Nauru

Nauru is known for being one of the world’s smallest island nations, its raised coral atoll landscape and its long history of phosphate mining. Its compact size, remote location and dramatic central plateau give it a distinctive character within the Pacific.

Nauruan is the native language, while English is widely used for government and commercial purposes. The island’s Indigenous population is described as having mixed Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian heritage.

Phosphate mining has been central to Nauru’s economy since the early 1900s. It has also transformed much of the island’s interior, leaving the central plateau, known as “topside,” marked by dramatic limestone pinnacles.

Nauru became an independent republic on 31 January 1968. Before independence, the island experienced German annexation, Australian military occupation, a League of Nations Mandate and United Nations Trusteeship.

Visitors can see the exposed reef at low tide, the fertile coastal belt and the stark limestone formations of the central plateau. The coastline also features tropical vegetation, seabird habitats and areas such as Anibare Bay.

Popular activities include fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. Visitors can also explore the coastline, local communities, reef edges and the phosphate-mining landscape.

Accommodation is limited and practical. The source lists two hotels: the Menen Hotel and the family-run Od-N-Aiwo Hotel, which is described as the tallest building in Nauru.

Self-drive cars are available for hire, usually with a daily fee and an additional per-kilometre charge. Both listed hotels offer courtesy airport transfers, making arrival and departure relatively straightforward.