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North Tarawa welcomes you to spend some time enjoying it’s people and island beauty.
Slow down and appreciate the warm, clear lagoon waters and the many pristine beaches.
Relax and enjoy traditional Kiribati island life in one of the many kaikai and buia accommodations at any of the village resorts in the region.
Slow down and appreciate the warm, clear lagoon waters and the many pristine beaches.
North Tarawa offers a refreshing break from the hectic life of South Tarawa and Betio.
Our region offers the perfect opportunity for an ‘add-on’ break to meetings or trade activity in South Tarawa or Betio.
Although services may not always be to common international standards or expectations, the landscape, scenery and hospitality of its residents, make North Tarawa a first class destination for those who wish to experience authentic Kiribati village lifestyle and Pacific tropical beauty.
With an overall length of approximately 35 km, North Tarawa has extensive pristine beaches, including serene inner lagoon waters with long stretches of fine white coral sands. The coastline is lined with lush tropical forests and occasional mangrove stands.
Beaches can be freely accessed either by land or by water.
North Tarawa’s natural beauty is largely still as it was when first settled by Polynesian ancestors.
Genuine Kiribati culture can be experienced in North Tarawa through its architecture, customs and cultural activities including greetings, dance and feasts using local foods. Life is very community-focused, relaxed and centred on authentic village hospitality and tradition.
Traditional maneaba (meeting houses) play an important role for community meetings, festive events and gatherings. Traditional thatched kiakia and buia huts are the main form of housing throughout the villages.
Day-to-day life in North Tarawa is relaxed with a strong sense of sharing responsibilities and providing for others.
Christianity is the main of religion and is practised by most island residents, with numerous churches and Christian denominational pre-schools and primary schools across many of the islets. Respect for religion plays an important part of North Tarawa community life.
For more on Kiribati culture see Kiribati for Travellers
Traditional local North Tarawa food is heavily based on seasonal fish and other marine species. Locally grown vegetables and fruits include coconut, breadfruit, pandanus nuts, taro and some mixed vegetables.
Fish and tropical lobsters are common at traditional feasts. Rice and some other western style foods can be obtained at small stores within most villages.
There are no reliable reticulated, public potable water supplies across North Tarawa islets. Bottled water can be obtained at the village stores.
Purchase of some processed and canned foods, drinks and bottled water is possible from stores and accommodation establishments across the region.
Supplies can be limited both in variety and availability, visitors are encouraged to plan ahead if they have special dietary requirements.
Kava can be purchased from the many traditional Kava Bars that are within some of the larger villages.
‘Toddy’ is a local drink made from coconut water and sugar. It can be fermented to produce an alcoholic beverage that can be purchased in the area.
Other available alcohol is mainly limited to Australian canned beers. It is advised to bring your own from South Tarawa or Betio if you prefer other beverages.
The calm, shallow waters of the atoll lagoon are perfect for boating. There is an almost endless choice of beaches that can be pulled onto for a picnic or swim. Low tide can reveal stretches of sand flats that can be hundreds of metres wide.
The ocean side offers a whole different perspective with almost exclusively untouched shoreline and the occasional traditional stone fish trap.
Boat charters can be arranged either by referring to accommodation providers or contacting Kiribati for Travellers. A range of boat types may be available including trips on traditional Kiribati outrigger-style sailing canoes (Te Wa).
Fishing is a way of life on North Tarawa. Most men on North Tarawa fish with nets. Oceanside provides anglers with some spectacular fishing spots for coral reef fish species including emperor, sweetlips, trevally and some tuna.
The channels and adjacent lagoon sand flats are good for the elusive bonefish and milkfish that are a large part of the staple diet on North Tarawa.
Fishing can be arranged from boats or you can try your luck from the shoreline or coral flat seaward edges. Kiribati has no crocodiles, enabling shoreline anglers to relax and focus on fishing and not worry about becoming the prey themselves.
North Tarawa’s warm, tropical waters are perfectly suited to relaxation or more vigorous distance swimming for the more actively inclined.
Swimming is generally safe in most places, especially around tourist accommodation and anywhere along the inner lagoon shorelines.
The best surfing opportunities on North Tarawa exist at the northern tip near Naa, although surf breaks can occur elsewhere along the oceanside coast depending on conditions.
Apart from the natural beauty of the island shorelines and inner lush vegetation, there are many points of interest to visit in North Tarawa, including the first landing point of Captain Davis who originally declared Kiribati a British Protectorate in 1892; ruins of the Bahá’i school near Naa; traditional coral rubble fishtraps that are still regularly used today and the inter-islet channels which funnel in the pristine Pacific Ocean that form the azure waters of the lagoon.
There are no separate tour operators on North Tarawa at this stage. However, local accommodation providers and Kiribati for Travellers can provide more detailed suggestions as well as help to make arrangements for short or extended tours for travellers.
Tourist accommodation and associated services are simple on North Tarawa and may not suit those who expect luxury standards. There are no large, western-style hotels on North Tarawa.
North Tarawa offers traditional forms of thatched buias and kiakias which are well-ventilated by the breezes and are often over the lagoon waters. Portable fans may be provided in some accommodation places in place of cooling sea breezes.
Communal gathering facilities are provided in all resort-style places with shared toilets and showers. Some rooms may have separate ensuite-style facilities. Check with your accommodation provider beforehand if you require separate facilities.
Water for showering and washing is largely sourced from bores or wells and there are no reliable potable water sources other than bottled water at this stage of the region’s development. Septic toilet systems generally only exist at the few accommodation resorts that the region offers.
The clear shallow waters of the lagoon side offer easy snorkelling over coral sand flats for the beginner with numerous small fish and invertebrate species.
For the more adventurous and experienced, the oceanside edges of the fringing coral reef offer spectacular drop-offs with a myriad of corals, fish and other marine life including turtles.
Endless opportunities exist for the avid photographers.
Tropical island landscape vistas abound, birdlife in their natural shoreline and vegetated island habitats are plentiful and are generally not timid allowing reasonable close-ups to be taken.
Lush coconut palm and pandanus lined shores, sparkling lagoon waters and bountiful pristine ocean shores are complemented by occasional coconut groves, traditional taro pits and simple traditional villages situated amongst the lush vegetation.
The clear waters of the channels between islets and nearby mangrove areas form important habitats for fish to breed and birdlife to flourish.
International travellers can fly to Tarawa with a number of different airlines. All flights are to and from Bonriki International Airport on South Tarawa. Connecting flights to other Kiribati islands also fly from Bonriki Airport.
Practical access to North Tarawa from South Tarawa, Betio and elsewhere is generally only available by ferry or private boat. Local ferry services operate from Bairiki on South Tarawa on most days with some days having 2 services.
Ferry service timetables are tide dependent in Tarawa with services to Nabeina in the south and Abaokoro and Buariki in the north. Ferry services can be intermittent or cease during windy or other bad weather.
Private charter boat transfers may be booked in conjunction with some tourist accommodation providers on North Tarawa using the Kiribati for Travellers website.
Some narrower channels separating the southernmost islets can be crossed by walking at low tides or locally provided canoe transfers at higher tides.
Any international travellers by ocean-going vessels must enter Tarawa through Customs at the main port in Betio before being able to travel elsewhere.
The sheltered waters of the Tarawa Lagoon and beautiful shorelines of North Tarawa offer an endless number of idyllic mooring locations in deeper lagoon waters during low tides or closer in during high tides.
Road travel is possible between South Tarawa and Buota for light vehicles. Private motorbike access can be possible across channels between North Tarawa’s islets to South Tarawa during very low tides.
When on North Tarawa, motorbike or bicycle is the best form of transport using the main access track between Tabonibara in the south and Naa in the north. Both can be hired on North Tarawa with further information being available from the Council’s Island Development Officer.
Roads on North Tarawa are generally unsealed and may be bumpy to ride on. Roads are shared with pedestrians and travel is slow to maintain safety and protect tranquility in the villages.
Kiribati uses the Australian Dollar as its currency. The ANZ Bank, which is located on South Tarawa, is the only bank that operates in Kiribati. All major credit cards can be used in most commercial premises. Any online banking capabilities may be limited on North Tarawa due to the varying availability of internet services.
© Eutan Tarawa Council. All rights reserved.
Website by Wild Honey Creative
© Eutan Tarawa Council. All rights reserved.
Website by Wild Honey Creative
Website provided by the Australian Volunteers Program, funded by the Australian Government
