A look at one of the most isolated countries on Earth

17th June 2024

Authored by Weirdsmiths

While not cut off from the outside world by any means, the island nation of Nauru is one of the least-exposed places on Earth that can openly be visited by tourists. It has been independent since 1968 and remains a member of the Commonwealth, yet rarely accepts any outside aid or interference, running mostly independently since.

History and Origins

Nauru has been the home to a permanent population for over 3,000 years, with the Micronesian peoples settling initially, with a possibility of Polynesian influence too. There isn’t much of a documented history of the island, it remained in relative isolation from the outside world until the late 18th Century, when it was “discovered” by British traders.

From that point on, Nauru had regular contact with European sailors, mainly through the whaling and merchant industries. Trade with the island became a staple for its people, mostly the exchange of island goods for firearms, though this would later transition to the extraction and sale of phosphate.

Nauru is entirely a phosphate-rock island, with large and rich deposits over the entire surface. Despite the rich resource, the nation is relatively poor, and the last viable extractions of phosphate occurred in the 1990s. This lack of natural resource and relative lack of outside interference has resulted in Nauru having a varied stream of income over the decades, some legal, some not. The lack of funds has also led to various controversial and questionable ideas by both the Nauruan government and the near-by Australia, who in recent years have had a closer relationship with the nation.

Travel and Tourism

If you couldn’t already tell from the above, the travel and tourism infrastructure in Nauru is not fantastic, with many challenges to overcome on a visit. To begin with, Nauru Airlines (pictured above) consists of a fleet of 7 aircraft, all of which fly individual routes that leaves infrequent and expensive flight options. Flights are possible from Fiji and Australia, as well as other smaller islands, all to the central Nauru International Airport.

When you do make it to the island, there aren’t many guesthouses or hotels available for your stay. The ones that do exist can be quite expensive, especially during peak travel seasons compared to other Pacific Islands, and the same can be said for food and drink. There isn’t much public transport on the island, so hiring a car may be your only mode of transport – another thing that might not be in wide availability depending on when you go.

Travel to Nauru can be expensive and begins with a challenging and costly visa application process, but the destination is definitely worth the effort and price if you can afford it.

Highlights

Due to its remote nature and lack of infrastructure, Nauru offers an island experience unlike any other in the Pacific. Travellers here will find deep cultural experiences and a true reflection of island life, with little catering to the tourism industry.

There aren’t many sightseeing adventures, landmarks and hotspots that you must visit, but the entire island is full of beautiful scenery and you’ll find culture and history oozing from every corner. Visiting the island’s capital of Yaren will give you your closest experience to other places, but it’s pretty small and you’ll quickly find yourself elsewhere.

One of the best parts of the island is surprisingly not on the beautiful coastline, but rather the roughly centural Buada National Park. It’s here that you’ll find the Buada Lagoon, the only freshwater spot in the country and, as such, home to a unique array of fish and bird species.

Finally, not all of Nauru is accessible to the public, but the Nauru Phosphate Corporation do offer tours of old mines that give a deeper look at what put the nation on the map and a major source of income for the island.

To summarise, Nauru may not be the top of a travel list for the Pacific Ocean, but it is a destination that is nothing but unique. If you’re planning on an island-hopping trip in Oceania, or maybe visiting the nearby nations of Australia, Fiji, Palau, Marshall Islands or Micronesia; we highly recommend adding on a few days in Nauru.

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