Aranuka has only one road that runs alongside the lagoon-side of the island where villages are located and a network of access and feeder roads running from the main road to other parts of the island. These pathways generally are wide enough to accommodate pushbikes and motorbikes but not big trucks. All villages are located on the lagoon side.

It is also well known and unique for its old stand of Rhyzophora stylosa mangroves that have grown as tall as coconut trees and are now a breeding site for birds. These mangroves can be found towards the northern end of mainland Aranuka.

Aranuka is by tradition the island in the middle of Kiribati and the location for the formation and separation of all the islands of Kiribati believed to have been started by the God of our Ancestors, Nareau. That is why Aranuka was formerly named and known as Ananuka – the middle of it Aranuka has white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters, and is the only island in Kiribati to have tall mangrove trees with heights of more than 15 m (49 ft). The uninhabited islets of the island also provide ideal swimming and snorkeling spots for visitors.