Landscapes in Australia and Pacific
Tarawa Lagoon is a strange sight at low tide. Totally drained for water with the whitest sandy bottom exposed (and trash at some place). The sea will be visible as a bright azure blue stripe in the horizon. Kids will gather shellfish on the dry bottom, while fishermen will come walking in with their catch from the sea. At high tide, the lagoon is flooded in emarals water. It can look very tempting, but the South Tarawa side is too polluted for swimming - unless you're a local kid. Keep in mind the locals use the lagoon as a community toilet bowl, and much of the lagoon beach in the south is sadly covered in trash.
Majuro Atoll is flat. So flat in fact that the highest point is on the bridge 4 m above sea level.
The Republic of Marshall Islands is known for its many islands, more than 1,200. Along the rim of Majuro Atoll lie some of them like pearls on a string in the turquoise blue lagoon. Tiny tropical palm fringed islands, one more stunning and picture-perfect than the other. Some are inhabited, while others are not. It's not easy to visit one, but Eneko Island has a few bungalows owned by Robert Reimer Hotel.
The German Channel is a narrow and shallow sailing passage through a pristine mangrove forest. The dive boats go this route when heading to the manta sites in M'il Channel.
Kepirohi Waterfall is a beautiful cascading waterfall with a refreshing natural pool. Unfortunately, they are building a less pretty concrete fence and viewing platform, but it's probably to accommodate the increasing number of visitors. As Kepirohi Waterfall is located close to Nan Madol, a tour normally combines those.
The coastline of Pohnpei is covered in pristine mangrove, so there aren't that many beaches (if any at all). But for some island life and snorkeling, go to some of the smaller islands, either for a day trip or longer. Lenger, Nahlap and Laiap (Rainbow) islands are some of the options. Rainbow is a tiny island, which is privately owned by Cliff Hotel. There is one concrete building on the island, else it's just trees and a coral covered beach. The journey to Rainbow Island starts with 45 min drive from Kolonia, and then a boat trip through the dense mangrove, before reaching the sea with Rainbow island in the horizon. The caretaker family will come along and do some spear fishing, so you have something for lunch.
This waterfall is the closest to Kolonia and can be reached by shared taxi or even walking. The jungle setting behind the owner's house is beautiful and tranquil with views to mountain tops. The trail is well kept with picnic areas. There are two natural pools, a upper and lower, which are perfect for a refreshing dip.
Yap has (as so many other Pacific islands) very few sandy beaches. Long stretches of Yap's coastline is pristine mangrove. Mala'ay Sunset Park is like that, but there is a lawn and picnic tables under shady trees. The view is nice over the lagoon and the patches of mangrove.
Pwisehn Malek is a distinct looking basalt hill. Local myth tells about a large chicken, which took a poo here long ago and it hardened into the Pwisehn Malek. The area might have provided the basalt pillars for Nan Madol.
Some of beaches on Nauru have a small park with picnic tables, but the one at Anetan are just natural. As there are many signs nailed on the palm trees encouraging a clean beach, the beautiful rough sandy stretch seem less trashy.