Katea Beach lines the southernmost tip of the island and offers some of the best swimming and snorkelling accessible from the mainland. From Katea Retreat, a short walk down brings you to this beautiful, secluded stretch of golden sand — quiet, uncrowded, and wonderfully walkable. Follow the shore toward Fua'motu beach and you'll pass striking rock formations shaped by the sea, including a photo-worthy natural archway rising right across the sands.
The snorkeling here has real character. The reef floor near Katea Retreat sits a little deeper than at Fua'motu, so instead of a shallow reef flat you get room to move — and a network of small channels winding through the coral that run a surprisingly long way. Following these channels is half the fun: each one opens up a new corridor of reef to explore, and it's easy to lose track of time drifting from one to the next.
Know before you go: the current here can run very strong from east to west, so keep your bearings and don't drift further than you're comfortable swimming back. Conditions are best at high tide, when there's more water over the reef and easier movement through the channels — plan your snorkel around it if you can.
Practical notes: day visitors pay a small entry fee (around TOP$20 per person), with the Katea Retreat restaurant right there to refuel between swims, while retreat guests get free beach access throughout their stay. Access is via a road off Liku Road, just south of Nakolo village.
