Things to Do in Nauru in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Nauru
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + December lands in Nauru's dry shoulder season, the calm before January's deluge. Count on 21 mostly-sunny days. Brief afternoon showers roll through, then vanish fast enough for sunset on Command Ridge.
- + The phosphate dust that blankets everything from June to October finally settles, so the 19 km (11.8 mile) coastal ring road feels almost pleasant for once.
- + Island flights shrink to once-daily instead of the usual twice-daily. Sounds like a hassle until you see the departure lounge, now it holds 12 people instead of 40.
- + Families wrap up their December white-corn harvest and set up roadside stalls along the road to Anibare Bay. The sweet-smoky scent of roasted cobs drifts for half a kilometre.
- − Accommodation on Nauru boils down to two choices, and the better one, the OD-N-Aiwo Hotel, fills with phosphate workers on Christmas break. Reserve six weeks ahead, minimum.
- − The island's lone ATM runs dry of Australian dollars twice as often in December, as expats pull cash for holiday shopping in Brisbane.
- − By 2 p.m. the humidity hits 85 %, turning the climb above Buada Lagoon into the sensation of breathing through a wet towel.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December's low tides bare coral gardens at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., dropping the water to knee-deep across 200 m (656 feet) of reef flat. The afternoon low coincides with golden hour, gifting an hour of photography before the sea surges back. Expect giant clams the size of dinner plates and parrotfish trapped in tide pools, fish that look plainly irritated by your presence.
The 65 m (213 feet) climb up the old phosphate railway track takes 20 minutes and rewards you with 360-degree views across the entire island. December's trade winds swing round, pushing the usual phosphate haze seaward so the horizon curves clearly. Sunset strikes at 6:47 p.m., pack a headlamp for the descent. Only one streetlight lights the ridge.
This brackish lake stays 2 °C (4 °F) cooler than the ocean in December, thanks to underground springs. The water looks like milky tea, stained by tannins from surrounding pandanus. Locals swim here after work when the ocean turns rough. You'll share the water with kids launching backflips off the concrete boat ramp while their mothers scrub laundry on the shore.
The 19 km (11.8 mile) ring road takes 90 minutes at an easy pace, threading through all 14 districts of Nauru. December's easterly winds push you along the southern coast, making the ride almost effortless. Along the way you'll pass phosphate loaders rusting into the sea, roadside graves dressed with empty beer bottles, and elderly women selling coconuts from wheelbarrows outside their homes.
Local fishermen squeeze 6, 8 passengers onto 20-foot aluminium boats and head 5 km (3.1 miles) offshore to the drop-off where yellowfin tuna chase flying fish through December's clear water. Boats leave Anibare harbour at 5:30 a.m. when the sea lies flat as glass, returning by 2 p.m. before storms build. You'll share the deck with locals hauling ice chests of beer and sweet potato for lunch.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
The event falls on January 31 but spills into December with traditional dance shows at the Aiwo District sports field and a feast of roasted pig and white corn shared among extended families. Dancing starts at sunset and lasts until generators sputter out around midnight.
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