Romantic Escapes on Nauru
Nauru is not Bora Bora or Fiji. There are no overwater villas, no spa resorts and no honeymoon industry. What it offers couples is distance from everything else: a tiny island on the equator, almost no other visitors and long views over the open Pacific. It suits people who value remoteness over resort comfort, and it works best when you arrive expecting simple rooms and plain food.
Ocean-view rooms at Menen Hotel
Menen Hotel is the largest on the island and stands on the east coast above Anibare Bay. Ask for a room facing the water, where you can watch the waves break over the reef flat and feel the trade wind from your balcony. The hotel has one restaurant and one bar, and the terrace over the cliff is a pleasant place for a drink at the end of the day. Book directly with the hotel by email or phone, since the main hotels do not appear on online booking sites.
Sunset at the Aiwo cantilevers
Two long steel cantilever loaders stretch out over the reef at Aiwo, built by the British Phosphate Commissioners to load ships in deep water. At sunset they stand as dark silhouettes against the horizon, and they are the signature image of the island. Park by the shore, watch the light go, and keep back from the sharp reef edge.
Walking Anibare Bay
Anibare Bay is more than 2 km of white coral sand backed by palms and dark limestone. Walk it in the early morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler and there are few people about. Enjoy the beach from the sand rather than the water. The open bay has heavy surf and rip currents, and there are no lifeguards, so do not plan on swimming there.
A drive around the island
The ring road is about 19 km of paved, flat coast and a gentle way to see the whole country in a single outing. Ask your hotel about hiring a car, and drive on the left. Stop at Buada Lagoon, where tall palms, breadfruit and tamanu trees give the inland basin a cool, green feel. The lagoon shore is private residential land and the water is not for swimming, so keep to the road.
A day on the water
For a shared adventure, ask the hotel about a game-fishing charter. Local operators include Nauru Game Fishing and Equatorial Fishing Charters, and boats leave from Anibare Boat Harbour. Tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi are the usual catch. Settle the details and the price directly, in cash.
What to know before you go
Visas are required and must be arranged before travel. Nauru Airlines is the only passenger carrier, with a few flights a week, so plan your dates around its schedule. Bring Australian dollars for every expense. Cards are not accepted, and the single ATM at Menen Hotel is often out of cash. There are no tour agencies for couples, and no private dinner cruises or spa services to book. Cyclone and swell risk runs from November to May.
Booking
Stays are arranged directly with the hotel. You can search Booking.com for any new Nauru listings, and the UK government advice for Nauru covers entry and safety. Flight days are on Nauru Airlines .
Read more: Couple activities on Nauru and Nauru 3-day itinerary .