BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

There is a community or island bus which travels around the island every hour or so during the day. It costs 50 cents per trip around the island. Also, locals sometimes cling to the cars of the goods train between Aiwo and the inland mining area.

BY CAR:

Nauru is so small that it takes less than one hour to drive right around it. The 19-km Island Ring Road circles the island and is paved — however this is not the case for most of the inland roads. The airport taxiway cuts across three of the twenty kilometres of road. The only traffic lights on the island are used to stop the traffic and allow the plane to cross the road to the terminal! This is a favourite souvenir snapshot taken by visitors.

Traffic drives on the left and drivers should be on increased lookout for animals and pedestrians while driving on the beltway.

Cars or bicycles can sometimes be rented from Capelle and Partners, the largest local supermarket. Otherwise you can ask at your hotel or just ask a local. Foreigners need an international driver’s licence to drive on Nauru. Fuel shortages are not unheard of.

Most food is imported from Australia and arrives by ship or air, usually once every six to eight weeks. You can find western and Asian (primarily Chinese) food. Because of the tropical climate dishes might not be as heavy and hearty as the original versions. As not all ingredients may be available, dishes are often rather simple.

Since Nauru is an island nation, seafood is very popular in its restaurants. Cooked and smoked hams are also very popular, as meat is one of their main dishes.

Budget:

• Fast food kiosk. At Capelle’s supermarket, in the north of the island. Serves western fast food.
  
• Kasuo. Chinese restaurant near the Aiwo hotel. Serves mostly fish and fried rice and noodles.

In addition to these, you’ll also find some small inexpensive “eating places”, selling Chinese food.

Mid-range:

• Anibare (at Menen Hotel). Seafood and international.
  
• The Bay Restaurant (Anibare Bay). Specialising in fish dishes, but has pizza and Indian food. Actually located in Anibare, where the local fishing boats arrive. Popular with visitors and locals alike, review sites rank this as the best restaurant on the island.
  
• Oriental (at Menen Hotel). Different Asian food (Thai, Indian, Chinese).
  
• Reynaldo’s (next to the airport terminal). Reynaldo’s is a popular name in the list of restaurants and bars in Nauru. It is a local restaurant that offers authentic Chinese cuisines. Also one of the few places on Nauru serving alcohol.

Splurge:

• Antinas, Yaren district (near the southern end of the runway). Somewhat upscale seafood restaurant, also serving alcohol.

DRINK:

• Reef Bar (at the Menen Hotel). The only public bar in Nauru. If you’re staying at the other hotel on the island, Od-N-Aiwo, it’s about 5.5 km away along the ring road. It serves Australian beers and international spirits. The barroom has a couple of pool tables, satellite TV and recorded music. It’s lively at the weekends, as Nauruans are paid on Fridays, and quiet on weeknights. New faces will be enthusiastically welcomed by the locals and the expats will usually have a chat. No flip flops/thongs (enclosed sandals are OK) and men must wear a shirt with a collar.

Other than that, restaurants and shops offer soft drinks and some also have alcoholic beverages.

There are two hotels, the more expensive Menen on the east of the island and the budget Od’n Aiwo to the west. In addition to these, the supermarket has guest rooms in the north of the island.

• Capelle & Partner Ewa Lodge (Capelle & Partner), +674 557 1000, cpfinance@eftel.net.au. In Ewa, northwestern Nauru. The supermarket complex offers accommodation seven self-catering apartments and five rooms. $95.
  
• Menen Hotel, Anibare District (On the coastal belt road, to the east side of the island and south of Anibare Bay.), +674 557 8020, menenhotel@cenpac.net.nr. The Menen is Nauru’s largest hotel, boasting 119 rooms and conference facilities for up to 200. It has two restaurants and the island’s only bar. $95-160, suites $255-500.
  
• Od’n Aiwo Hotel, Aiwo District (On the coastal belt road, to the west side of the island, directly opposite the road inland to Buada), odinaiwohotel@cenpac.net.nr. The less expensive of the two hotels on Nauru. Popular with backpackers, it has fewer rooms than Menen but is still the tallest building on the island. The hotel has two restaurants. US$40-80.

TBC.