Nauru Travel Guide

Nauru is a 21-square-kilometre speck in the central Pacific, roughly equidistant from nothing much. It's one of the world's smallest nations—you can drive around the entire island in under an hour. Don't come expecting beaches and resorts; come for the oddness of the place itself, the friendliness of its 10,000 residents, and the weight of its phosphate-mining history.

The island's story is complicated. It was once wealthy from guano extraction, then ravaged by it. Colonial powers stripped the land; Nauru became independent in 1968 and briefly thrived on phosphate exports before that resource nearly ran out. Today it's a working country, not a postcard. You'll see corrugated iron, old mining equipment, and genuine Pacific island life without the gloss.

Visitors are rare enough that showing up means genuine curiosity. The reef is recovering, locals speak English readily, and the sense of stepping outside the usual traveller circuits is real. Budget accordingly—isolation has a cost.

Highlights

1. Nauru's Coastal Reef — Snorkelling and diving around the island's fringing reef, home to recovering coral and island-endemic fish species.
2. Buada Lagoon — The island's freshwater lagoon, a rare freshwater resource surrounded by coastal scrubland and local settlements.
3. Phosphate Mining Remnants — Abandoned mining infrastructure and lunar-like terrain in the island's interior, testament to colonial extraction economics.
4. Command Ridge — Historic World War II defensive positions and bunkers offering views across the island and surrounding ocean.
5. Local Markets & Food — Saturday markets selling fresh fish, tropical fruit, and imported goods; authentic Pacific island eating without tourist infrastructure.
6. Anibare Bay — The island's primary beach area, quiet and uncrowded, with occasional sea turtle sightings during nesting seasons.