Beach· Nuku Hiva· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Haatuatua Beach (Nuku Hiva East)
8° 49.9′ S · 140° 2.8′ W
A wild, empty surf beach and coconut plantation on Nuku Hiva's east coast, reached on foot over the low hill from Anaho; a gentle walk with big views and good waves at the end.
Practical
Coordinate is the OpenStreetMap beach polygon centre at Haatuatua bay (bay -8.83213, -140.04141; locality -8.83193, -140.04766). No boat landing on this exposed east coast: walk from Anaho (about 5 miles round trip, easy; land on Anaho beach, turn left along the shore or the trail just inland, over the short rocky stretch and the small hill; 2019). Gilbert's farm sells produce on the way. The compendium reports good surfing, a plantation and 'mega no-nos' (sand flies): wear repellent and get into the surf; small village with some 2G signal (2019). Surf beach with shore break: swim with care. Sea-Seek (2024) describes Haatuatua as a large, deep bay wide open to the east, with good water close to the cliffs as far as Cap Martin but heavy backwash in settled trades; no cruiser reports of anchoring here were found, so treat it as a walk-in beach. The official brief (2023) asks visitors to help clean the beach (it catches ocean plastic) and carry the rubbish back to Taiohae; about 1.5 hours on foot from Anaho.
Best for
A half-day walk from Anaho to a wild surf beach
Season
Year-round; surf biggest in N-NE swell