Anchorage· Rurutu· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Avera Bay Anchorage (Rurutu)
22° 28.7′ S · 151° 21.4′ W · approximate
An open roadstead off the west-coast village of Avera, outside a small reef boat pass marked by two red marks. In light trades with small SW swell it is a pretty spot under the Matotea cliffs, and the fallback when NE or E wind makes Moerai harbour dangerous.
Practical
Approximate position: about 300 m off Avera village (OSM village and mairie positions) toward the sandy patch Pitufa describes; no published waypoint. Pitufa (Oct 2018) anchored on a big sandy patch in 14 m just outside the boat pass. When the wind rose to 30 kn ESE, gusting 50, it was rolly and bouncy but held. In SW swell over 3 m, surf breaks across the whole bay and anchoring is impossible; even E and S swell can send breakers along the pass (Moana, Aug 2023). Navionics shows the anchorage and the pass. The pass is for local small boats only; land the dinghy only if there is no surf. Avera has a small magasin and a lunch snack. Snorkel and dinghy only in calm conditions.
Best for
Lee-side alternative to Moerai in E-NE winds with low SW swell
Season
Only with low SW swell; untenable in SW or W swell
Nearby
- Avera Reef Snorkel and Dive Site (Rurutu)0.2 NM away
- Avera Snack0.2 NM away
- Ana Puuru Cave (Rurutu)0.8 NM away
- Rurutu Whale Season (Jul to Oct)0.9 NM away
- Matotea Avera Bay Viewpoint (Rurutu)1.1 NM away
- Mt Manureva, Taatioe and Teape Ridge Hike (Rurutu)1.1 NM away
- Mt Pito Hike (Rurutu)1.1 NM away
- Marae Ta'aroa (Vitaria, Rurutu)1.6 NM away