Namua Island

Namua is a small forested island off the Aleipata coast at Upolu's eastern end, ten minutes by boat, with a beach on the landward side, a family-run set of open beach fales and nothing else. At low tide a walk round the island's shore is possible on the reef flat, and a track climbs to a viewpoint on the ridge. It is the most straightforward of the Aleipata islands to visit and can be done as a day trip.

What you actually see

• The beach fales - the open-sided huts on the landward beach.
• The shore circuit - the walk round the island on the reef flat at low tide.
• The ridge track - the climb to the viewpoint over the Aleipata coast.
• The short crossing - ten minutes by boat from the Upolu shore.

When to go

May to October is the drier season and calmest. The shore circuit needs a low tide. Cyclone season runs November to April.

Honest expectations

Facilities are open fales with shared washing and no electricity for much of the day. Crossings are cancelled in rough weather. The shore walk is over sharp reef and needs shoes.

Nearby

Nu'utele is east, and Lalomanu is on the Upolu coast.