'Ekamawir Omo'
Welcome to Nauru. Here are a few essential tips and facts about Nauru ...
Good things come in small packages...
Nauru is indeed a tiny island nation. Remember to treat it with care.
When taking a vacation on an isolated coral atoll like Nauru, it is important to remember that many of the resources necessary to sustain the island are imported. Even natural fresh water is limited so electricity and drinking water is at a premium.
What to bring on your holiday
Remember to bring beach wear for sunbathing/swimming but also conservative wear for visits around the island. Sturdy shoes for a visit to the phosphate interior is a good idea, as is some light wet weather gear for tropical rain. Sun block, insect repellent and all the other Pacific Island necessities would be a good idea; however there are shops on the island to provide some of these products.
Nauru’s Weather
Nauru’s weather is tropical with temperatures ranging between 24.4 Celsius and 33.9 Celsius. Heat is kept temperate by cooling sea breezes. The tropical weather has a monsoonal pattern, with a rainy season from November to February. North-east trade winds blow from March to October and average humidity is 80%.
Nauru’s Land
Nauru boasts 30 kilometres of coastline, ringed on all sides by the amazing expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Sandy beaches rise to a fertile coastal belt around raised coral reefs. The interior is a raised, unique moonscape made up of limestone pinnacles. The legacy of the island’s only export, phosphate mining, the plateaus are an important part of the island’s economic history. There is talk of a secondary source of phosphate being utilised. However some of this land is now also being considered for other purposes, such as regeneration and building projects.
Nauru’s Flora and Fauna
Birdwatchers will enjoy plenty of native sea bird sights. Surrounding deep water provides accessible deep sea game fishing for tuna, marlin, skipjack, barracuda and many more.
Natural vegetation includes pandanus trees, coconut palms, tomano trees and the Pacific’s most recognised flower, the beautiful frangipani. The land surrounding the Buada lagoon is used to grow some vegetables and bananas.
Nauruan Public Holidays
- Angam Day (26 October) – The word Angam means homecoming and the day commemorates the various times in history when the size of the Nauruan population has returned to 1,500 which is thought to be the minimum number necessary for survival.
- Independence Day (31 January)
- Constitution Day (17 May)
- National Youth Day (25 September)
- Statutory holidays: New Year’s Day (1 January), Christmas Day (25 December), Easter (Good Friday, Easter Monday and Tuesday)
Money: Nauru uses the Australian Dollar.
Time zone: Nauru is GMT/UTC +12
Electricity: Australian plugs and sockets are used
Visas: Visitors need to apply for a visa before their arrival, through one of the government's overseas offices. Visas cost A$100. A A$50 departure tax applies to all visitors. Prices are current at time of writing this website.
Capital: Due to its small size, Nauru has no capital. The government’s offices are based in the Yaren district.
Language: Nauruan, but English is also widely spoken. Perhaps due to the isolation of the island of Nauru, the Nauruan language is said not to be similar to any other Polynesian island language.
Some useful Nauruan words:
Tubwa – Thank you
Omo Yoran – Good Morning
