Things to do in Nauru
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Nauru
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Driest and most settled window in most accounts, best for the ring road, Command Ridge and reef walking.
Shoulder months, still hot and humid with rain possible, but trips work because distances are tiny.
Wettest and most humid, with heavy rain and rougher seas for fishing at times.
What's on
- Independence Day 31 January
Anniversary of independence in 1968, the biggest national celebration.
- Constitution Day 17 May
Marks the 1968 constitution, in the drier part of the year.
- Angam Day 26 October
Marks the occasions the Nauruan population reached 1,500, once considered the minimum for survival.
Best things to do in Nauru
Command Ridge
The island's highest point, with Japanese wartime guns and a bunker and the widest view over coast, reef and mined interior.
Topside phosphate pinnacles
A lunar field of coral pinnacles left by a century of phosphate mining, best seen from the roads that cross the plateau.
Buada Lagoon
A brackish inland lagoon ringed by palms and gardens, the greenest and calmest corner of the island for a short walk.
Moqua Well
An underground freshwater lake in the Moqua Caves that was a primary drinking water source during the Second World War.
Nauru Museum
The national museum in Yaren, opened in 2019, with historic objects, wartime material and a photographic collection.
Capelle and Partner
The island's largest store and supermarket complex, founded in 1965, and the practical hub for rentals and charter enquiries.
Aiwo phosphate cantilevers
The port loading structures on the reef at Aiwo that shipped the phosphate away, viewed from shore and road only.
Where to stay in Nauru
Meneng
default hotel stay
Home to the Menen Hotel on the east coast, quiet and set along the shore.
Ewa
most practical base
Capelle and Partner supplies, cafe, bakery and car rental are downstairs from Ewa Lodge.
Aiwo
budget rooms
The small commercial centre, with the Civic Centre, oval and the cheaper Od-N-Aiwo Hotel.
Think twice about
- Regional Processing Centre
An operating Australian-funded facility on an enduring capability footing. It is off limits, not a visitor sight, and photography near it is not welcome.
- Aiwo port and phosphate facilities
Working port, processing and loading areas. View the cantilevers from shore and road only, and do not photograph official facilities at close range.
- Topside interior off formed roads
Rough pinnacle ground, extreme heat, steep drops and work areas. Keep to roads and formed tracks.
Best restaurants in Nauru
The Bay Restaurant
Capelle's fusion restaurant at Anibare, the closest Nauru comes to an occasion meal, with bay views and fresh seafood.
Tropicana Cafe
The cafe inside the Capelle and Partner complex at Ewa, an everyday stop for coffee and a simple meal by Ewa beach.
Buns in the Sun Bakery
The bakery in the Capelle complex, for bread, pastries and takeaway food for the ring road loop or a self-catering stay.
Outdoor things to do in Nauru
Anibare Bay
The island's best beach, a curve of pale coral sand with a harbour, clear reef water and reef walking at low tide.
Island Ring Road
A sealed 19 km loop around the whole country, driven in about 30 minutes or cycled in 2 to 3 hours past every district.
Game fishing charter
Deep sea fishing for tuna beyond the reef, arranged locally in person through Capelle and Partner a few days ahead.
Best hotels in Nauru
Menen Hotel
The island's largest hotel, government owned on the east coast, with spacious rooms, a restaurant and a bar.
Ewa Lodge
Rooms and self-catering apartments above Capelle and Partner, with the supermarket, cafe and car rental downstairs.
Od-N-Aiwo Hotel
The cheaper hotel option in Aiwo near the Civic Centre and oval, rustic and worn, with a Chinese restaurant attached.
Is Nauru expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | A$120 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | A$215 a person |
| Splurge | A$320 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Game fishing charter: a few days ahead
- Menen Hotel: weeks ahead
- Ewa Lodge: weeks ahead
- Od-N-Aiwo Hotel: a few days ahead
- Apply for the visa by email to Nauru Immigration weeks ahead with passport details, confirmed flights and a confirmed booking, and print the approval.
- Reconfirm Ewa Lodge and Menen Hotel bookings before flying, and arrange fishing in person a few days ahead.
Is Nauru safe?
- Crime is low. The real risks are roaming dogs after dark, strong beach currents, heat and sun.
- Stay away from the processing centre and port facilities, ask before photographing people, and carry evacuation insurance.
Nauru travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- ATMs run out of cash and cards are accepted in few places, so bring enough Australian dollars for the whole stay plus a reserve.
- Do not drink the tap water, do not expect a luxury tier anywhere, and do not build a plan around restaurant hours that can change.
Getting around Nauru: public transport and more
- The ring road is about 19 km. Drive it in about 30 minutes, cycle in 2 to 3 hours, or walk a dawn section and drive the rest.
- Driving is on the left. Rentals are arranged through hotels or Capelle and Partner, and a daytime community bus runs for a small fare.
Who Nauru suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | OK |
| Couples | OK |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | OK |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Nauru your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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