Arorae Navigational Stones

At the northern point of Arorae, the southernmost of the Gilbert Islands, a group of coral slabs stands upright in the ground, and their alignments are held to point toward other islands in the group: a navigational aid set up by Kiribati voyagers to fix departure bearings before an open-ocean crossing. There are around a dozen. They are among very few such structures documented in the Pacific. Arorae sits at the southern end of the Gilbert chain, which made it a departure point for voyages south and east.

What to look for

• The standing slabs - around a dozen coral stones set upright.
• The alignments - the bearings held to point toward other islands.
• The navigational purpose - departure bearings for ocean crossings.
• The rarity - one of very few such sites documented in the Pacific.

When to go

April to October is the drier and calmer season. Flights and ships to Arorae are irregular in any month. Morning light is best on the stones.

Practical notes

Getting to Arorae is difficult and irregular; it is one of the least accessible Gilbert islands. The alignment interpretation is debated among researchers. There are no facilities.

Nearby

Tamana is north, and Tarawa is far north.