Sights

More affordable and far less developed than the Society Islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea), Avatoru it's simple and yet still part of the modern world. Absolutely beautiful for picture taking.

If you are an underwater photographer, you should be able to get great shots of sharks and rays as well as the myriad other colorful tropical fish. In the lagoon, the sharks are harmless. (Avoid the temptation to go to the ocean side.)

The coconut trees and blues of the lagoon will make beautiful pictures. Cyclones washed away most of the sand, so the lagoon beaches consist mostly of small pieces of coral. This will make for more textured and interesting photos; not so much like postcards.

The little community graveyard is full of local history and makes good use of coral and shells. Simple and pretty.

After sunset, there is very little ambient light because Avatoru is so tiny and undeveloped. The stars overhead on a clear night are absolutely spectacular. Read Michener's epic "Hawaii" to fill your head with the history of how the Polynesians navigated vast oceanic distances using stars as their guide. It's awe inspiring.

Rangiroa is an atoll that is in old age, geologically speaking, and the ocean is reclaiming it... including Avatoru. You can clearly see the erosion from both the lagoon side and the ocean side. Some little bungalows are collapsing into the water, making for interesting shots. There are fissures in the reef. In perhaps another 100 years Avatoru will be uninhabitable. Go now while you still can.