. Three others were shipped to Tahiti in 1933.
Practical
OSM-mapped beside the Grande Route between Rairua and Vaiuru, a short walk or ride from the dock; ask locally if you can't spot it (Moana 2023). fr.wikipedia: of the three tiki taken in 1933, two are at the Gauguin Museum in Papeari, and the third was found in the lagoon in 2004. Nearly 600 archaeological structures, marae and house sites have been recorded on the island; many are hidden in vegetation.
Best for
Raivavae's iconic statue