Walking Routes on Nauru
Nauru is small enough to walk around, and the walking here is self-guided. There are no organised walking tour companies, so the routes below are ones you can do on your own, with a local guide for the mined interior. The terrain is flat on the coast and rough inland, and the heat is the main challenge on all of it.
The ring road circuit
The paved ring road is about 19 km long, flat and at sea level, and it passes through all 14 districts. A full lap is a serious walk, so start at first light and plan on most of a morning, longer if the sun gets up. A common start is Menen Hotel, heading counter-clockwise. You pass the surf at Anibare Bay, the northern villages of Ewa and Baiti, the cantilever loaders at Aiwo, the airport near Boe and Yaren, and then the southern cliffs on the way back. You can also walk a single section and get a ride back.
Heat, water and shade
The equatorial sun is intense, and shade is thin on the western side of the island. Set out early, wear a hat and sun protection, and carry more water than you expect to drink. Small corner stores along the ring road sell bottled water, but carry your own supply for the long stretches between them. Wear closed shoes.
Dogs and traffic
Stray and semi-domesticated dogs roam some coastal villages. Local practice is to carry a walking stick or a small stone to deter an aggressive one. Cars drive on the left. Near the airport the road crosses the runway, and lights stop traffic when planes land or take off, so wait for them.
Command Ridge
Command Ridge, 65 m above the sea, is the highest point on the island and a short visit, not a hike. Japanese anti-aircraft guns stand in concrete pits, and an underground communications bunker with Japanese writing can be entered with a torch. Bring a light and expect some darkness inside. The ridge is a wartime site, so keep a quiet manner. A local driver can take you there from the coast.
Buada Lagoon road
A road circles Buada Lagoon in the south-west, and walking it is a gentle way to see Nauruan village life away from the mining country. The lagoon is ringed by coconut palms, breadfruit and tamanu forest, which gives some shade. The shore is private residential land, so stay on the road. The water is not for swimming, and mosquitoes are common.
Topside with a guide
Topside, the mined plateau, is a landscape of limestone pinnacles several metres tall, with dirt haul tracks winding between them. The rock is sharp enough to tear light footwear, the tracks are unmarked and there is no shade. Go with a local guide arranged through your hotel, take closed shoes and plenty of water, and walk in the early morning or late afternoon.
Moqua Well in Yaren
Moqua Well is an underground lake in Yaren, close to Parliament House. Its caves can be entered at your own risk, but do not go alone, and expect mud on the path after rain. Swimming is not recommended.
Practical notes
A visa must be arranged before you travel, and Nauru Airlines is the only passenger carrier. Bring Australian dollars in cash, because cards are not accepted and the single ATM at Menen Hotel is often empty. Normal travel precautions apply, and cyclone and swell risk runs from November to May.
Booking
Walkers organise a guide on the island, usually through the hotel. You can search GetYourGuide for any new Nauru listings. Safety and entry advice is on the UK government page for Nauru .
Read more: Sightseeing on Nauru and Solo activities on Nauru .