Mount Duff, Mountain summit in Mangareva, French Polynesia

Mount Duff is a volcanic peak rising 441 meters above sea level on Mangareva Island and stands as the highest point in the Gambier Islands. The summit consists of steep rocky slopes that command views across the archipelago and the surrounding ocean.

The mountain took its name from the missionary ship Duff, which transported members of the London Missionary Society to the Pacific in the early 1800s. This European naming reflects the period when explorers and missionaries were charting the region and establishing contact with island communities.

Mangarevans call the mountain Auorotini in their own language, a name recorded alongside the European one. The name Duff comes from the ship that brought London Missionary Society missionaries to Tahiti, and the mountain carries both names today.

The climb starts from Rikitea, the main village of Mangareva, and the round trip to the 441 m summit takes several hours on a steep, rocky path. There is no water or shade along the route, so carry enough for the whole walk and wear shoes with good grip. Rain makes the rock slippery.

Mount Duff was named by James Wilson after the ship Duff, which carried London Missionary Society missionaries to Tahiti. The Mangarevan name Auorotini is still used for the 441 m peak, the highest point of Mangareva in the Gambier Islands.