Nauru
Travel Destination – Nauru
Covering just 21 square kilometres and home to roughly 10,000 residents, Nauru is the third smallest country in the world and one of its least visited. What this tiny nation lacks in size, it makes up for in experiences. One of the most popular activities is circumnavigating the entire country via its 21-kilometre coastal road, a journey of around 30 minutes by car offering views of the coastline, local villages, and phosphate landscapes, a rare opportunity to drive around an entire nation in under an hour.
Nauru's highest point, Command Ridge, sits 65 metres above sea level and offers 360-degree views alongside abandoned Japanese bunkers and rusting artillery from World War II. Anibare Bay offers a postcard-perfect crescent of white sand and calm, clear water ideal for swimming and snorkelling, with colourful fish visible just offshore, while the Moqua Caves on the island's south coast contain freshwater pools and limestone formations, providing a cool escape from the tropical heat. The vast inland plateau known as Topside, scarred by over a century of phosphate mining, offers a hauntingly unique landscape of limestone pinnacles found nowhere else on earth.
Nauru is a genuinely remote destination with very limited tourism infrastructure, so thorough health preparation before departure is essential for a safe and enjoyable visit.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to Nauru, booking an appointment with a travel doctor at least six to eight weeks ahead of departure is strongly recommended. Nauru has extremely limited healthcare facilities, with only one main hospital and minimal capacity for specialist treatment or complex medical care. Any significant illness or injury is likely to require medical evacuation, making comprehensive travel insurance covering emergency transport an essential, non-negotiable part of your planning.
A travel health consultation allows your doctor to review your vaccination history, recommend appropriate immunisations, and provide tailored advice based on your itinerary and activities. Pack a comprehensive personal medical kit, including any regular prescription medications for the full duration of your stay, as pharmacy supplies on the island are very limited and cannot be relied upon.
Insect avoidance
Mosquito-borne disease is one of the most significant health risks in Nauru. Dengue and chikungunya are both present, transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which bites mainly during daytime hours. This means insect protection needs to be maintained throughout the day, not just at dusk and dawn.
Apply insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin to all exposed skin and reapply regularly. Wear neutral-coloured, long-sleeved, breathable clothing where practical, and consider pre-treating outer clothing and gear with permethrin for an extra layer of protection. Stay in accommodation with fly screens or air-conditioning, and ensure any water containers around your accommodation are emptied or covered, as these can become mosquito breeding sites.
Food and water hygiene
Nauruan cuisine reflects the island's Pacific roots and limited local produce, drawing heavily on fresh fish, coconut, and imported staples, with the small local supermarkets and the Civic Centre commercial complex among the main places to find food and supplies.
Food and water hygiene is essential, as resources and infrastructure on the island are limited and gastroenteritis can occur. Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected, and stick to bottled water throughout your stay, avoiding ice unless you are confident of its source. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser when facilities are unavailable. Choose freshly prepared, fully cooked food served hot, and be cautious with food that has been sitting out, given the consistently warm tropical climate.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Nauru?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver spread through the faecal oral route, most commonly through contaminated food, or water. Symptoms usually develop two to six weeks after exposure and can include fatigue, fever, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice. While most people recover fully, illness can be prolonged and severe complications may occur, particularly in older adults and those with existing liver disease.
Vaccination is recommended for most travellers to Nauru, as infection can occur even in reputable accommodation or restaurants due to contaminated food or infected food handlers.
Typhoid
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Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi, contracted through contaminated food or water, and causes sustained high fever, headache, fatigue, and abdominal pain. There is a moderate risk for most travellers to Nauru, and vaccination is recommended particularly for those travelling to smaller settlements, villages, or rural areas outside the usual tourist routes, though given Nauru's small size, this can apply to much of the island. Maintaining good food and water hygiene remains important alongside vaccination.
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious viral illness spread through the air, causing fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic spreading rash. Measles outbreaks continue to occur around the world, and ensuring vaccination is up to date is recommended before departure. Australian travellers born during or since 1966 require two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine to be considered adequately protected. A travel doctor can confirm whether your vaccination history is complete.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and is spread through contact with infected blood and bodily fluids, including through sexual contact, sharing needles, unsterile medical or cosmetic procedures, and from mother to child during childbirth. While many infections cause no immediate symptoms, acute hepatitis B can cause fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice. In some people, the infection becomes chronic, increasing the long term risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for travellers to Nauru, particularly those who may have sexual contact with new partners, require medical or dental treatment, receive tattoos or piercings, or have potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids. The vaccine is safe and highly effective, usually given as a three dose course, and provides long lasting protection.
Routine vaccinations
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Routine vaccinations are essential given the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases globally, especially markedly high rates of diphtheria, pertussis, and measles. Before travelling to Nauru, ensure your routine immunisations are current, including MMR, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. A tetanus booster is usually advised if it has been some years since your last dose. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended for most travellers, given that blood-borne disease transmission risk exists wherever access to screened blood products or sterile medical equipment cannot be guaranteed. Annual influenza vaccination and up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination in line with Australian guidelines are also worthwhile. A travel health consultation can identify any other gaps specific to your age and health history.
Nauru
Other health risks in Nauru
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis is one of the most common illnesses affecting travellers to Nauru and is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or occasionally parasites spread through contaminated food, water, or poor hand hygiene. Symptoms including diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and sometimes fever typically develop within two to three days of exposure.
Most cases are mild and improve within a few days with rest and adequate hydration. Oral rehydration solutions are particularly useful to replace lost fluids and electrolytes, especially in children, older travellers, and those with significant diarrhoea or vomiting. Medical attention should be sought urgently for severe dehydration, persistent symptoms, high fever, blood in the stool, or inability to keep fluids down.
As Nauru has limited medical facilities, prevention is especially important. Travellers should drink bottled or treated water where appropriate, eat freshly cooked food served hot, avoid food that has been left at room temperature, and maintain good hand hygiene throughout their trip.
Dengue
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Dengue fever is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes that mainly feed during daytime hours, causing a flu-like illness that can occasionally develop into a more serious, life-threatening condition.
There was an active outbreak reported on the island in 2025, therefore requiring adequate preventative measures. Symptoms include a sudden onset of fever, headache, and severe joint, bone, and muscle pain. Severe dengue is rare in travellers, but there is no specific treatment, so consistent mosquito bite prevention throughout the day remains the most important protective measure. Given Nauru's very limited hospital capacity, any traveller who develops a high fever during or after their visit should seek medical assessment without delay.
Tuberculosis
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection spread through the air when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sings, primarily affecting the lungs and causing persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
As with many Pacific island nations, TB risk in Nauru is elevated compared with Australia, and the risk to short-term holidaymakers with limited contact with local communities is generally low, while those staying for extended periods or working closely with local populations face a higher risk of exposure. Anyone developing a persistent cough or unexplained fever after returning from Nauru should seek medical review and mention their travel history.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Nauru is a small, close-knit community with a generally low crime rate, and violent crime against tourists is rare. As with any destination, sensible precautions are worthwhile, such as keeping valuables secure, not leaving belongings unattended, and exercising normal caution when out and about, particularly after dark. Political and social tensions are uncommon, and Nauru does not have a history of significant civil unrest. Always check the Australian Government's Smartraveller website for the most current advice before and during your trip, as conditions in any destination can change.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Travelling to Nauru from Australia requires long flights with limited weekly services, typically connecting through Brisbane, Fiji, or Kiribati, meaning total travel time can be considerable. Extended periods of immobility during these flights can raise the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where reduced blood flow allows clots to form in the deep veins of the legs.
To reduce this risk, move around the cabin regularly, perform simple seated leg exercises such as ankle circles and calf raises, and stay well hydrated throughout your journey. Travellers with additional risk factors, including a personal or family history of blood clots, recent surgery, pregnancy, use of the oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy, or obesity, should seek personalised advice from a travel doctor before departure, who may recommend additional preventive measures, such as below-knee compression stockings.