Highlights
Nauru is a curiosity for the most adventurous travellers — an island you can drive around in about 20 minutes, with a story unlike anywhere else. Its interior, 'Topside', bears the stark, moonscape scars of a century of phosphate mining that once made Nauruans among the world's wealthiest, before the reserves ran out — a striking, sobering landscape of jagged limestone pinnacles.
The coastal fringe, where nearly everyone lives, holds the island's beaches, the airport, and relics of WWII — Japanese guns, bunkers and pillboxes remain from the island's wartime occupation, dotted along the coast and cliffs. Anibare Bay offers the prettiest beach and lagoon.
There is little formal tourism infrastructure — no real 'sights' in the conventional sense — but for the intrepid, Nauru offers the fascination of visiting one of the planet's most obscure and singular nations, understanding its remarkable rise-and-fall history, and the sheer achievement of getting to somewhere so few ever do.
When to go
Nauru is hot and humid year-round, sitting just south of the equator. The drier season (roughly March to October) is marginally more comfortable, while the wetter months (November to February) bring more rain, sometimes heavy.
There is little seasonal variation on this tiny equatorial island, and it lies largely outside the main cyclone belt. For the most comfortable conditions, the drier months are slightly preferable, but weather is rarely the deciding factor for a visit to one of the world's least-visited countries — flight schedules and logistics matter far more.
Visa & entry
Visiting Nauru requires advance planning: most visitors need a visa arranged before travel (Nauru is not a casual drop-in destination), typically requiring sponsorship or specific documentation, and independent tourist visits are unusual and bureaucratic. A passport valid six months and confirmed onward travel are required.
Carefully confirm the current visa process and requirements with a Nauru mission or official sources well in advance, and plan around the very limited Nauru Airlines flights (via Brisbane and other Pacific hubs), as reaching the island is the main challenge.
Health & safety
Nauru is generally safe in terms of crime, with a small, close-knit population, though take normal precautions. The genuine challenges are entirely practical: extreme remoteness, very limited infrastructure, minimal medical facilities (a serious consideration — evacuation would be difficult and slow), limited accommodation and dining, and infrequent flights that make careful planning essential.
The mined interior has uneven, hazardous terrain. Fresh water and supplies can be limited. Comprehensive insurance with evacuation cover is essential given the isolation and basic healthcare. There is little tourist infrastructure or support, so self-sufficiency and advance arrangements are key. Check your government's current travel advisory before this very unusual, remote trip.
Getting around
Getting to Nauru is the main challenge — Nauru Airlines operates limited flights connecting the island to Brisbane (Australia) and a few Pacific hubs, so schedules are sparse and planning essential. Once there, the island is tiny: a single ring road circles it in about 20 minutes, and getting around is by hire car, taxi or arranged transport (there's no meaningful public transport).
Accommodation and vehicle hire should be arranged in advance, as options are very limited. Given the minimal infrastructure, most practical logistics are best sorted before arrival. The island's small size means you can see its coast and mined interior in a day or two by road.
Money
Nauru uses the Australian Dollar as its currency. It is very much a cash economy — carry Australian dollars in cash for essentially everything (accommodation, meals, transport), as card acceptance is minimal and ATM access is very limited and unreliable, so bring all the cash you expect to need.
Nauru can be surprisingly expensive given its remoteness and reliance on imported goods, so budget accordingly, and note that supplies and dining options are limited. Tipping is not part of local custom and is not expected, though appreciated for genuinely helpful service. Above all, plan and arrange your money, accommodation and transport in advance.
Nauru