Explore the islets and reef edge of Fakaofo
Fakaofo atoll, Tokelau
Fakaofo’s atoll structure is itself a visitor experience: narrow islets, a lagoon and reef edge that define everyday movement and settlement. Walking or boating around the atoll gives a sense of how Tokelauans live on land that is only a few metres above the sea. The terrain is sparse, intimate and striking, with views that are as much about ocean and sky as about the settlement. This is ranked eighth because it is more of a landscape experience than a named attraction, but it is still specific enough to merit inclusion and it is one of the clearest ways to appreciate Tokelau’s geography. Fakaofo also has a distinct identity as the southernmost atoll, which makes it a useful counterpoint to Atafu in the north.