Fodor's Expert Review Opunohu Bay

This is the westerly of the two outstanding bays on the north side of the island, and is actually the place where Captain James Cook dropped anchor in 1777. It is much less developed than Cook's Bay in terms of tourism and is said to be the locals' favorite for this very reason. Most of the Polynesian scenes from the 1984 movie Bounty, starring Mel Gibson, were filmed in the bay. Big cruise ships moor here, but because there is no port, passengers are taken ashore in tenders.