Seven Places to See on Nauru
Nauru is small enough that all seven sights below can be seen in a day or two, in whatever order the heat and your driver allow. Where a place has a hazard, it is stated with the place.
1. Command Ridge
The highest point on the island is 65 m (213 ft), and the Japanese used it as a command post in the Pacific War. Twin 127 mm Type 89 guns remain in concrete pits, and a communications bunker with Japanese writing on its walls can be entered with a torch. Spend a short time here rather than planning a hike. Pacific Wrecks records more guns around the island, including two 6-inch guns above Denig. During the occupation about 1,200 Nauruans were taken to Chuuk, and almost half did not return, so keep a respectful manner at the sites.
2. Buada Lagoon
A landlocked basin of about 3.8 hectares in the south-west, the lagoon has no outlet and is fed by rain, so it is slightly brackish and has no tides. Coconut, breadfruit, pandanus and tamanu trees give it a green edge, and a road circles the water. People live on the shore, which is private land, and contamination from sewage and rubbish has been reported. Do not swim, kayak or wade, and bring repellent for the mosquitoes.
3. Aiwo cantilevers
Two steel conveyor structures reach out from the cliffs over the reef. They were built by the British Phosphate Commissioners, and rebuilt after the war, so that phosphate could go straight into ships in deep water. Come at sunset for the best light.
4. Anibare Bay and Boat Harbour
The bay on the east coast is more than 2 km of white coral sand, backed by black limestone and palms. Heavy surf and rip currents affect the open water and there are no lifeguards. The boat harbour next to it was built in 2000 as a fishing harbour, and local people swim there. Ask locally before you do.
5. Moqua Well
An underground lake of about 2,000 square metres in Yaren, between the Parliament buildings and the airport. It is 2.5 m deep on average, with a maximum of 5 m, and it supplied drinking water during the occupation. After a drowning linked to alcohol, a fence was decided on in 2001. Swimming is not recommended. The caves can be entered at your own risk, never alone, and the path turns to mud after rain.
6. Parliament House
A modest building in Yaren houses the 19 members of Parliament, with the Supreme Court and ministries beside it. Yaren is the seat of government, and the country has no capital city. View the buildings from outside.
7. Topside
The mined plateau covers about 80 percent of the island and is full of limestone pinnacles several metres tall. It has no shade, a very high UV index and unmarked tracks. Use a local guide, closed shoes and plenty of water.
Booking
Guides are arranged on the island. You can check Viator for new listings, and read more at Wikipedia on Anibare Bay and the Lonely Planet Command Ridge entry .
Read more: Walking tours in Nauru and the Nauru 3-day itinerary .