Nauru with Kids
Family travel guide for parents planning with children
Top Family Activities
The best things to do with kids in Nauru.
Anibare Bay Beach Day
The only proper beach on Nauru with gentle waves good for little ones. Locals set up casual BBQs on weekends and always welcome kids to join beach cricket games.
Central Plateau Phosphate Mine Tour
An unusual landscape of limestone pinnacles that's like a real-life geology lesson. Kids love climbing the white rock formations while learning about the island's mining history.
Buada Lagoon Swimming
A freshwater lagoon surrounded by palm trees - Nauru's only non-salty swimming spot. The water is cool and deep enough for proper swimming lessons.
World War II Relic Hunt
Explore Japanese bunkers, rusted guns, and the eerie abandoned detention center. It's like a history museum without walls, good for adventure-seeking kids.
Coastal Road Cycling Circuit
Rent bikes and cruise the 19km ring road - flat, safe, with impressive ocean views the entire way. Every passing car will wave at your kids.
Local Sports Match Watching
Nauruans are obsessed with Australian football and weightlifting. Weekend matches at the sports oval are social events where kids get treated like celebrities.
Best Areas for Families
Where to base yourselves for the smoothest family trip.
Where you'll likely spend most beach time. The district has the only proper beach access and most family-friendly accommodation options.
Highlights: Beach playground, shallow swimming, weekend BBQs with local families, walking distance to Menen Hotel's pool
Central location with the island's only playground, plus easy access to the main supermarket and pharmacy - important with kids.
Highlights: Nauru Primary playground (locals welcome visitors), Nauru Supermarket for snacks/pharmacy, walking distance to restaurants
Quiet residential area with sunset views and direct access to the WWII sites. Less touristy but still family-friendly.
Highlights: Sunset viewing spots, flat roads for cycling, close to Japanese bunker sites, fewer dogs roaming
Family Dining
Where and how to eat with children.
Nauru's dining scene is tiny but incredibly welcoming to families. Restaurants are casual, service is slow (plan accordingly), and kids are welcomed - you'll often find your children being entertained by the owner's children while you eat.
Dining Tips for Families
- Order meals for kids early - everything's cooked fresh so takes 20-30 minutes
- Most places close between 2-6pm, so plan snacks accordingly
- Tap water is safe but tastes salty - bottled water is widely available
The most reliable family option with high chairs, kids menu, and a lawn where children can run around.
Three basic shops serve the island's best food - simple, fried, and universally appealing to kids.
Nauru's most established restaurants serve familiar dishes like sweet and sour pork that kids recognize.
Tips by Age Group
Tailored advice for every stage of childhood.
Challenging but doable. The heat is brutal, there's one tiny shaded playground, and no changing facilities anywhere.
Challenges: No shade at most sites, limited high chairs, dogs roaming freely
- Bring a portable shade tent for beach days
- Nap in AC during midday heat
- Pack familiar snacks - local food is very limited
Perfect age for Nauru - old enough for adventure, young enough to be fascinated by everything. The WWII sites and phosphate mines feel like real-life treasure hunts.
Learning: Real-world geography lessons about island formation, WWII history visible everywhere, environmental lessons about phosphate mining
- Let them collect shells - locals encourage it
- Download offline maps for DIY treasure hunts
- Teach them to say 'Ekamowir' (hello) - locals love it
Surprisingly engaging for teens who've seen it all. The isolation itself becomes a novelty, and the WWII history is compelling.
Independence: Safe enough for teens to explore alone - the ring road means they can't get lost. Local teens often invite visitors to join football games.
- Let them handle restaurant ordering - English is widely spoken
- Instagram opportunities at the abandoned phosphate factory
- Encourage them to learn about Nauru's obesity epidemic - it's a real-world health lesson
Practical Logistics
The nuts and bolts of family travel.
One ring road circles the island - rental cars are automatic and take car seats. No public transport exists. But hitchhiking is safe and locals often give families rides. Walking works for short distances, though the heat limits how far kids can go.
Nauru General Hospital in Aiwo District handles basic emergencies. The pharmacy next to Nauru Superstock has diapers, formula, and common medications. Bring any prescription medications - supply chains are unreliable.
Book family rooms at Menen Hotel for AC and pool access. Guesthouses often have multiple bedrooms good for families. But confirm mosquito net availability. Ask for ground floor rooms to avoid stairs with strollers.
- Reef shoes for sharp coral
- High-SPF reef-safe sunscreen (expensive locally)
- Snacks for restaurant gaps
- Small gifts for local children
- Portable fan for hot rooms
Family Safety
Keeping your family safe and healthy.
- ! Heat exhaustion is the real danger - plan indoor activities 11am-3pm, carry water everywhere
- ! Sharp coral at all beaches requires reef shoes for kids
- ! Dogs roam freely but are generally friendly - teach kids not to approach unfamiliar animals
- ! No lifeguards at beaches - supervise swimming closely as currents can be unpredictable
- ! Tap water is safe but salty - kids might refuse it, so stock up on bottled water
- ! Bring strong sunscreen - the equatorial sun burns in under 15 minutes
- ! Weekend parties crank the volume, ask for a room well clear of the sports oval on Friday nights if you want any sleep.
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