French Polynesia

In Episode 20 of the voyage, Georg Forster and the crew of the HMS Resolution sail through the remote northern Tuamotu Archipelago, catching sight of flat, palm-dotted atolls after weeks of open ocean. 

In Episode 21 of the Pacific voyage, the HMS Resolution runs aground off the coast of Tahiti, leading to a dramatic rescue—and an unforgettable series of encounters.

During their extended stay on Tahiti’s southern peninsula, the crew of the HMS Resolution made meaningful efforts to mend relations with the islanders after a tense confrontation. Their peace offering—returning two captured canoes—gradually restored trust and allowed trade to resume. Georg Forster and several officers explored the surrounding landscape, collecting plants and observing local customs.

They encountered a group of women crafting traditional bark cloth from mulberry trees using wooden hammers and hibiscus-based glue. Later, they were warmly welcomed by a Tahitian man who offered them a meal of breadfruit, coconuts, and Spondias apples—an act of hospitality that deeply impressed the visitors.

The group continued their walk into a secluded valley and discovered a breathtaking waterfall nestled among fragrant bushes and bright tropical flowers. Resting in the cool shade, they sketched and examined their botanical finds, surrounded by birdcalls and gentle breezes.

Later, they reunited with Mr. Hodges and Mr. Grindall, who were welcomed with joy by the local community. A young islander proudly carried Hodges' sketch portfolio, a symbol of trust. In a peaceful village hut, Georg witnessed a touching scene of Tahitian family life—marked by dignity, joy, and connection across generations. The locals affectionately renamed him "Teori."

A map of the locations of this episode

More Episodes of Voyage 2 Go History:

S1-E1: England: Departure around the world

S1-E5: Cape Colony: Ocean on Fire

S1-E9: Southern Ocean: Lost in the Ice

S1-E10: New Zealand: From Ice to Wilderness

S1-E16: New Zealand: Whirlwinds and Reunion

In Episode 23, the HMS Resolution’s crew experiences a day rich in contrast and reflection.

During their final days in Tahiti, the crew of the HMS Resolution experienced a remarkable deepening of relationships with the island’s people and rulers. Trust, once fragile, began to grow.

In episode 25 of Voyage2Go History, the HMS Resolution returns to familiar shores, yet nothing feels routine.

In Episode 26 of the voyage, the HMS Resolution prepares to leave Tahiti—but not before a cascade of final events unfolds.

Episode 27 of our journey brings us to a turning point—farewell to Tahiti, the island that offered not only warmth and provisions, but also a glimpse of a society shaped by balance, kinship, and quiet dignity.

In episode 28 of our journey with Georg Forster and Captain Cook, the HMS Resolution continues its passage through the Society Islands, revealing both the beauty and the deep emotions of Huahine and Raiatea.

As the HMS Resolution explores Raiatea, the crew is invited to a grand ceremonial dance performed by local nobility.

In episode 30 of Voyage 2 Go History, the crew of the HMS Resolution says farewell to Raiatea and begins a new chapter of exploration.

In Episode 31, we follow Georg Forster and the crew of HMS Resolution as they explore ʻEua, an island in present-day Tonga.

In episode 32 of the journey aboard the HMS Resolution, Georg Forster and Captain Cook explore the island of Tongatapu in the Friendly Islands.

A gift of kava roots. A stolen iron bar. A musket fired in haste.
As HMS Resolution sails westward from the desolate volcanic shores of Easter Island, hope hangs on the horizon. But at the lush green edge of the Marquesas, a fatal misunderstanding shatters the fragile balance of first contact.

After months of frost and famine, the HMS Resolution anchors off Tahuata in the Marquesas Islands—where warriors are tattooed head to toe, women vanish into the hills, and a king wears barkcloth and a feathered crown. His name is Honu—turtle—and his island offers peace after death.

After weeks among barren reefs and tense island encounters, the crew of the Resolution longs for healing. For Georg Forster, struck down by a gall illness, the sight of Tahiti on the horizon is more than a return—it's salvation.

After eight months adrift in the Pacific, HMS Resolution returns to the shores of Tahiti in April 1774. What Captain Cook and his crew find is a world both familiar and transformed: abundant fruit, rebuilt homes, old friends—and a red-feather economy in full bloom. But beneath the island’s charm, a silent armada is gathering.

Tahiti, 1774. As spring renews the land, red feathers stir deeper tides—of power, desire, and disillusionment.

April 1774. While Cook’s men collect plants and feathers in Tahiti’s fertile valleys, beneath the surface, old dynasties fracture and new rulers rise. In this episode, the island speaks not just in flowers and birdsong—but in silence, scandal, and ceremonial fire.

As HMS Resolution sails away from Tahiti in May 1774, the cannon fire masks more than just ritual—it conceals heartache, temptation, and unresolved tensions. Onboard, a sailor dreams of paradise and dives for it. Onshore in Huaheine, Cook’s crew finds not only coconuts and courtesies but theft, ambush, and a mocking dance that wounds more deeply than any weapon.