Author - Darren McLean

Tonga Photo Gallery

The wreck at Pangaimotu Island provides and ideal snorkeling spot.

Tonga Photo Gallery

This is a Tonga Photo Gallery. To read about this destination, please refer to my Tonga Travel Guide.


All images are copyright! If you wish to purchase any images for commercial use, please contact me via the Contact page.


 


About taste2travel!

Hi! My name is Darren McLean, the owner of taste2travel. I’ve been travelling the world for 33 years and, 209 countries and territories, and – seven continents later, I’m still on the road.

Taste2travel offers travel information for destinations around the world, specialising in those that are remote and seldom visited. I hope you enjoy my content!

Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with the idea of travel. I started planning my first overseas trip at the age of 19 and departed Australia soon after my 20th birthday. Many years later, I’m still on the road.

In 2016, I decided to document and share my journeys and photography with a wider audience and so, taste2travel.com was born.

My aim is to create useful, usable travel guides/ reports on destinations I have visited. My reports are very comprehensive and detailed as I believe more information is better than less. They are best suited to those planning a journey to a particular destination.

Many of the destinations featured on my website are far off the regular beaten tourist trail. Often, these countries are hidden gems which remain undiscovered, mostly because they are remote and difficult to reach. I enjoy exploring and showcasing these ‘off-the-radar’ destinations, which will, hopefully, inspire others to plan their own adventure to a far-flung corner of the planet.

I’m also a fan of travel trivia and if you are too, you’ll find plenty of travel quizzes on the site.

Photography has always been a passion and all the photos appearing in these galleries were taken by me.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me via the contact page.

I hope you this gallery and my website.

Safe travels!

Darren


Follow me on Instagram: 

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Vanuatu Photo Gallery

A friendly boy near Takara Hot Springs on Efate.

Vanuatu Photo Gallery

This is a Vanuatu Photo Gallery. To read about this destination, please refer to my Vanuatu Travel Guide.


All images are copyright! If you wish to purchase any images for commercial use, please contact me via the Contact page.


 


About taste2travel!

Hi! My name is Darren McLean, the owner of taste2travel. I’ve been travelling the world for 33 years and, 209 countries and territories, and – seven continents later, I’m still on the road.

Taste2travel offers travel information for destinations around the world, specialising in those that are remote and seldom visited. I hope you enjoy my content!

Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with the idea of travel. I started planning my first overseas trip at the age of 19 and departed Australia soon after my 20th birthday. Many years later, I’m still on the road.

In 2016, I decided to document and share my journeys and photography with a wider audience and so, taste2travel.com was born.

My aim is to create useful, usable travel guides/ reports on destinations I have visited. My reports are very comprehensive and detailed as I believe more information is better than less. They are best suited to those planning a journey to a particular destination.

Many of the destinations featured on my website are far off the regular beaten tourist trail. Often, these countries are hidden gems which remain undiscovered, mostly because they are remote and difficult to reach. I enjoy exploring and showcasing these ‘off-the-radar’ destinations, which will, hopefully, inspire others to plan their own adventure to a far-flung corner of the planet.

I’m also a fan of travel trivia and if you are too, you’ll find plenty of travel quizzes on the site.

Photography has always been a passion and all the photos appearing in these galleries were taken by me.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me via the contact page.

I hope you this gallery and my website.

Safe travels!

Darren


Follow me on Instagram: 

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Solomon Islands Photo Gallery

So many sweet memories from the Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands Photo Gallery

This is a Solomon Islands Photo Gallery. To read about this destination, please refer to my Solomon Islands Travel Guide.


All images are copyright! If you wish to purchase any images for commercial use, please contact me via the Contact page.


 


About taste2travel!

Hi! My name is Darren McLean, the owner of taste2travel. I’ve been travelling the world for 33 years and, 209 countries and territories, and – seven continents later, I’m still on the road.

Taste2travel offers travel information for destinations around the world, specialising in those that are remote and seldom visited. I hope you enjoy my content!

Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with the idea of travel. I started planning my first overseas trip at the age of 19 and departed Australia soon after my 20th birthday. Many years later, I’m still on the road.

In 2016, I decided to document and share my journeys and photography with a wider audience and so, taste2travel.com was born.

My aim is to create useful, usable travel guides/ reports on destinations I have visited. My reports are very comprehensive and detailed as I believe more information is better than less. They are best suited to those planning a journey to a particular destination.

Many of the destinations featured on my website are far off the regular beaten tourist trail. Often, these countries are hidden gems which remain undiscovered, mostly because they are remote and difficult to reach. I enjoy exploring and showcasing these ‘off-the-radar’ destinations, which will, hopefully, inspire others to plan their own adventure to a far-flung corner of the planet.

I’m also a fan of travel trivia and if you are too, you’ll find plenty of travel quizzes on the site.

Photography has always been a passion and all the photos appearing in these galleries were taken by me.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me via the contact page.

I hope you this gallery and my website.

Safe travels!

Darren


Follow me on Instagram: 

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Taste2travel Photo Galleries

Taste2travel Photo Galleries

Taste2travel Photo Galleries

Welcome to the taste2travel Photo Galleries introduction.

Introduction

During this time of stay home – stay safe, I’ve created a single archive of all my travel photos. The archive consists of 85,000 images, from 33 years of travels, to (so far) 205 countries and territories.

"You

From the archive, a curated selection of images will be uploaded into photo galleries on taste2travel. The galleries can be accessed from a drop-menu option on the homepage.

Initially, I’ve created 83 country-galleries which include images from reports contained on taste2travel.

In the future, I will create more country-galleries, which will include a wealth of material from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and more….

Stay tuned!

Darren

 


About taste2travel!

Hi! My name is Darren McLean, the owner of taste2travel. I’ve been travelling the world for 33 years and, 206 countries and territories, and – seven continents later, I’m still on the road.

Taste2travel offers travel information for destinations around the world, specialising in those that are remote and seldom visited. I hope you enjoy my content!

Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with the idea of travel. I started planning my first overseas trip at the age of 19 and set sail from Australia soon after my 20th birthday. Thirty-two years later and I’m still on the road

In 2016, I decided to document and share my journeys and photography with a wider audience and so, taste2travel.com was born.

My aim is to create useful, usable travel guides/ reports on destinations I have visited. My reports are very comprehensive and detailed as I believe more information is better than less. They are best suited to those planning a journey to a particular destination.

Many of the destinations featured on my website are far off the regular beaten tourist trail. Often, these countries are hidden gems which remain undiscovered, mostly because they are remote and difficult to reach. I enjoy exploring and showcasing these ‘off-the-radar’ destinations, which will, hopefully, inspire others to plan their own adventure to a far-flung corner of the planet.

I’m also a fan of travel trivia and if you are too, you’ll find plenty of travel quizzes on the site.

Photography has always been a passionate and all the photos appearing in these galleries were taken by me.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me via the contact page.

I hope you this gallery and my website.

Safe travels!

Darren


Follow me on Instagram: 

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Transnistria Photo Gallery

The Dom Sovetov (House of Soviets), serves as the Tiraspol City Hall and is fronted by a bust of Lenin.

Transnistria Photo Gallery

This is a Transnistria Photo Gallery. To read about this destination, please refer to my Transnistria Travel Guide.


All images are copyright! If you wish to purchase any images for commercial use, please contact me via the Contact page.


 


About taste2travel!

Hi! My name is Darren McLean, the owner of taste2travel. I’ve been travelling the world for 33 years and, 209 countries and territories, and – seven continents later, I’m still on the road.

Taste2travel offers travel information for destinations around the world, specialising in those that are remote and seldom visited. I hope you enjoy my content!

Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with the idea of travel. I started planning my first overseas trip at the age of 19 and departed Australia soon after my 20th birthday. Many years later, I’m still on the road.

In 2016, I decided to document and share my journeys and photography with a wider audience and so, taste2travel.com was born.

My aim is to create useful, usable travel guides/ reports on destinations I have visited. My reports are very comprehensive and detailed as I believe more information is better than less. They are best suited to those planning a journey to a particular destination.

Many of the destinations featured on my website are far off the regular beaten tourist trail. Often, these countries are hidden gems which remain undiscovered, mostly because they are remote and difficult to reach. I enjoy exploring and showcasing these ‘off-the-radar’ destinations, which will, hopefully, inspire others to plan their own adventure to a far-flung corner of the planet.

I’m also a fan of travel trivia and if you are too, you’ll find plenty of travel quizzes on the site.

Photography has always been a passion and all the photos appearing in these galleries were taken by me.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me via the contact page.

I hope you this gallery and my website.

Safe travels!

Darren


Follow me on Instagram: 

[instagram-feed feed=1]


 

Aruba Photo Gallery

Aruba Travel Guide: Eagle beach, Aruba.

Aruba Photo Gallery

This is an Aruba Photo Gallery. To read about this destination, please refer to my Aruba Travel Guide.


All images are copyright! If you wish to purchase any images for commercial use, please contact me via the Contact page.


 


About taste2travel!

Hi! My name is Darren McLean, the owner of taste2travel. I’ve been travelling the world for 33 years and, 209 countries and territories, and – seven continents later, I’m still on the road.

Taste2travel offers travel information for destinations around the world, specialising in those that are remote and seldom visited. I hope you enjoy my content!

Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with the idea of travel. I started planning my first overseas trip at the age of 19 and departed Australia soon after my 20th birthday. Many years later, I’m still on the road.

In 2016, I decided to document and share my journeys and photography with a wider audience and so, taste2travel.com was born.

My aim is to create useful, usable travel guides/ reports on destinations I have visited. My reports are very comprehensive and detailed as I believe more information is better than less. They are best suited to those planning a journey to a particular destination.

Many of the destinations featured on my website are far off the regular beaten tourist trail. Often, these countries are hidden gems which remain undiscovered, mostly because they are remote and difficult to reach. I enjoy exploring and showcasing these ‘off-the-radar’ destinations, which will, hopefully, inspire others to plan their own adventure to a far-flung corner of the planet.

I’m also a fan of travel trivia and if you are too, you’ll find plenty of travel quizzes on the site.

Photography has always been a passion and all the photos appearing in these galleries were taken by me.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me via the contact page.

I hope you this gallery and my website.

Safe travels!

Darren


Follow me on Instagram: 

[instagram-feed feed=1]


 

Travel Quiz 21: Africa

Africa Travel Quiz: Fulani Girls, Nigeria

Africa Travel Quiz

This is an Africa Travel quiz from taste2travel!

How well do you know Africa?

Test your knowledge of with this Africa Travel quiz from taste2travel. 

How well will you score? Your result will be displayed at the bottom of the quiz – will you get to see the legendary Marco Polo?

Good luck!


01. If you were dining at a restaurant in Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, and you paid in the local currency, which currency would you use?

My favourite restaurant in Mamoudzou, the charming Auberge du Rond-Point offers wonderful meals.
Correct! Wrong!

02. Which country would you be visiting if you were shopping at the craft market in the capital city of Mbabane?

Handicrafts in Mbabane Market, Eswatini.
Correct! Wrong!

03. Africa's largest canyon, the Fish River Canyon, is located in which country?

Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Correct! Wrong!

04. The Bardo National Museum houses one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. In which city is it located?

Mosaic at the Bardo National Museum, Tunis, Tunisia
Correct! Wrong!

05. The fabled city of Timbuktu (Tombouctou in French) is located in which country?

Timbuktu sign in Algeria
Correct! Wrong!

06. Voted the world's most beautiful beach, Anse Source D'Argent is located on which African island nation?

Anse Source d’Argent has been voted "the most beautiful beach" in the world. Praslin island is visible in the background.
Correct! Wrong!

07. In which country would you be if you were visiting this ancient ruin complex.

Great Zimbabwe ruin complex
Correct! Wrong!

08. This large adobe mosque is considered by many architects to be one of the greatest achievements of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style. In which city is it located?

Djenné Mosque, Mali
Correct! Wrong!

09. With an estimated 2,400 remaining in the wild, the endangered Grevy's zebra is one of how many different species of Zebra?

Grevy's Zebra, Samburu National Park, Kenya
Correct! Wrong!

10. Which country is famous for the production of handwoven Kente cloth?

Kente Cloth, Kumasi, Ghana
Correct! Wrong!

11. The ancient port city of Alexandria is located on which body of water?

Boats in the port city of Alexandria, Egypt
Correct! Wrong!

12. With just 400 remaining in the wild, these West African giraffe (photographed at Kouré, Niger) are one of how many sub-species of giraffe?

West African giraffes at Kouré, Niger
Correct! Wrong!

13. This is the flag of which African nation?

The flag of Mauritius is known as the 'Four Bands'.
Correct! Wrong!

14. In which country would you be if you were exploring the Okavango Delta.

Travelling through the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Correct! Wrong!

15. The people of the Fulani ethnic group inhabit the northern region of which country?

Africa Travel Quiz: Fulani Girls, Nigeria
Correct! Wrong!

16. In which country would you be if you were photographing a Reticulated giraffe in the Samburu National Reserve?

Reticulated Giraffe, Samburu National Park, Kenya
Correct! Wrong!

17. What's the name given to the small wooden sailing boats which ply the river Nile in Egypt?

Felucca's on the River Nile, Aswan, Egypt
Correct! Wrong!

18. The ancient city of Constantine is located in which country?

Sidi M'Cid Bridge, Constantine, Algeria
Correct! Wrong!

19. In which country would you be if you were visiting the stilted village of Ganvie?

The stilted village of Ganvie, Benin
Correct! Wrong!

20. The world's largest desert, the Sahara spans how many African nations?

Sahara Desert, near Aswan, Egypt
Correct! Wrong!

Travel Quiz 21: Africa
Sorry! You scored less than 50%. Why not try one of the other taste2travel trivia quizzes?

Quiz Fail Stamp

You scored less than 75%! Why not try one of the other taste2travel trivia quizzes?

Quiz Pass Stamp

Very Good - a gold star performance! Why not try one of the other taste2travel trivia quizzes?

Travel Quiz Gold Star Image

Excellent result! You're a modern day Marco Polo. Why not try one of the other taste2travel trivia quizzes?

Travel Quiz Marco Polo Image

Share your Results:


Travel Quizzes on taste2travel

Welcome to taste2travel!

My name is Darren McLean, I’m the owner of taste2travel and I love travel trivia and I certainly enjoy creating travel quizzes.

There are a total of 80 different travel quizzes on taste2travel, with each quiz containing 20 questions.

That’s a total of 1,600 trivia questions waiting to challenge you.

You’ll find a range of quizzes covering such topics as:

  • Currencies
  • Flags
  • Capital Cities
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • World Museums
  • Map Quizzes
  • Continent-specific Quizzes
  • World Islands
  • Landlocked Countries and much more!

Don’t forget to share these quizzes with your family, friends and community using the social media buttons at the top of the quiz.

Apart from excellent travel quizzes, you’ll also find other outstanding content on taste2travel – such as travel guides, photo galleries and feature articles which provide tips on booking cheap flights and much more.

Other Quizzes

Why not further test your knowledge with another taste2travel quiz?

Other travel-related quizzes are also available on BuzzFeed.

Content Links

Click on the links to access the following:

Timor-Leste Travel Guide

A view of the wonderfully isolated and pristine 'Back Beach'.

Timor-Leste Travel Guide

Welcome to the taste2travel Timor-Leste Travel Guide!

 

Date Visited: March 2020

Introduction

Located far off the well-beaten tourist track which meanders its way through southeast Asia, remote and isolated Timor-Leste (East Timor), is a rewarding and surprising travel destination.

A view from the north coast of Timor-Leste with Atauro island in the background.

A view from the north coast of Timor-Leste with Atauro island in the background.

One of the world’s newest countries, Timor-Leste offers plenty of rewarding experiences for those intrepid travellers willing to make the journey. From mountainous, ancient volcanic landscapes, to pristine beaches which are fringed by spectacular coral reefs, Timor-Leste offers so much to outdoor enthusiasts.

Friendly Timorese youth selling traditional Tais cloth in the Tais market in central Dili.

Friendly Timorese youth selling traditional Tais cloth in the Tais market in central Dili.

A long, bloodied history has left its mark on the country in many ways, with museums in Dili offering insights into Timor-Leste’s dark past.

A former Portuguese colony (which was then invaded and occupied by Indonesia shortly after the Portuguese departed), the country is full of reminders of its colonial past, from beautiful colonial-era buildings, many of which are decaying gracefully along the shady streets of Dili, to fine dining Portuguese restaurants which can be found on along the Rua’s of downtown Dili.

Timor-Leste souvenirs for sale in Dili, one of the world's youngest countries, having gained independence in 2002.

Timor-Leste souvenirs for sale in Dili, one of the world’s youngest countries, having gained independence in 2002.

Unfortunately, the country hasn’t gone out of its way to promote tourism and currently has several obstacles in place which prevent it from developing tourism. Those obstacles include:

  • Limited and expensive flights to the country by a few airlines, which operate on monopoly routes. As an example, a return flight from Singapore (one of just three gateway cities) will cost you around US$1,600! If you’re a oneworld frequent flyer, with points to spare, there is good news. For more on flight options and details, please refer to the ‘Getting There‘ section below.
  • Financial services in Timor-Leste are totally undeveloped and hardly conducive to tourism. Please refer to the ‘Banking Services‘ section below and be better prepared than I was!

My journey to Timor-Leste was unfortunately cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant I only had time to explore the sights of Dili and partake in some diving. Of what I saw and experienced, I cannot wait to return to complete my journey – once travel restrictions are lifted.

A colourful, traditional, wooden fishing boat on a beach east of Dili.

A colourful, traditional, wooden fishing boat on a beach east of Dili.

Location

Dili, Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste (East Timor) occupies the eastern half of the island of Timor, with the Indonesian province of West Timor occupying the western half. Timor-Leste includes the enclave of Oecussi, which is located within West Timor (Indonesia).

A political map of Timor showing the Indonesian province of West Timor, East Timor and the exclave of Oecusse. Source: Wikipedia.

A political map of Timor showing the Indonesian province of West Timor, East Timor and the exclave of Oecusse.
Source: Wikipedia.

This newly independent country, one of the youngest on earth, lies at the southernmost edge of the Indonesian archipelago, northwest of Australia. Darwin is located 722 km to the south-east of Dili, a flight time of 1 hour, 20 minutes.

A map of the Lesser Sunda Islands, an Indonesian island chain, with independent Timor-Leste clearly indicated. Source: Wikipedia.

A map of the Lesser Sunda Islands, an Indonesian island chain, with independent Timor-Leste clearly indicated.
Source: Wikipedia.

The island of Timor is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, an Indonesian archipelago. Some of the main Lesser Sunda Islands are, from west to east: Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba and Timor.

A view of a typical north coast beach, east of Dili.

A view of a typical north coast beach, east of Dili.

Timor-Leste has volcanic origins which have produced a rugged terrain, characterised by a central spine of steep mountains that cascade to the sea in the north while giving way to a gentler decline in the south.

People

A Timorese family enjoying sunset on the waterfront in Dili.

A Timorese family enjoying sunset on the waterfront in Dili.

With a population of around 1.3 million, the Timorese are one big community with that sense of community having been reinforced and strengthened in recent years following their struggle for independence from firstly Portugal, their former colonial master, and Indonesia, their former occupier.

Artwork at the Xanana Gusmão Reading room illustrates the young countries struggle for independence.

Artwork at the Xanana Gusmão Reading room illustrates the country’s struggle for independence.

The Timorese are a friendly, hospitable, happy, gregarious people who always made me feel welcome. Despite living hard lives, they like to laugh and will always greet you with a warm smile.

The Timorese are very religious with 98% of the population being Catholic and everything shutting down on Sundays so everyone can attend church. Roads around churches in Dili are blocked to traffic during Sunday services.

History of Migration

A young Timorese girl attending a birthday party at Cristo Rei in Dili.

A young Timorese girl attending a birthday party at Cristo Rei in Dili.

Due to different waves of migration, Timor-Leste is a patchwork of many different indigenous groups, each with its own language and cultural practices. The most popular of the indigenous languages spoken is Tetun, an Austronesian language, which is spoken by just 25% of the population.

Humans first settled in Timor-Leste around 42,000 years ago. Descendants of at least three waves of migration are believed still to live in East Timor.

Children playing in the Tais market in Dili.

Children playing in the Tais market in Dili.

The first wave, 42,000 years ago, was comprised of people described by anthropologists as Veddo-Australoid, who settled not just in Timor-Leste but continued wandering, where they eventually settled in Australia and the Pacific, as Papuans in Papua New GuineaAboriginal Australians; and the Melanesians of Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (click links to view my travel reports from those countries).

A group of Timorese celebrating a birthday at Cristo Rei.

A group of Timorese celebrating a birthday at Cristo Rei.

Around 3000 BC, a second migration brought Melanesians, who like their earlier predecessors, eventually settled the islands of the Pacific. Their arrival forced the earlier settlers to retreat to the mountainous interior of Timor-Leste, where their descendent still remain. Finally, the third migration saw proto-Malays arrive from south China and Indochina.

Did you know? Timor” derives from the Malay word ‘Timur‘, which means “east”. This was then translated by the Portuguese as “Timor“.

Flag

The flag of Timor-Leste.

The flag of Timor-Leste.

The flag of East Timor was adopted in 2002 and is the same as the flag that was originally adopted when the country declared its independence from Portugal in 1975 – nine days before being invaded by Indonesia.

The flag consists of a red field with a black isosceles triangle based on the hoist-side, bearing a white five-pointed star in the centre. This is superimposed on a larger yellow isosceles triangle, also based on the hoist-side, that extends to the centre of the flag.

A flag of Timor-Leste at the Tais Market in Dili.

A flag of Timor-Leste at the Tais Market in Dili.

The flag, which is a national symbol, is full of meaning with the yellow triangle representing “the traces of colonialism in East Timor’s history”.

The black triangle representing “the obscurantism that needs to be overcome”; the red base representing “the struggle for national liberation”; while the star, or “the light that guides”, is white to represent peace.

Souvenir model boats for sale at the Tais market, featuring Timorese-flag sails.

Souvenir model boats for sale at the Tais market, featuring Timorese-flag sails.

The national flag was first raised during the first moments of Independence Day on the 20th of May 2002, at which point, the United Nations Flag was lowered.

Currency

The United States Dollar has been the official currency of Timor-Leste since 2003.

The United States Dollar has been the official currency of Timor-Leste since 2003.

The U.S. Dollar is the official currency of Timor-Leste. The dollar was introduced in 2003, to replace the Indonesian Rupiah, during the United Nations administration period and has remained in place ever since. Currently, there is no plan to introduce a local currency.

The decision to adopt the US$ was made by the National Consultative Council (NCC) who stated that the dollar was chosen due to the fact that it is a strong and stable currency and is widely accepted around the world.

An almost complete set of Timorese Centavo coins.

An almost complete set of Timorese Centavo coins.

While the country doesn’t issue its own bank notes, it does issue its own coins, which are minted in Lisbon by the Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda, the Portuguese national mint.

Uncirculated sets of centavo coins can be purchased, at a premium, from the Banco Central de Timor-Leste.

Uncirculated sets of centavo coins can be purchased, at a premium, from the Banco Central de Timor-Leste.

The Timor-Leste centavo, which was introduced in 2003, is issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 centavos and feature images of local plants and animals. While the coins are equal in value to US cents, only centavo coins are used in Timor-Leste. Sets of uncirculated coins are sold at the Central Bank in Dili for the princely sum of USD$25 per set!

Important: US Dollar banknotes issued prior to the year 2000 are not legal tender in Timor-Leste.

If bringing USD cash to Timor-Leste, you should check each note to ensure they are all post-2000 series notes. The year of issue is printed on each note under the heading ‘Series‘ (as highlighted on the image below).

Only post-2000 US dollar bank notes are legal tender in Timor-Leste.

Only post-2000 US dollar bank notes are legal tender in Timor-Leste.

Banking Services

Despite displaying foreign exchange rates, the main branch of Bank Mandiri does not change foreign currency.

Despite displaying foreign exchange rates, the main branch of Bank Mandiri does not change foreign currency.

Terrible!

Banking services in Timor-Leste are very undeveloped and of little use to visitors. It’s important to note that no banks offer currency exchange services. While many banks offer ATM’s, these accept VISA card only.

If you’re travelling with MasterCard, American Express or any other non-Visa credit card, you will not be able to withdraw money from any ATM in Timor-Leste. You will not be able to use your credit card to access funds anywhere or to pay for expenses such as hotels etc.

I arrived in Dili from Darwin, carrying Australian dollars cash plus my MasterCard and American Express card. None of these were of any use to me in Timor-Leste! Argh!

I asked my hotel where I could exchange my AUD into USD, a standard request in most countries. They directed me to the main branch of Mandiri bank, an Indonesian bank, which was a short walk away. As I entered the bank, unofficial money-changers on the street outside the bank, offered to change my dollars, all of them offering a different rate.

Upon entering the bank, I saw an illuminated currency exchange board, fixed to the wall, which displayed the current exchange rates. I asked a staff member where I could change my Australian dollars. I was then informed that the bank didn’t have a license to perform foreign exchange and that no bank in Timor-Leste is licensed to conduct foreign exchange! Huh??

I asked the bank staff where I could change my money, they directed me to the unofficial money changers on the street.

Apart from the guys on the street, you can exchange foreign currency at the Dili branches of Western Union and MoneyGram , which are located on the ground floor of the Timor Plaza shopping centre. While both allow you to exchange your cash in the security of an office setting, their rates are abysmal compared to those offered on the street.

e.g. 

  • On the street: A$100 = US$62
  • At MoneyGram: A$100 = US$55

It’s very important that you prepare your finances prior to arriving in Timor-Leste.

You should bring enough, post-year-2000, USD cash, to cover all your travel expenses while in the country. If you do not have a Visa card you will need to settle all bills (including hotels), in USD cash. There are some work-around’s for paying hotel bills, which I cover in the ‘Accommodation‘ section below.

The now-closed Dili branch of the Australian bank, ANZ, which once offered services for MasterCard credit card holders.

The now-closed Dili branch of the Australian bank, ANZ, which once offered services for MasterCard credit card holders.

The only bank, which once offered services for MasterCard credit card holders, was ANZ, an Australian bank. Sadly, the bank has now closed its only branch, which is still in place on the ground floor of Timor Plaza, and shut down its ATM (which use to accept MasterCard). The bank still offers banking services to Timorese account holders but no branch service.

Credit Cards

Visa card is the only credit card which is accepted in Timor-Leste.

Visa card is the only credit card which is accepted in Timor-Leste.

As mentioned, VISA credit card is the only credit card accepted in Timor-Leste! If you rely on your trusty MasterCard, American Express card or any other credit card for withdrawing cash from ATM’s and paying travel expenses, you will instead need to use USD cash.

Bring lots of USD cash – do not bring any other currency! 

Alternative Money Options

If you are short of cash and cannot access your hard-earned savings, there are a couple of options which can save the day:

  1. Use the online service of Western Union or MoneyGram to transfer money to yourself.
  2. Use your online banking service to transfer funds from your bank account to your hotel’s bank account.

Costs

The drinks menu at the Spa Cafe in Dili.

The drinks menu at the Spa Cafe in Dili.

One thing you can be sure of in any country which uses U.S. dollars, no matter how poor the country, the cost of everything will be higher because everything is priced in dollars rather than a local currency.

It’s much easier for a taxi driver in Dili to quote USD$5 for a short journey around town, whereas, next door in Indonesia, a taxi driver would find it difficult asking a customer to pay 78,000 Rupiah, the equivalent amount, for the same journey.

Likewise, hotels, restaurant and travel agents are all able to quote higher prices thanks to everything being priced in dollars.

For many years, Dili was home to a small army of high-earning UN consultants and aid workers who had money to burn. During this time, locals learnt that easy money could be made from foreigners. Today, anything geared towards foreigners is expensive, including cafes, restaurants, hotels.

Daily Travel Budgets

The following provides a rough indication of daily travel budgets:

  • Budget: Less than USD$50
  • Mid-range: Between USD$50 – 150
  • Top-End: More than USD$150

Sample Travel Costs

The menu at Burger King in Dili.

The menu at Burger King in Dili.

Sample costs: 

Some of the best bargains in Timor-Leste are the hand-made crafts, such as this basket at the Tais market.

Some of the best bargains in Timor-Leste are the hand-made crafts, such as this basket at the Tais market.

Shopping

Colourful hand-woven Tais cloth for sale at the Tais Market in Dili.

Colourful hand-woven Tais cloth for sale at the Tais Market in Dili.

Affordable, beautiful, hand-made local crafts can be found at two outstanding boutiques in Dili and the ever-popular Tais Market.

Boneca de Ataúro

The wonderful staff at the Boneca de Ataúro boutique in Dili. A 'must-visit' shop for anyone spending time in the capital.

The wonderful staff at the Boneca de Ataúro boutique in Dili. A ‘must-visit’ shop for anyone spending time in the capital.

A village cooperative from the offshore island of Ataúro, the beautiful, hand-sewn crafts which are sold at the Boneca de Ataúro boutique in downtown Dili are made by a team of marginalised women on the island.

'Resistance Leaders in Camouflage' dolls, only available at Boneca de Ataúro in Dili.

‘Resistance Leaders in Camouflage’ dolls, only available at Boneca de Ataúro in Dili.

The co-op currently employs 60 women, who manufacture a range of merchandise, including some unique dolls, with my favourites being ‘resistance leaders in camouflage‘.

The project, which is now 10 years old, has opened a boutique in downtown Dili (next to Fatima Cafe on Rua José Maria Marques) which is staffed by some of the friendly woman from the co-operative.


Besides making dolls, the creative folks at the co-op have also made an award-winning short-film, which you can view here:


According to the company website, the ‘Boneca‘ is a rag-doll born on the island of exile; a doll that crossed the sea and many borders to travel around the world.

The staff at the Boneca de Ataúro boutique in downtown Dili.

The staff at the Boneca de Ataúro boutique in downtown Dili.

It’s a wonderful story and a great cause, with the shop selling a range of unique gifts which make for the best souvenirs of Timor-Leste. You can view their full range of products in their online catalogue.

'Palm-Leaf' boy and girl dolls sell for US$25 each at Boneca de Ataúro.

‘Palm-Leaf’ boy and girl dolls sell for US$25 each at Boneca de Ataúro.

Things and Stories Boutique

Ana, one of the friendly staff members at Things and Stories boutique, modelling a beautiful dress made from Timorese Tais cloth.

Ana, one of the friendly staff members at Things and Stories boutique, modelling a beautiful dress made from Timorese Tais cloth.

Not to be outdone, ‘Things and Stories‘ offer a carefully curated selection of high quality Timorese products through their boutiques at the Hotel Timor, Dili International Airport, Museum of Resistance and Timor Plaza.

Tais Market

Bundles of colourful Tais cloth for sale in Dili.

Bundles of colourful Tais cloth for sale in Dili.

The big daddy of craft markets in Timor-Leste, the popular Tais market is a great place to pick up a bargain piece of colourful Tais cloth. You should always check the provenance of any piece before you buy as many are made in Indonesia. 

A store owner weaving Tais cloth at the Tais market in Dili.

A store owner weaving Tais cloth at the Tais market in Dili.

Tais cloth is a form of traditional weaving created by the women of East Timor. An essential part of the nation’s cultural heritage, Tais weaving’s are used for ceremonial adornment, a sign of respect and appreciation towards guests, friends, relatives, home decor, and personal apparel.

Tais is an object of great importance to the Timorese and something that is used on many different occasions.

Colourful Tais cloth at the Tais market in Dili.

Colourful Tais cloth at the Tais market in Dili.

The stores at the Tais market are stacked high with piles of colourful, hand-woven Tais cloth – it’s a photographer’s dream. The many children at the market love to pose for the camera as are the weavers, who spend their time demonstrating their craft.

My very special 'Oecussi-style' Tais cloth which I purchased at the Tais Market in Dili.

My very special ‘Oecussi-style’ Tais cloth which I purchased at the Tais Market in Dili.

Of all the colourful pieces, I was most attracted to a subtle, almost monochrome piece of ‘Oecussi-style’ Tais. Each region in Timor-Leste possesses its own distinctive style of tais.

A piece of Tais cloth featuring a Salt-water crocodile, which are common in the waters surrounding Timor.

A piece of Tais cloth featuring a Salt-water crocodile, which are common in the waters surrounding Timor.

Sightseeing

The wonderfully retro 'Centro de Informação Turística' (Tourist Information office), which is located on the waterfront in Dili.

The wonderfully retro ‘Centro de Informação Turística’ (Tourist Information office), which is located on the waterfront in Dili.

Note: Due to my trip to Timor-Leste being cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, the only part of the country I was able to explore was the capital, Dili. Once the world returns to normal, I will return to Timor-Leste to explore other parts of this wonderful country.

Dili

Dili, also known as the City of Peace, is the capital, largest city, main port, and commercial centre of Timor-Leste.

Dili Waterfront

The Monument to Our Lady in Fatima Park is surrounded by a slurry of mud which washed down from the mountains during a flash flood the day before. The mud covered the entire city.

The Monument to Our Lady in Fatima Park is surrounded by a slurry of mud which washed down from the mountains during a flash flood the day before. The mud covered the entire city.

Dili waterfront is the centre of life in the capital, attracting hordes of locals who come to exercise, watch the sunset, relax on shady park benches and shop at the fruit and vegetable markets.

Portuguese cannons line the waterfront in Dili.

Portuguese cannons line the waterfront in Dili.

The centre of action is the Largo de Lecidere, a park area which boasts shady trees and free Wi-Fi. Across the road, another park, Fatima park is a formal garden which has a Portuguese-era monument, the Monument to Our Lady (pictured above) as its centrepiece.

Cristo Rei

The iconic statue of Cristo Rei, which is located on the summit of Cap Fatucama.

The iconic statue of Cristo Rei, which is located on the summit of Cap Fatucama.

Just as Rio has its Christ the Redeemer statue, so too, Dili has its Cristo Rei monument. Located on the summit of Cap Fatucama, the 27-m high statue of Christ standing on a world globe is the landmark of Dili with the statue being the most popular tourist attraction in the country.

The height of 27-metres is full of symbolism, a reference to the integration of Timor-Leste as the 27th province of Indonesia. The statue was constructed in 1996, when Timor-Leste was then a province of Indonesia. The then-President of Indonesia, President Suharto, unveiled the monument as a gift to appease the predominantly Catholic Timorese.

A view of Back Beach (left side) and Areia Branca (right side), two dazzling beaches which can be visited from Cristo Rei.

A view of Back Beach (left side) and Areia Branca (right side), two dazzling beaches which can be visited from Cristo Rei.

A staircase to the summit passes fourteen ‘Stations of the Cross’, which attracts a steady stream of locals on weekends. Visit during the week and you’ll have the place to yourself.

A view of Areia Branca, the terminus for the #12 mikrolets and the starting point for the climb to the summit.

A view of Areia Branca, the terminus for the #12 mikrolets and the starting point for the climb to the summit.

The views of the beaches either side of the cape are stunning, with the isolated Back Beach being accessible from a path which leads down from the statue. If you’re looking for somewhere to swim, this is the place, with both beaches offering pristine water and few crowds.

A view of the wonderfully isolated and pristine 'Back Beach'.

A view of the wonderfully isolated and pristine ‘Back Beach’.

Mikrolet #12 shuttles between Dili and Cristo Rei, costing just 25 cents.

Archives & Museum of East Timorese Resistance

The lobby of the Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum.

The lobby of the Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum.

Housed in the former Portuguese ‘Timor Court of Justice’ building, which was burnt down during the 1999 Timor-Leste crisis, the Archives & Museum of East Timorese Resistance documents the Indonesian invasion of Timor-Leste, the country’s subsequent occupation and finally its bloody struggle for liberation.

While the displays are interesting and engaging, photography is not allowed inside the museum. The staff did allow me to take one photo of the museum lobby which I’ve included above.

Church de Santo António de Motael

The most popular place for Sunday mass in Catholic Timor-Leste is the Church de Santo António de Motael.

The most popular place for Sunday mass in Catholic Timor-Leste is the Church de Santo António de Motael.

Overlooking the port, the Church de Santo António de Motael is the oldest Roman Catholic church in East Timor. While the current church dates from 1955, the original church was built around 1800 by the Portuguese.

If you attend one Sunday service in Dili, this is the place to do it, with the surrounding streets being barricaded by police to keep the masses of worshippers safe from traffic.

The church has been at the centre of many events during the struggle for independence from the Portuguese and the Indonesians. At the time of my visit, the Holy See (Vatican) were busy constructing an Embassy next door.

Farol do Porto de Díli (Dili Harbour Lighthouse)

Storm clouds gather over the Farol in Dili.

Storm clouds gather over the Farol in Dili.

Located around the corner from the church, the Farol do Porto de Díli (Dili Harbour Lighthouse) is a colourful lighthouse next to the beach on the west side of the harbour.

Constructed by the Portuguese in 1889, this simple construction consists of a concrete base, upon which a 17-m metal tower supports a lantern gallery, which is accessed via an exposed spiral staircase which winds its way up around the centre of the metal tower.

Arte Moris

The entrance to Arte Moris which is fronted by a Portuguese-era cannon.

The entrance to Arte Moris which is fronted by a Portuguese-era cannon.

Housed on the former premises of the National Museum in Comoro, a short distance from Dili airport, Arte Moris is the first fine arts school, cultural centre and artists’ association in Timor-Leste.

The campus at Arte Moris is full of colourful, surreal artworks which use everyday objects as their canvas.

The campus at Arte Moris is full of colourful, surreal artworks which use everyday objects as their canvas.

The school was founded following the violent Indonesian occupation. Its aim was to use art as a building block in the psychological and social reconstruction of a country devastated by violence.

Xanana Gusmão Reading Room

The museum at the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room complex is housed in a Portuguese-era building.

The museum at the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room complex is housed in a Portuguese-era building.

Established in 2000 by the wife of Xanana Gusmão, the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room (XGRR) is a complex which is comprised of a museum, which is housed in a Portuguese-era colonial building, and a modern reading room, which is located at the rear of the property.

A portrait of Xanana Gusmão dominates the displays in one of the rooms at the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room complex.

A portrait of Xanana Gusmão dominates the displays in one of the rooms at the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room complex.

The museum houses memorabilia of Timor-Leste’s first president, Xanana Gusmão, and includes artworks he painted while imprisoned in Jakarta.

Not so spacious! A replica of the tiny prison cell in which Xanana Gusmão was imprisoned.

Not so spacious! A replica of the tiny prison cell in which Xanana Gusmão was imprisoned.

Other displays include a replica of the tiny prison cell (the size of a cupboard) in which he was detained by the Indonesians; his two presidential cars (he modestly chose to drive regular cars rather than anything presidential as the country couldn’t afford anything else); artworks, sculptures and photography.

The two, very unpretentious, Presidential cars which were once owned by Xanana Gusmão. The one on the left still bears the scars (and bullet marks) of a failed ambush.

The two, very unpretentious, Presidential cars which were once owned by Xanana Gusmão. The one on the left still bears the scars (and bullet marks) of a failed ambush.

At the rear of the complex, a modern building houses a library (the ‘Reading Room’) which is open to all and provides free Wi-Fi, reference and reading material.

The Xanana Gusmão Reading room is a free library, which is popular with young Timorese students.

The Xanana Gusmão Reading room is a free library, which is popular with young Timorese students.

National Parliament

The National Parliament building in Dili. Not open to visitors, photography is only allowed from the street.

The National Parliament building in Dili. Not open to visitors, photography is only allowed from the street.

Located in the heart of Dili, The National Parliament is the single chamber (unicameral) legislature. It was created in 2001 as the Constituent Assembly while the country was still under the supervision of the United Nations.

Visitors are not welcome and any photography must be done from the street.

Scuba Diving

This stock photo, supplied by Dive Timor, provides a glimpse of the amazing amount of marine life which awaits divers to Timor-Leste.

This stock photo, supplied by Dive Timor, provides a glimpse of the amazing amount of marine life which awaits divers to Timor-Leste.

There are a few dive operators in Dili. I chose to dive with the excellent team from Dive Timor Lorosae who operate out of a waterfront dive shop which is attached to Timor Backpackers, a hostel offering a range of accommodation options.

While in Timor-Leste, I did two dives with the excellent Dive Timor Lorosae.

While in Timor-Leste, I did two dives with the excellent Dive Timor Lorosae.

Most of the dive sites near Dili are easily accessible from the beaches which are strung along the east and west coasts. The best diving in Timor-Leste is said to be on Atauro Island. I did plan to spend time on the island but, due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, I instead had to quickly leave Timor-Leste. In the words of General MacArthur – “I shall return“!

A view from the north coast of Timor-Leste with Atauro island in the background.

A view from the north coast of Timor-Leste with Atauro island in the background.

Because of the limited number of tourists in Timor-Leste, dive shops tend to dive only on weekends when local expats organise dive trips. I went diving with 6 other divers, all of whom were local expats, who often went diving together with Dive Timor. It was the local dive club and I was the token ‘tourist’.

Dive Timor Logo

We travelled in a mini-bus, one hour east of Dili, to a stretch of the north coast which is lined with pristine beaches and colourful, onshore reefs.

A view of the Dive Timor van parked on the beach at the very remote 'Dirt Track' dive site.

A view of the Dive Timor van parked on the beach at the very remote ‘Dirt Track’ dive site.

The first dive of the day was at a dive site known as ‘Dirt Track‘, which gets its name from the short dirt track which leads to the entry point – a remote pebbly beach. A one-hour drive east of Dili, the site is considered to be one of the most beautiful reefs along the coast. The reef lies just a few metres from the pebbly beach with good diving down to 20-25 metres.

Getting ready for our dive at the 'Dirt Track' dive site.

Getting ready for our dive at the ‘Dirt Track’ dive site.

While the harbour water in Dili is heavily polluted and full of muddy run-off from the rivers which pour down from the mountains which surround the capital, the water at the dive sites is totally pristine and especially clear due to the lack of sand and total lack of rivers in the area.

The beautiful 'Dirt Track' dive site is located a short paddle from the shore.

The beautiful ‘Dirt Track’ dive site is located a short paddle from the shore.

The second dive of the day was conducted at a site known as ‘Secret Garden‘. This unmarked site is accessible from a beach (30 km east of Dili) which is lined with a dense forest of towering palm trees.

As with the first site, Secret Garden is a short walk from the shore and is easily accessed during high tide. The site is a colourful, sloping reef which descends to 40 m, offering a profusion of hard and soft corals.

A stock photo, supplied by Dive Timor, shows the kind of reefs which can be seen along the coast of Timor-Leste.

A stock photo, supplied by Dive Timor, shows the kind of reefs which can be seen along the coast of Timor-Leste.

I enjoyed my diving with Dive Timor Lorosae and look forward to one day returning to explore more of their pristine sites.

Accommodation

There’s a good range of accommodation options in Dili, although rates in Timor-Leste are higher than in neighbouring Indonesia.


Note:

It’s important to note that hotels accept payment only in USD cash or with a VISA credit card. 

If you do get caught, you can transfer funds to your hotel via inter-bank transfer, Western Union or MoneyGram wire transfer. 

In the case of the Timor Plaza Hotel & Apartments, the hotel will allow guests to settle their bill using a MasterCard, with payments being processed in their Darwin office.


While Booking.com offer 22 properties in Dili, none of these can be paid for online. Hotels.com offer no properties, while Airbnb.com offer 50 properties which can be paid for online.

Discovery Inn

My spacious and comfortable room at the Discovery Inn.

My spacious and comfortable room at the Discovery Inn.

While in Dili, I stayed at the charming Discovery Inn which is conveniently located downtown, a short walk from all the sights and all the worthwhile cafes and restaurants. For those who love to start their day with a freshly brewed coffee, a branch of Gloria Jean’s Coffees is conveniently located at the hotel.

While a standard room is quoted online at US$80 per night, management were able to offer me a reduced rate for a longer-term stay.

The hotel is home to a popular outdoor bar and the very good Diya Restaurant, whose head chef hails from Pakistan. A good restaurant for those looking for something spicy!

Hotel Timor

The lobby of the Hotel Timor features displays of Timorese art and photography.

The lobby of the Hotel Timor features displays of Timorese art and photography.

Located in the heart of Dili, the 88-room Hotel Timor is the iconic hotel in Dili. Built in 1972, in a prime location, as the premiere hotel in the country, the hotel formerly operated under the name of Hotel Mahkota between 1976 and September 1999, when it was burned and abandoned during the uprising against Indonesian rule.

As a sign of a resurgent Timor-Leste, the fully renovated hotel was opened on the 20th of May, 2002, the day the country became independent. The lobby, which features displays of Timorese arts, crafts and photography, includes a popular cafe and several shops, including a branch of Things and Stories.

A standard double room at the hotel costs US$90 per night.

Timor Plaza Hotel & Apartments

While the Hotel Timor is one of the leading hotels in Dili, the much newer Timor Plaza Hotel & Apartments offers the most expensive rooms in the country with a superior double room costing US$170 per night.

The hotel is conveniently located above the Timor Plaza shopping centre. Unlike all other hotels in Dili, the Timor Plaza hotel will allow guests to settle their bill using a MasterCard credit card. This is done by completing a ‘Credit Card Authorisation’ form, which then authorises the hotel’s Darwin office to process the payment.

DTL Guest House

DTL Guest House, which is the accommodation part of Dive Timor Lorosae is a popular option for backpackers. Offering two different guest houses, rates are posted on their website.

Eating Out

Fruit and vegetables for sale at the waterfront market in Dili.

Fruit and vegetables for sale at the waterfront market in Dili.

The cuisine of Timor-Leste has influences from Southeast Asian foods (notably neighbouring Indonesia) and from Portuguese dishes from its colonisation by Portugal.

Thanks to its Portuguese expat community, Dili is home to some fine Portuguese restaurants including the popular Restaurante Tavirense whose menu is only available in Portuguese and whose, almost 100%, Portuguese clientele can be heard complimenting the chef with the words “Muito boa comida!” The restaurant is especially known for its bacalao, a traditional Portuguese Salted-Cod Stew.

Fish in Dili are sold by roadside vendors who balance their produce on a carrying stick.

Fish in Dili are sold by roadside vendors who balance their produce on a carrying stick.

Thanks to its rich volcanic soil and pristine oceans, Timor-Leste is abundant in produce, all of which can be found in the various markets around the capital. Around dusk, fish sellers line the main road along the waterfront where they sell local fish to passing motorists.

A fish vendor, on the waterfront in Dili.

A fish vendor, on the waterfront in Dili.

Restaurants

Discovery Inn

Chicken tandoori, served with salad and Raita at the Diya Restaurant in Dili.

Chicken tandoori, served with salad and Raita at the Diya Restaurant in Dili.

Located at the Discovery Inn, The Diya Restaurant offers a menu of international favourites along with some Indian-inspired curry dishes, all of which are prepared by the Pakistani head chef. Prices are not cheap, with main courses between US$20-25.

I ate here a few times and the food is OK, although I once ordered Risotto which was made using Pakistani Basmati rice! Not quite the same thing.

If you’re staying at the Discovery Inn, a (mediocre) complimentary breakfast is served at the Diya restaurant each morning. The best part of breakfast is that your coffee is made at the Gloria Jeans Coffees cafe which is located on the street-side of the hotel.

Timor Plaza

My chicken satay lunch at Timor Plaza, which cost me US$6.

My chicken satay lunch at Timor Plaza, which cost me US$6.

The greatest concentration of restaurants in Dili can be found at the Timor Plaza shopping complex. Here you will find American-style fast food outlets, Indonesian, Japanese, Indian, Chinese restaurants, kebab houses and more.

Starco Cafe

My lunch at the Starco Cafe, which offers Padang cuisine at a very reasonable price.

My lunch at the Starco Cafe, which offers Padang cuisine at a very reasonable price.

Some of the best dining deals in Dili can be found at the numerous Indonesian Padang Restaurants. These are the restaurants where the locals dine, and one of the most popular among the locals is the very clean and friendly Starco Cafe. For just a few dollars you can fill your plate with great-tasting Padang-style food.

Padang food is famous for its use of coconut milk and spicy chilli. The cuisine originated in West Sumatra, Indonesia but has now become one of the most popular cuisines throughout Indonesia and south-east Asia, including Singapore and Malaysia.

Cafés

Now onto my favourite topic – Coffee!

Timor-Leste has a big secret which I am about to share with you! The highlands of the country are home to numerous coffee plantations, where Arabica coffee plants produce the most amazingly flavoured beans. How important is the coffee industry? It’s the national economy’s largest non-oil export.

Coffee plants were introduced by the Portuguese in the early nineteenth century, and while the country’s output accounts for less than 0.2% of the global coffee trade, it is the largest single source, organic, coffee producer globally.

There are a number of fine cafes in Dili where you can sample the local product. In fact, all cafes in Dili, including the Gloria Jeans Coffees chain use only local beans.

If you forget to buy some coffee to take home, a cafe at Dili airport will save the day, with their packs of coffee beans.

My delicious Timor coffee which I carried back to Australia. This was a last-minute purchase from the airport cafe.

My delicious Timor coffee which I carried back to Australia. This was a last-minute purchase from the airport cafe.

Fatima Café 

The best coffee in town is served at Fatima Café.

The best coffee in town is served at Fatima Café.

The award for ‘Best Coffee in Dili‘ goes to Fatima Café which is owned by the wonderful Fatima, who is the best Barista in Dili.

The wonderfully friendly, energetic and entrepreneurial Fatima, owner of Fatima Café.

The wonderfully friendly, energetic and entrepreneurial Fatima, owner of Fatima Café.

While the food selection at Fatima cafe is non-existent, the coffee is the main star of the show and provides all the sustenance required by caffeine addicts. I especially recommend their double-shot Flat white. While you’re sipping your coffee, you can peruse the artworks which adorn the cafe walls. All works, which are produced by local artists are for sale.

A selection of excellent Timorese coffee and the (less-than-wonderful) local chocolate at Fatima Café.

A selection of excellent Timorese coffee and the (less-than-wonderful) local chocolate at Fatima Café.

Apart from selling excellent coffee, the Fatima also sells bars of local chocolate which re worth trying but were not my favourite. The folks at Lindt certainly do not need to fear this competition! I tried a bar which featured almonds on the packaging, however, I found not one almond in the chocolate. Stick to the coffee!

An interior view of Fatima Café, whose walls serve as an art gallery, with works by local artists available for purchase.

An interior view of Fatima Café, whose walls serve as an art gallery, with works by local artists available for purchase.

Fatima Café is a warm and friendly café and is popular with both expats and locals. The cafe is located next to the amazing Boneca de Ataúro boutique, the best place in town for gift shopping.

The Spa Café 

The friendly staff, who always prepared the healthiest of lunches and good coffee at the Spa Café.  

The friendly staff, who always prepared the healthiest of lunches and good coffee at the Spa Café.

Located across the road from the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room, The Spa Café is owned by an Australian expat who has called Dili home for many years. The cafe is attached to a spa/ salon which offers pedicure, manicure, massage, hair cutting and other salon services.

The cafe is something of an oasis in downtown Dili, offering good coffee and lots of healthy menu options, including fresh juices, delicious salads, wraps, smoothies and more.

Hotel Timor Café

The cafe at the Hotel Timor is set in one corner of the up-market hotel lobby, which is less lobby and more art gallery.

The cafe at the Hotel Timor is set in one corner of the up-market hotel lobby, which is less lobby and more art gallery.

Set in a corner of the salubrious lobby of the Hotel Timor is the hotel’s cafe, which is one place in town where you are always guaranteed to find a Pastéis de Nata – a Portuguese egg tart to English-readers.

A very fine Portuguese egg tart, served at the Hotel Timor cafe.

A very fine Portuguese egg tart, served at the Hotel Timor cafe.

No visit to an ex-Portuguese colony would be complete without having consumed one of these egg-y tarts, which are always served slightly warm. From Mozambique, Brazil, Macau and Timor-Leste, I’ve always been able to find a tasty Portuguese egg tart!

Gloria Jeans Coffees 

A branch of Gloria Jean's Coffees at the Discovery Inn in Dili.

A branch of Gloria Jean’s Coffees at the Discovery Inn in Dili.

This popular Australian-owned coffee chain (a better version of Starbucks), Gloria Jeans Coffees has two branches in Dili, one at the Discovery Inn and one at Timor Plaza. Like all other cafes in town, the coffee served here is brewed using local beans.

Bars

Unfortunately, the only beer which is brewed in Timor-Leste is Heineken, which is brewed at the new Heineken brewery, which is located on the eastern outskirts of town. There are no groovy craft beers, or anything more interesting than Heineken and a few other (generic) international beers from the Heineken stable.

As for bars in Dili, the main hotels offer a place to sit and relax and drink a beer, but the price of a beer is not cheap at about US$5 and most bars were very quiet.

One of the most popular expat bars in town can be found at Moby’s Hotel and Restaurant which is located on the waterfront, around the corner from the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room.

Visa Requirements

My visa which I purchased on arrival at Dili airport.

My visa which I purchased on arrival at Dili airport.

Visitors to Timor-Leste are required to obtain a visa, unless they are travelling on passports from the Schengen Zone, Indonesia or Cape Verde.

All other passport holders can apply for a Visa on Arrival at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili. The visa, which is valid for a single entry, for 30 days, costs USD$30, which must be paid for in cash.

Note: There are no money exchange facilities at the airport, if you’re applying for a visa on arrival, it’s imperative that you arrive with USD$30 in cash.

Arrival forms for Timor-Leste.

Arrival forms for Timor-Leste.

Visas on arrival are not available at land borders, instead a Visa Application Authorisation must be obtained in advance.

To check your requirements, please refer to the Visa Policy of Timor-Leste.

Getting There

A final view of Dili on my Airnorth flight back to Darwin.

A final view of Dili on my Airnorth flight back to Darwin.

Air

Dawn arrival at Dili airport. Airnorth connect Darwin to Dili on a daily basis, a flight time of 1 hour, 20 minutes.

Dawn arrival at Dili airport. Airnorth connect Darwin to Dili on a daily basis, a flight time of 1 hour, 20 minutes.

All flights into Timor-Leste arrive at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili. The airport, which is located 6-km west of downtown Dili is a quiet, single-runway aerodrome which receives little traffic.

There are few facilities, with a Burger King, located adjacent to the terminal, a small cafe, one small duty-free shop and one boutique which sells high quality Timorese handicrafts.

Boarding my Airnorth plane at Dili airport for my flight to Darwin.

Boarding my Airnorth plane at Dili airport for my flight to Darwin.

Timor-Leste has no national carrier, with Air Timor operating flights to/from Singapore and Kupang using chartered aircraft. The weekly flight which connects Singapore to Dili, with the return flight to Singapore departing an hour later, is operated by the national carrier of Bhutan, Druk Air, whose Airbus A319 aircraft would otherwise be parked at Singapore’s Changi airport overnight. Once the flight returns to Singapore, it recommences its usual Singapore to Bhutan flight.

The very quiet arrival area at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili.

The very quiet arrival area at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili.

Flights to Timor-Leste are not cheap! A round-trip ticket from Darwin to Dili (a distance of 722 km) with Airnorth, costs around A$660.

The good news for oneworld frequent flyers with points to burn is that Airnorth is a subsidiary of QANTAS (a oneworld carrier). Flights from Darwin to Dili, although operated by Airnorth, can be purchased on the QANTAS website using points from QANTAS, or another oneworld carrier.

The average cost of a one-way flight from Singapore to Dili is US$646, while the average price for a round-trip is US$1,657. Such high-ticket prices dissuade visitors from travelling to Timor-Leste. 

The following airlines operate scheduled services to/from Dili:

  • Airnorth – flies to/from Darwin
  • Air Timor (operated by Druk Air) – flies to/from Singapore
  • Air Timor (operated by TransNusa) – flies to/from Kupang
  • Citilink – flies to/from Denpasar/Bali
  • NAM Air – flies to/from Denpasar/Bali
  • Sriwijaya Air – flies to/from Denpasar/Bali, Surabaya
  • TransNusa – flies to/from Kupang

Airport Transport

Most hotels in Dili provide free airport transfers which you must request in advance.

The airport is located on the edge of Dili, just off the main road, with plenty of taxis and mikrolets (micro-buses) available.

Taxis are plentiful but fares must be negotiated before starting your journey, as they are not metered. The fare to any downtown location should cost around USD$5. All taxis in Dili are old, well-beaten, clunkers!

Land

The main land border crossing with Indonesia is at Mota’ain (or Motain), 115 km west of Dili. There are also land border crossings at Salele (near Suai) on the south coast, and into Oecussi at Bobometo (north of Kefamenanu on the Indonesian side) and Wini on the north-east coast of Oecussi.

‘Visa on Arrival’ is not available at land borders, apart from those holding passports of Indonesia, Cape Verde and the Schengen countries.

Sea

There are no regular international passenger ferries servicing Timor-Leste. 

Just four cruise ships were scheduled to visit Timor-Leste in 2020, but these have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To view the current cruise ship schedule, please refer to the following website.

Getting Around

 

Public Transport

All mikrolets are 'Suzuki Carry Futura' micro-vans.

All mikrolets are ‘Suzuki Carry Futura’ micro-vans.

Mikrolets (micro-vans) are the main form of transport in Dili with a trip anywhere costing just 25 cents. The vehicle of choice for Mikrolet owners is the Suzuki Carry Futura, a ‘micro-van’, which is not even large enough to be classed as a ‘mini-van’. With a 2nd-hand Suzuki Carry costing less than US$8,000, it’s an affordable way to start your own business.

Interior view of a Mikrolet, which includes a tribute to the former colonial motherland.

Interior view of a Mikrolet, which includes a tribute to the former colonial motherland.

These owner-operated vans trawl the streets of Dili, on set routes, picking up and dropping off passengers wherever required. These compact little Japanese vans, which would be spacious enough for one sumo wrestler, can carry a dozen or more Timorese, with passengers squeezed in along two side benches in something that resembles a sardine can.

The Timorese are super friendly, and curious, and it’s all great fun and a wonderful way to meet the locals. Any foreigner riding a mikrolet will attract a lot of smiles and laughter.

The interiors of most mikrolets are often adorned with colourful, plush toys.

The interiors of most mikrolets are often adorned with colourful, plush toys.

Mikrolets operate during daylight hours with services being scare after sunset or on Sundays – when everyone attends church. If you want to board a mikrolet, you wave it down. If you want it to stop so you can disembark, you tap metal on metal. Easy!

The most useful routes are the #10 which runs along the waterfront, connecting the airport to downtown Dili, while the #12 connects downtown Dili to the Cristo Rei monument.

Taxi

A taxi and mikrolet, the main forms of transport in Dili.

A taxi and mikrolet, the main forms of transport in Dili.

Like mikrolets, taxis operate throughout Dili during daylight hours but are scare after hours and on Sundays.

While I rode in many taxis, I never rode in a nice one. Without exception, they are all old, beaten-up clunkers which lack any sort of safety features.

Despite this, the drivers will always try to overcharge foreigners. The is a legacy from the days of the UN administration, when the city was full of over-paid UN workers. The locals learnt that foreigners had money to spend!

Dili taxi drivers are normally friendly and courteous but will attempt to overcharge foreigners.

Dili taxi drivers are normally friendly and courteous but will attempt to overcharge foreigners.

A fare around town should cost around US$3, although drivers will always quote US$5! You need to negotiate and settle on the price before you hop in.

Rental Car

A small sedan car from Rentlo Car Rental in Dili costs around US$35 per day, with a larger 4WD costing US$160 per day.

Tip: Rather than renting your own car, it is often cheaper, and safer, to organise a car with a driver through your hotel in Dili.

Motorbike

A Timor-Leste motorbike license plate.

A Timor-Leste motorbike license plate.

At the Hotel Timor, one company advertises motorbikes for rent for US$25 per day or US$50 per day with a local rider/ guide. The company can be contacted via the reception desk or by telephoning +670 7714 6858.

Ferry

Storm clouds looming over the Berlin Nakroma ferry in Dili harbour.

Storm clouds looming over the Berlin Nakroma ferry in Dili harbour.

The Berlin Nakroma ferry links Dili with Pante Macassar, in the East Timorese exclave of Oecusse, and with Atauro Island. The ferry, which is owned and operated by the Government of Timor-Leste was gifted to the country in 2007 by the German government.

The ferry departs for Atauro island every Saturday at 8:30 am, arriving at the island settlement of Beloi beach 3 hours later. The ferry returns to Dili at 3:00 pm the same day. A one-way ticket costs US$4 and can be purchased directly at the port.

On other days, private companies operate (much faster) speed boats between Dili and Atauro Island. One company which was recommended to me is Compass Diving, who run daily shuttles for US$45 one-way or US$80 return, with the trip taking around 1.5 hours.

 


That’s the end of my travel guide for Timor-Leste. I look forward to hearing from anyone who uses this guide in planning a trip to this wonderful country – one of the world’s newest countries. 

 

Safe Travels!

Darren


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Further Reading

Although not a part of the Pacific region, Timor-Leste lies on the doorstep of the Pacific. Maybe you could be inspired to continue your journey further east.

Following is a list of my travel reports from the Pacific region:

Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide

Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide

Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide Timor-Leste Travel Guide

Travel Quiz 20: Mexico and Central America

Americas Map Quiz: Mexico Central America Map

Mexico and Central America Quiz

This is a Mexico and Central America Quiz from taste2travel!

How well do you know Mexico and Central America? 

Test your knowledge with this travel quiz from taste2travel. 

How well will you score? Your result will be displayed at the bottom of the quiz – will you get to see the legendary Marco Polo?

Good luck!


01. The ancient Mayan city of Tikal is located in which country?

Mayan City of Tikal, Guatemala
Correct! Wrong!

02 . The tiny island of Caye Caulker is located in which country?

Sailing near Caye Caulker, Belize
Correct! Wrong!

03 . In which country would you be if you were watching 'La Danza de los Voladores' (Dance of the Flyers) at 'La Alborada' festival in San Miguel de Allende?

'La Danza de los Voladores' (Dance of the Flyers) at 'La Alborada' festival in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Correct! Wrong!

04 . If you were shopping in Nicaragua, which currency would you be using?

Shopping Baskets in Nicaragua
Correct! Wrong!

05 . In which country is the ruined ancient Mayan city of Palenque?

The Ancient Mayan City of Palenque, Mexico
Correct! Wrong!

06. The Panama hat is made in which country?

Despite their name, Panama hats are actually made in Ecuador.
Correct! Wrong!

07. The Mexican city of Acapulco lies on which body of water?

A View of Acapulco, Mexico
Correct! Wrong!

08 . Which of these countries is more southerly?

Border Sign between Costa Rica and Panama
Correct! Wrong!

09. In which country is the Manuel Antonio National Park located?

Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Correct! Wrong!

10. The historic city of Granada is the oldest city of which country?

City of Granada, Nicaragua
Correct! Wrong!

11. By which name are these colourful hand-made instruments known?

Souvenir Maraca's, Mexico
Correct! Wrong!

12. If you were shopping at the weekly craft market in Chichicastenango, Guatemala, which currency would you be using?

Woven Cloth at the Craft Market in Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Correct! Wrong!

13. This is the flag of which country?

Panama Flag
Correct! Wrong!

14. Public transportation in Guatemala is comprised of former school buses from which country?

Buses in Guatemala
Correct! Wrong!

15. Founded in 1524, the historic city of Antigua is located in the central highlands of which country?

View of the Main Square of Antigua, Guatemala
Correct! Wrong!

16. Which type of traditional food is being prepared by this Mayan villager?

Preparing Tortilla's in a Mayan Village, Mexico
Correct! Wrong!

17. The Sea of Cortez is a body of water located between mainland Mexico and which other land mass?

Sea of Cortez, Mexico
Correct! Wrong!

18. The natives of Guatemala are descendants of which ancient civilisation?

Young Mayan Girl, Guatemala
Correct! Wrong!

19. Which country is famous for its canal?

The gigantic MSC Antigua entering Lake Gatun locks.
Correct! Wrong!

20. This type of lizard is commonly seen on the beaches of Costa Rica. What is it?

Iguana on the beach at Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Correct! Wrong!

Travel Quiz 20: Mexico and Central America
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Travel Quizzes on taste2travel

Welcome to taste2travel!

My name is Darren McLean, I’m the owner of taste2travel and I love travel trivia and I certainly enjoy creating travel quizzes.

There are a total of 80 different travel quizzes on taste2travel, with each quiz containing 20 questions.

That’s a total of 1,600 trivia questions waiting to challenge you.

You’ll find a range of quizzes covering such topics as:

  • Currencies
  • Flags
  • Capital Cities
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • World Museums
  • Map Quizzes
  • Continent-specific Quizzes
  • World Islands
  • Landlocked Countries and much more!

Don’t forget to share these quizzes with your family, friends and community using the social media buttons at the top of the quiz.

Apart from excellent travel quizzes, you’ll also find other outstanding content on taste2travel – such as travel guides, photo galleries and feature articles which provide tips on booking cheap flights and much more.

Other Quizzes

Why not further test your knowledge with another taste2travel quiz?

Other travel-related quizzes are also available on BuzzFeed.

Content Links

Click on the links to access the following:

Osprey Sojourn 80 Review

Osprey Sojourn 80 backpack.

Osprey Sojourn 80 Review

A product review for the Osprey Sojourn 80 wheeled backpack.

Date Posted: April 2020

Introduction

Way back in the eighties, at the tender age of 20, I embarked on my first overseas backpacking trip, carrying my trusty, external-frame backpack which my parents had purchased for me to use on Scout camps. Within the first month of travelling, the flimsy aluminium frame snapped!

"External frames still have their place." by James Yamasaki. Source: https://jamesyamasaki.com/

“External frames still have their place.” by James Yamasaki.
Source: https://jamesyamasaki.com/

That was in 1987, and thirty-three years later, and more than 200 countries and territories later, I’m still on the road.

Thanks to good career choices along the way, and sound investment decisions, I’m now on the road full time and would describe myself more as a flashpacker rather than a backpacker.

I really do live out of a suitcase, or in my case, my Osprey wheeled backpack.

For the first 27 years of travel, I lugged a traditional backpack around the world. Such a back-breaking experience!

The Osprey bird logo.

The Osprey bird logo.

That all changed in 2014, when, while shopping for a replacement backpack in Los Angeles, I stepped into a Bass Pro Shop and discovered the range of Osprey travel luggage. I had seen a few travellers ‘wheeling’ their backpacks around, rather than carrying them, and decided to join the revolution!

Since purchasing my ‘wheeled backpack’, I have only once used the built-in shoulder harness, which was while hiking along a muddy track in the Amazon jungle.

The fact is that most of the time we travel in places where there are plenty of hard surfaces, which are ideal for wheeled backpacks. Rarely do you need to carry a weighty backpack upon your back!

Osprey Meridian 80 Litre

My Osprey Meridian after 6 years of continuous travel. Still in excellent conditioned except for some damage to the fabric on the rear upper corners.

My Osprey Meridian after 6 years of continuous travel. Still in excellent conditioned except for some damage to the fabric on the rear upper corners.

After looking at various brands of wheeled backpacks, I decided to invest in a burgundy-coloured Osprey Meridian 80 Litre. I travelled with this bag, full time from 2014 to 2020.

What attracted me to the Meridian:

  1. The 80 litres of storage offered plenty of room for all my travel necessities.
  2. The backpack opened like a regular suitcase, which made organising, and retrieving things, super easy. Nothing worse than top-loading backpacks which are like dipping into a lucky dip!
  3. The design featured lots of different size storage compartments.
  4. The strong, moulded, high-road chassis and the durable, high-clearance wheels (almost like Rollerblade wheels) allowed me to wheel the backpack over all sorts of rough terrain. It really is the ATV of wheeled backpacks and the wheels can handle lots of punishment.
  5. The colour was also significant. Whenever I stood at an airport baggage carousel and watched others checking the tags on their standard-issue black bags to ensure they were collecting the correct bag, my Burgundy-coloured Osprey Meridian always stood apart. It was unique and in all the years of picking it off carousels, I never saw another one like it.
  6. The one time I had to use the shoulder harness, it was easy to deploy and comfortable.
  7. Then there was the amazing guarantee – Osprey’s ‘All Mighty Guarantee’.

Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee

Like all their products, my backpack was covered by Osprey’s ‘All Mighty Guarantee‘, which offers a lifetime warranty, including airline damage, on any product, made in any era. This means that even years or decades later you can ship your bag to Osprey, and they will fix any problems. You do have to pay for shipping!

At one point, the zipper on my bag became damaged. I contacted Osprey who requested that I ship the bag back to them for repair. They covered all costs and returned the bag, with a replacement zipper fitted.

After 6 years of handling by airport baggage handlers, the corners of my Osprey Meridian backpack had succumbed to the rigours of travelling.

After 6 years of handling by airport baggage handlers, the corners of my Osprey Meridian backpack had succumbed to the rigours of travelling.

Finally, in 2020, after 6 years of continuous travel, the corners of my backpack had become worn from the rigours of travelling – or at least from rough airport baggage handling.

I contacted Osprey, who offered me a brand-new, replacement backpack – free of charge. I shipped my old bag to them (at their expense) and a week later, received a brand new, replacement backpack, a beautiful Osprey Sojourn 80 L backpack.

Osprey Sojourn 80 Litre

My replacement backpack, the Osprey Sojourn 80 L.

My replacement backpack, the Osprey Sojourn 80 L.

The Ultimate Travel Backpack

It’s important to note that the Osprey Sojourn is a wheeled, travel backpack. If you’re looking for a travel backpack, which you can wheel most of the time, this is one I would highly recommend.

While it has a built-in shoulder harness, the Sojourn is a bag for travellers who don’t plan on using the backpack setting too often. This is not an ideal bag for long distance hiking.

Design Features

The most striking difference between the new Osprey Sojourn and the former Meridian backpack are some design enhancements. It’s also worth noting that the bag weighs just 4.07 kg (less than 9 lb).

One notable omission is that the handy, detachable day-pack, that was included on the front of the Meridian, is missing from the Sojourn. You can buy this as a separate accessory and clip it on using pre-installed clips.

A rear view of the Osprey Sojourn 80, showing the durable, but comfortable handle and the shoulder harness compartment.

A rear view of the Osprey Sojourn 80, showing the durable, but comfortable handle and the shoulder harness compartment.

The rear of the Sojourn backpack is very similar to the Meridian with the shoulder harness secured inside a zippered compartment and the dual-tube retractable handle sporting a comfortable, moulded grip. Unlike handles on other bags, the Osprey handle never failed to operate.

A view of the dual-tube extendable handle with its, comfortable, moulded grip.

A view of the dual-tube extendable handle with its, comfortable, moulded grip.

Shoulder Harness

A view of the built-in shoulder harness which is available for use in an 'emergency situation'. :-))

A view of the built-in shoulder harness which is available for use in an ’emergency situation’. :-))

The most important thing to keep in mind with the Osprey wheeled backpack range is that they are a roller first, and a backpack second.

They are not meant to be carried like a traditional backpack, but when required, the built-in shoulder harness can be easily deployed and is comfortable. This is due to an extremely well-designed suspension system.

Osprey makes it their mission to save our backs, and you’ll feel especially thankful with the Sojourn.

Of the six years I travelled with my Meridian, I deployed the harness just once, while accessing a remote accommodation lodge, in the Amazon jungle, which was located at the end of a long muddy track. Deploying the harness was fast and easy and it was comfortable on my shoulders.

In the event that you must carry the backpack, the robust harness is functional and comfortable!

Chassis and Wheels

The super tough, lightweight, "High Road Chassis" provides a smooth ride over the roughest of surfaces.

The super tough, lightweight, “High Road Chassis” provides a smooth ride over the roughest of surfaces.

One of my favourite features of the Osprey bags is the tough “High Road Chassis” and the over-sized, super-tough, high traction, polyurethane wheels.

The tough chassis and super-tough wheels are the biggest selling point of the Osprey travel bags. It’s not typical suitcase wheels, it’s a heavy-duty chassis that can handle cobblestone roads, gravel tracks and even mountains if need be.

I’ve wheeled my Meridian across all sorts of rough terrain and never once had a problem with the wheels or the Chassis.

As a luggage-roller, Osprey bags are extremely comfortable to wheel along and easy to direct. Compared to other wheeled bags, the wheels on the Osprey bags are extremely durable.

The clips on the underside of the chassis (which can be seen above) allow the shoulder harness to be fastened to the chassis. This is another solid design feature which ensures the harness remains in place.

The oversized (11-cm), high-traction, polyurethane wheels provide high clearance which allow the bag to be wheeled across rough terrain.

The oversized (11-cm), high-traction, polyurethane wheels provide high clearance which allow the bag to be wheeled across rough terrain.

Regular luggage company wheels are nowhere near as durable as those which are used by Osprey. I’ve met plenty of travellers who are wheeling around suitcases with tiny, flimsy wheels.

These wheels do not handle rough surfaces and tend to break very easily. If you are going to invest in a wheeled travel backpack, it’s better to invest in an Osprey.

The Sojourn has an even tougher looking Chassis than the Meridian, so I’m expecting many years of the same, solid performance.

Where others fail – Osprey wheeled backpacks continue to perform!

Main Compartment

An interior view of the Osprey Sojourn with the stiffened zipper path allowing for easier packing.

An interior view of the Osprey Sojourn with the stiffened zipper path allowing for easier packing.

One thing I appreciate from Osprey are the simple design features. One such design feature on the Sojourn is a stiffened zipper path, which ensures the main compartment maintains its shape while it is open. No saggy sides closing in on you while you are trying to pack. Genius!

A view of the main compartment of the Sojourn 80 showing the zipper compartment in the lid.

A view of the main compartment of the Sojourn 80 showing the zipper compartment in the lid.

The main packing compartment has a wide U-shaped opening with two zipper compartments lining the side walls and another zipper compartment built into the lid.

I also love the bright lime green interior. The main compartment is also lockable with locks being sold separately.

Conclusion

After 33 years of travelling, I’m writing my first product review for the Osprey wheeled travel backpack because I’m a huge fan of the product and want to share my enthusiasm with other travellers.

A durable and reliable travel bag is an essential part of any journey and the Osprey range of travel bags are, in my opinion, the best in the market and are backed by a lifetime warranty and unbeatable customer service.

Safe Travels!

Darren


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0 Review Osprey Sojourn 80 Review Osprey Sojourn 80 Review Osprey Sojourn 80 Review Osprey Sojourn 80 Review

 

Nauru Travel Guide

Cover Photo: Anibare Bay, Nauru.

Nauru Travel Guide

Welcome to the taste2travel Nauru Travel Guide!

Date Visited: March 2020

Introduction

At just 21 km2 (8.1 sq. mi), Nauru is the smallest republic in the world, being slightly larger than the 20 km2 of land which is occupied by John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

A view of the limestone pinnacles at Anibare Bay.

A view of the limestone pinnacles at Anibare Bay.

A small, isolated coral island, Nauru is surrounded by a shallow, rocky, coral reef. This Pacific nation, which lies well off the beaten tourist track, lacks many of the tourist facilities of some of its larger neighbours, such as Fiji.

There are no resorts, no fancy restaurants or any decent swimming beaches. There are very few services which would cater to visiting holiday makers, although an Office of Tourism was scheduled to open at the Menen Hotel in April of 2020.

Have to love wonderful Nauru!

Have to love wonderful Nauru!

It’s interior plateau, which is known as ‘Topside’, occupies 80% of the island, and has been the site of unfettered phosphate mining for more than a century. This has left Topside looking like a lunar wasteland.

Exposed limestone pinnacles on Topside, the remnants of a former phosphate mine.

Exposed limestone pinnacles on Topside, the remnants of a former phosphate mine.

While current visitor numbers are not available from the United Nations World Travel Organisation (UNWTO), it is claimed that Nauru is the least visited country in the world, attracting around 200 visitors per year.

By comparison, Tuvalu (click to view my Tuvalu Travel Guide), which also claims to be the least visited country in the world, attracted 2,700 visitors in 2018, although most of these were business travellers.

A view of Anibare Bay, Nauru.

A view of Anibare Bay, Nauru.

While Nauru is not your standard travel destination, it is an engaging and surprising island. This is the island which was named ‘Pleasant Island‘ by the first European visitors, after their favourable encounter with the locals. The real asset of Nauru are the Nauruans themselves, who are warm, welcoming, friendly and kind.

Nauru has plenty of potential as a tourist destination and it seems the current government is determined to develop that potential. Now is a great time to visit Nauru, before the hordes arrive.

A playground on Nauru.

A playground on Nauru.

Location

Yaren, Nauru

Nauru is a small, oval-shaped, raised coral island, located in south-eastern Micronesia, 53 km (33 miles) south of the Equator.

Truly remote, Nauru’s closest neighbour (click the links to view my travel guides for the countries listed) is Kiribati whose most westerly island, Banaba (population: 295), lies 300 km (186 mi) to the east of Nauru.

A signboard outside of the Capelle and Partner supermarket indicates distances to different countries from Nauru.

A signboard outside of the Capelle and Partner supermarket indicates distances to different countries from Nauru.

More distant neighbours include the Solomon Islands which lies 1,300 km (800 mi) to the southwest; Tuvalu which is 1,395 km (866 mi) to the southeast; Marshall Islands which lies 973 km (605 mi) to the northeast; Papua New Guinea which is 2,628 km (1,633 mi) to the southwest; Vanuatu; which lies 1,651 km (1,026 mi) to the south and the Federated States of Micronesia which is 2,019 km (1,254 mi) to the northwest.

A view of Ewa beach, which lies on the north coast of Nauru.

A view of Ewa beach, which lies on the north coast of Nauru.

A major logistical and lifestyle hub for Nauru is Brisbane, Australia which is 3,341 km (2076 mi) to the southeast.

Brisbane airport serves as a base and maintenance centre for Nauru Airlines, while wealthier Nauruan’s travel to Brisbane on shopping trips, send their children to tertiary institutions in the city and even maintain 2nd homes there.

Brisbane is also the location of a Nauru Consulate General (see the Visa section for more details), one of just four diplomatic missions around the world.

The only wildlife to be found on remote Nauru are the occasional migrating seabird such as Brown Noddy's, which are a common sight on the beaches.

The only wildlife to be found on remote Nauru are the occasional migrating seabird such as Brown Noddy’s, which are a common sight on the beaches.

Micronesia

A map of the region of Micronesia.

A map of the region of Micronesia.
Source: Wikipedia

The region of Micronesia lies between the Philippines and Hawaii, occupying a large patch of the Central Pacific, encompassing more than 2,000 islands, most of which are small and many of which are found in clusters.

The term Micronesia is derived from the Greek words mikros (meaning ‘small’) and nēsoi (meaning ‘islands’). The first usage of the term is attributed to Jules Dumont d’Urville, a French explorer and Naval officer who explored the region in 1832.

The region includes, from west to east, Palau, Guam (click to read my travel guides), the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Kiribati. With the exception of Nauru and Kiribati, all the islands of Micronesia lie to the north of the Equator.

Nauru holds the distinction of being the first Micronesian country to become a sovereign nation, gaining independence in 1968.

The Nauruans are a mixture of Micronesian, Polynesian and Melanesian descent.

The Nauruans are a mixture of Micronesian, Polynesian and Melanesian descent.

The origin of the Nauruan people has not yet been fully determined. They are a mixture of Micronesian, Polynesian and Melanesian descent and are comprised of 12 tribes, as symbolised by the 12-pointed star on the Nauru flag (see the ‘Flag‘ section below).

The original settlers to the region were Austronesian peoples who migrated from Southeast Asia and Taiwan into present-day Micronesia around 1,500 BC.

A map showing the three distinct cultural regions of the Pacific.

A map showing the three distinct cultural regions of the Pacific.
Source: Wikipedia

From Micronesia, different migrations at different times in history took these Austronesian explorers further into the vast expanses of the Pacific ocean, where they eventually settled the islands of Melanesia (first migration around 1,300 BC) and finally the more distant islands of Polynesia (first migration around 800 BC), finally reaching the most easterly island, Easter Island, around 700 – 800 AD.

Following are a list of travel guides I have written for each of these three regions:

Melanesia

Micronesia

Polynesia

People

The children of Nauru are incredibly friendly and love posing for the camera.

The children of Nauru are incredibly friendly and love posing for the camera.

The history of human activity on Nauru began roughly 3,000 years ago when twelve Micronesian and Polynesian clans settled the island. For most of its history, the tribes of Nauru enjoyed a quiet, secluded existence on their remote paradise island.

Activities included aquaculture (including operating an ancient version of a fish farm in the Buada lagoon), harvesting coconuts and savouring the occasional Brown Noddy (I was assured they are tasty).

Young girls on Nauru.

Young girls on Nauru.

The first European contact came in November of 1798, when British Captain John Fearn, of the whaling ship ‘Hunter‘, approached the island. The crew did not land, nor did any locals board the ship, but many canoes came to welcome the ship, which left a favourable impression and resulted in Fearn naming the island, Pleasant Island.

Boys posing in front of a giant flag of Nauru which adorns the wall of the Civic centre.

Boys posing in front of a giant flag of Nauru which adorns the wall of the Civic centre.

As of July 2018, independent Nauru was home to 10,670 residents, making it the second least populated sovereign state, after the Vatican City which has a population of just 799 pious souls!

The Nauruans are wonderfully laid-back, relaxed, friendly and always made me feel welcome, a very pleasant island indeed!

Miss Nauru 2020

'Miss Nauru Cenpac 2020', Ofa Fay Temaki competing in the final evening of the competition.

‘Miss Nauru Cenpac 2020’, Ofa Fay Temaki competing in the final evening of the competition.

My visit to Nauru coincided with the ‘Miss Nauru 2020‘ contest which saw eight contestants competing for the title of Miss Nauru 2020.

One of the judges at the Miss Nauru 2020 contest, Ms Ruby Amram.

One of the judges at the Miss Nauru 2020 contest, Ms Ruby Amram.

The finale of the competition saw the contestants competing over three nights in different fashion categories, which included best sarong, white dress, traditional island couture and formal wear. They were also asked a series of questions and judged on their talent, singing ability and interview skills.

Some of the contestants represented different districts, such as Miss Yaren - Brutay Tatum.

Some of the contestants represented different districts, such as Miss Yaren – Brutay Tatum.

A highlight of the Nauru cultural calendar, the final night of the competition drew a large, enthusiastic crowd, including the president, Lionel Rouwen Aingimea.

Miss Menen, My-Gem Tatum, represented the district of Meneng, which is home to the Hotel Menen.

Miss Menen, My-Gem Tatum, represented the district of Meneng, which is home to the Hotel Menen.

Nauru Music

Local performer, James Vaele, keeping the crowds entertained during the Miss Nauru 2020 competition.

Local performer, James Vaele, keeping the crowds entertained during the Miss Nauru 2020 competition.

There’s a small, budding music scene on tiny Nauru and during the Miss Nauru 2020 contest, the crowds were kept entertained by a local singer/ songwriter, James Vaele who has written a number of songs which are dedicated to his island home.


One of my favourite songs from James is ‘Postcard for Nauru‘, which features a catchy tune and lots of scenery from the island. You can view his YouTube video here.


Another local song, ‘Nauru Island Home‘ is also very catchy and provides more scenic views of the island.


Flag

The flag of Nauru.

The flag of Nauru.

The flag of Nauru illustrates the country’s geographical position, one degree south of the Equator. The gold stripe represents the equator, which is set on a blue field for the Pacific Ocean.

A flag of Nauru which is displayed in the lobby of the Menen hotel.

A flag of Nauru which is displayed in the lobby of the Menen hotel.

Below the equator, a 12-pointed, white star represents Nauru, with each point symbolising the twelve indigenous tribes which settled the island. The colour of the star is ‘Phosphate white’, representing the islands’ major resource and most important export.

Nauru and Taiwanese Flag

The Nauru flag flying alongside the Taiwanese flag. Taiwan provides aid to the island in exchange for Nauru recognising Taiwan’s independence.

Connectivity

A friendly Digicel staff member at the Digicel kiosk at Capelle and Partners.

A friendly Digicel staff member at the Digicel kiosk at Capelle and Partners.

Mobile Coverage

There is only one network operator on Nauru, which is not surprising for such a small market. Digicel Nauru provide excellent network coverage throughout the country, which is not too much of a challenge considering the size of the coverage area – 21 square kilometres. Digicel offer a variety of pre-paid plans, which you can view on their website.

The best option for those arriving by air (which is everyone), is to purchase a local SIM card from the friendly staff at the Digicel kiosk at the International Airport. The kiosk is staffed whenever a flight arrives.

The main branch of Digicel is located at the Civic Centre and is open from 9 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday and 9:30 am – 2:00 pm on Saturdays.

A Digicel kiosk is also available inside the supermarket at Capelle & Partners in Ewa.

Wi-Fi

WiFi Symbol.

While staying at the Menen Hotel, I enjoyed good, free, Wi-Fi. Elsewhere on the island, Wi-Fi is hard to find.

Currency

The Australian dollar is the official currency of Nauru.

The Australian dollar is the official currency of Nauru.

The official currency of Nauru is the Australian dollar (A$), which trades under the international currency code of AUD.

Nauru is one of three Pacific nations who currently use the Australian dollar as their official currency, with the other two being Kiribati and Tuvalu.

The Australian dollar, which has the distinction of being the world’s first polymer currency, comes in banknotes of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. The dollar is divided into 100 cents (c), with coins being issued in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c.

To check the current exchange rate between the Australian dollar and the US dollar, click here.

Banking Services

The only bank on Nauru is an agency branch of Bendigo Bank, an Australian regional bank.

The only bank on Nauru is an agency branch of Bendigo Bank, an Australian regional bank.

In June of 2015, the Australian regional bank, Bendigo Bank opened an agency branch on Nauru, the first bank on the island in 15 years.

The bank is located at the Civic Centre in Aiwo District, which is where you’ll find one of the few ATM’s on the island. One other ATM is installed in the lobby of the Menen hotel, which attracts a constant stream of locals who drop into the hotel to withdraw cash. Another ATM can be found at Capelle and Partners Pacific and Occidental Supermarket in Ewa.

If you’re visiting Nauru on a short-term basis, it’s best to bring enough Australian dollars cash to cover your time on the island.  

Credit Cards

Credits cards cannot be used on Nauru!

Payment options include cash or bank transfer to accounts held by Nauru businesses at Bendigo Bank.

While a room at the Menen hotel cost me A$185 per night, I had the option of paying cash or transferring the funds, in advance, to the hotels’ account at Bendigo Bank.

If you’re applying for a visa online, you’ll be required to transfer the visa application fee to a government account at Bendigo Bank.

Costs

The very reasonably priced menu at the Oriental (Chinese) restaurant in Aiwo district.

The very reasonably priced menu at the Oriental (Chinese) restaurant in Aiwo district.

Due to the fact that almost everything (including bottled water) on Nauru is imported from Australia, travel costs can be high, although I didn’t find them to be unreasonable. The main travel expense is accommodation, with a room at the Menen Hotel costing A$185 per night.

In some cases, Nauru is a travel bargain! For example, an Australian beer, such as a bottle of Crown Lager, cost me A$4.50 during happy hour at the Bay Restaurant. The same beer, served at an Australian restaurant, would cost double, due to higher taxes and higher operating costs.

Meals, which are mostly prepared using imported ingredients, are not too unreasonably priced, with a burger and chips meal at The Bay Restaurant priced at A$10. I always chose local fish served with salad or vegetables which cost me less than A$20.

Sample costs: 

  • Coca Cola (0.33 litre bottle): A$2.50 (US$1.60)
  • Water (0.33 litre bottle): A$1.50 (US$0.95)
  • Happy hour Australian beer at the Bay Restaurant: A$4.50 (US$2.85)
  • Regular Cappuccino at the Tropicana café: A$4 (US$2.50)
  • Car Rental (daily rate for a 4WD): A$80 (US$50)
  • Litre of fuel: A$2.00 (US$1.26)
  • Meal (Cheap Chinese restaurant): A$10 (US$6.30)
  • Meal for 2 (Bay Restaurant): A$30-40 (US$18-25)
  • Room at the Menen Hotel: A$185 (US$116)

Philately

The gold leaf stamp, which was issued in 2018 to commemorate 50 years of Nauru Independence and marked the reopening of Nauru Post.

The gold leaf stamp, which was issued in 2018 to commemorate 50 years of Nauru Independence and marked the reopening of Nauru Post.

The first stamps of independent Nauru were issued in 1968. Since then, the post office has issued a trickle of stamps and was completely shut down from 2011 to 2018. The one post office (located in the Civic Centre) was opened on the 5th of March, 2018 in time for the launch of a beautiful, gold leaf stamp, which commemorated 50 years of Nauru Independence.

A stamp to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the return of Nauruans from Truk (Chuuk), after the end of WWII. The stamp depicts Muriel Cecil who is currently the oldest living Nauruan.

A stamp to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the return of Nauruans from Truk (Chuuk), after the end of WWII. The stamp depicts Muriel Cecil who is currently the oldest living Nauruan.

Currently, the post office is working on developing an online shop, which will allow it to process overseas stamp orders, which will surely be popular with Philatelists around the world.

Until then, stamps can be purchased by contacting the Post office (email: info@naurupost.nr) or visiting the Philately counter at the Civic Centre branch, where you’ll be handed a bulging folder of stamps to peruse.

The one and only branch of Nauru Post at Civic Centre.

The one and only branch of Nauru Post at Civic Centre.

Phosphate Mining

Me holding a piece of phosphate rock at a mine site on Topside, against a sea of phosphate.

Me holding a piece of phosphate rock at a mine site on Topside, against a sea of phosphate.

What is Phosphate?

Phosphorite, or phosphate rock, is a sedimentary rock that contains high amounts of phosphate minerals. The phosphate content of phosphorite varies greatly but it is said that the phosphate from Nauru is of an exceptionally high quality.

A Stamp issue commemorating the Nauru Phosphate Corporation.

A Stamp issue commemorating the Nauru Phosphate Corporation.

The two main sources for phosphate are guano, formed from bird droppings, and rocks containing concentrations of the calcium phosphate mineral. Nauru’s phosphate deposit is the result of thousands of years of bird droppings. Guano is a highly effective fertiliser due to its exceptionally high content of all three key fertiliser ingredients – nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.

Following the discovery of processes which allow for the creation of synthetic fertilisers, the demand for phosphates has declined.

A quarry of phosphate rocks at Topside.

A quarry of phosphate rocks at Topside.

How is Phosphate Used?

Phosphate being sorted into different grades at a mine on Topside.

Phosphate being sorted into different grades at a mine on Topside.

Phosphate is one of three key ingredients which are used in fertilisers. Normally, fertilisers are labelled with an ‘N-P-K’ rating, with phosphate being the ‘P’ component; nitrogen being the ‘N’ and potassium being the ‘K’.

An NPK value of ’10-5-5′ means that the fertiliser contains 10% nitrogen, 5% phosphate and 5% potassium. Phosphate is a key component for plant food and plants are key for human survival. The phosphate mined on Nauru is of an especially high quality, which makes for especially good fertiliser.

Phosphate on Nauru

Raw phosphate being graded prior to being trucked to the processing facility.

Raw phosphate being graded prior to being trucked to the processing facility.

Geographically speaking, Nauru is an isolated phosphate-rock island. The raised phosphate plateau (‘Topside‘) which covers 80% of the island, has been one giant mine site for more than a century.

Since 1906, mining companies have worked this plateau, extracting the easily-reached, high quality, phosphate which lies close to the surface. The phosphate is interspersed between calcium carbonate (i.e. limestone) pinnacles.

A former mine site on Topside. The exposed limestone pinnacles become blackened due to exposure to the elements.

A former mine site on Topside. The exposed limestone pinnacles become blackened due to exposure to the elements.

Throughout much of its modern history, the economy of Nauru has been almost wholly dependent on phosphate exports.

Briefly, during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, at the peak of the mining boom, Nauru boasted the highest per-capita income enjoyed by any sovereign state in the world.

More than a century of mining has taken its toll, with 80% of the nation’s surface having been strip-mined and left as a scarred, barren wasteland.

A view of discarded limestone rock at a mine on Topside. Large areas of the interior of Nauru feature such wastelands.

A view of discarded limestone rock at a mine on Topside. Large areas of the interior of Nauru feature such wastelands.

Following WWI, and the defeat of the Germans, Nauru, which was then a German colony, was given in trust to Britain, Australia and New Zealand. These three governments created the, Melbourne-based, British Phosphate Commission which took over the rights to phosphate mining on the island.

In the first year of mining – 5,000 kg of phosphate were shipped to Australia. Originally, phosphate was loaded by hand from small row boats onto larger ships which had to anchor beyond the shallow reef which surrounds the island.

A photo at the Nauru Museum, from 1910, shows the small row boats which were originally used to manually load phosphate onto ships which had to anchor beyond the shallow reef.

A photo at the Nauru Museum, from 1910, shows the small row boats which were originally used to manually load phosphate onto ships which had to anchor beyond the shallow reef.

An increase in production was achieved with the construction, on the reef, of a phosphate-loading cantilever, which automated the loading of phosphate onto freighters anchored offshore.

A photo at the Nauru Museum showing the MV Sea Master being loaded with phosphate in 2016 at Cantilever #2.

A photo at the Nauru Museum showing the MV Sea Master being loaded with phosphate in 2016 at Cantilever #2.

The original Cantilever #1 was bombed by the Germans during WWII, on the 27th of December 1940. On this day, three German ships were able to easily launch attacks against an undefended Nauru, damaging the vital cantilever, which resulted in a disruption to phosphate exports and the rationing of farm fertiliser in Australia during the critical war years.

Following the war, Cantilever #2 was constructed and is the only one which remains operational today.

Built after WWII, Cantilever #2 is the only loader which remains functional today.

Built after WWII, Cantilever #2 is the only loader which remains functional today.

From 1919, until Independence in 1968, the responsibility for restoring the land and water resources lost by mining operations and providing compensation for environmental damage to the island was under the control of the governments of United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.

A truck used for carrying Phosphate to the processing centre.

A truck used for carrying Phosphate to the processing centre.

Since independence the Nauru Phosphate Corporation, renamed in 2005 to the Republic of Nauru Phosphate Corporation have held the mining rights.

In 1989, the government of Nauru filed a case against the Australian government at the International Court in The Hague, claiming compensation for the rehabilitation of land mined under Australian administration. Despite a settlement having been reached, the mined interior of the island is still to be rehabilitated.

Small-scale phosphate mining at Topside in 2020.

Small-scale phosphate mining at Topside in 2020.

In 2002, the mining industry collapsed, due to the virtual exhaustion of financially viable resources, although some small-scale mining can still be seen today and can easily be observed on a drive around Topside.

The gravel roads on Topside have been made by the Nauru Phosphate Corporation in order to access their mining grounds. These roads are open as public roads and provide access to both the mines sights and the Regional (Refugee) Processing Centres.

Now, almost all of the available phosphate has been mined for use in fertiliser. The residual pinnacles have left a jagged landscape that cannot be used for agriculture or forestry.

Scuba Diving

Ready to do some snorkelling among the limestone pinnacles at Anibare beach.

Ready to do some snorkelling among the limestone pinnacles at Anibare beach.

While on Nauru, I kept looking out at the warm, 29 degrees, turquoise water and wishing there was some way to go scuba diving on the reef which surrounds this remote island. How amazingly pristine it must be! I had failed to find any information online regarding scuba diving options on Nauru and no locals could provide information on scuba diving options.

Then, on my second last day on the island, I met with the very helpful and informative, Sean Oppenheimer, who is the owner of Capelle & Partners. Sean advised that there is a PADI-certified Dive Master resident on Nauru and that diving can be organised by first contacting Capelle & Partners.

For any Israelis who make it to Nauru, Sean also serves as the Honorary Consul for Israel. For any consular enquiries, he can be contacted at: israelnauruconsol@gmail.com.

A photo on the wall of the Capelle and Partners office shows Sean Oppenheimer with Jean-Michel Cousteau during his visit to Nauru.

A photo on the wall of the Capelle and Partners office shows Sean Oppenheimer with Jean-Michel Cousteau during his visit to Nauru.

Displayed on the wall of the Capelle and Partners office is a photo of Sean Oppenheimer with Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of Jacques Cousteau, who visited Nauru in the early 1990’s to film a documentary “Nauru: The Island Planet” which focused attention on the environmental consequences of exploiting natural resources, i.e. Phosphate mining.

Fishing Charters

 Capelle and Partners showing off their new banner ads which feature their car rental, accommodation and fishing charter businesses.

The wonderful staff at Capelle and Partners showing off their new banner ads which feature their car rental, accommodation and fishing charter businesses.

The deep (up to 2,000 metres), pristine waters which surround Nauru, offer some of the best game fishing on the planet. Fishing trips can be organised through Equatorial Gamefishing Charters, who operate two boats on either full-day or half-day trips.

The charter business is another offering from Capelle & Partners, who can also arrange car rental, accommodation and much more.

If you need to purchase any fishing equipment, you can do so from their fully stocked fishing supplies shop, which is located next to the supermarket entrance.

Equatorial Gamefishing Charters Contact Details: 

Sightseeing

A wooden map of Nauru, showing the different districts, adorns the wall of the OD-N-Aiwo Hotel.

A wooden map of Nauru, showing the different districts, adorns the wall of the OD-N-Aiwo Hotel.

Island Tour

Visiting Buada Lagoon with my guide Ima.

Visiting Buada Lagoon with my guide Ima.

The sights of Nauru can be visited during the course of one day – at a leisurely pace! The best way to experience the island is to engage the services of a local guide, such as the wonderful Ima who is a staff member at the Menen Hotel.

A tour with Ima, which can be arranged through the reception desk at the hotel, costs A$40 and takes as long as it takes. Since I had a rental car, I did the driving while Ima did the navigating and talking!

Having a local guide is worthwhile, especially on Topside, where some interesting WWII sights (built during the Japanese occupation of the island), are hidden away and impossible to find.

Then there’s the surprising Moqua Caves, located right under your nose but completely hidden and impossible to find without a local guide.

Highly recommended!

Around the Island

Yaren District

Although Nauru has no official capital, the district of Yaren serves as the administrative centre for the island. It’s here, at the southern end of the island that you’ll find the airport, Parliament House, Ministerial Building, Court House, Nauru Museum, Police Station, Fire Station, Schools and more.

Ministerial Building

A view of the Ministerial Building with the Nauru War Memorial in the foreground.

A view of the Ministerial Building with the Nauru War Memorial in the foreground.

Located next to the Parliament House in Yaren, the Ministerial Building houses the offices of the members of the Nauru cabinet. The Cabinet is directly appointed by the President, and comprises the president, who presides over Cabinet meetings, and either four or five members of the parliament.

Located outside the Ministerial building in Yaren, the Nauru War Memorial is dedicated those who lost their lives in WWI and WWII.

Located outside the Ministerial building in Yaren, the Nauru War Memorial is dedicated those who lost their lives in WWI and WWII.

Clearly displayed on the Ministerial building is the Nauru Coat of Arms. Designed at the time of Independence, it features a shield split into three parts; with the top part containing the alchemy symbol for Phosphorous; the lower-left part containing a black frigate bird, while the third part contains a sprig of ‘Calophyllum‘, a flowering tropical plant.

The Nauru coat of arms is displayed above the entrance of the Ministerial Building in Yaren.

The Nauru coat of arms is displayed above the entrance of the Ministerial Building in Yaren.

Parliament House

A view of Parliament House, which is a unicameral parliament.

A view of Parliament House, which is a unicameral parliament.

Located next to the Ministerial building in Yaren, the Parliament of Nauru is a unicameral parliament, i.e. it consists of a single chamber. The parliament has 19 members who are elected for a three-year term in multi-seat constituencies. The President of Nauru, currently Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, is elected by the members of the Parliament.

A portrait of the first President of Nauru, Hammer DeRoburt, is displayed inside Parliament House.

A portrait of the first President of Nauru, Hammer DeRoburt, is displayed inside Parliament House.

While you are free to visit and photograph Parliament house, photography is forbidden inside the chamber.

Naoero Museum

A view of the Naoero Museum with one of the locomotives from the old phosphate railway on the right. The railway was built by the Pacific Phosphate Company in 1907.

A view of the Naoero Museum with one of the locomotives from the old phosphate railway on the right. The railway was built by the Pacific Phosphate Company in 1907.

The Naoero Museum, which was opened on the 30th of January 2019, should be the first place you visit on Nauru. It is here that you’ll gain an understanding of the history of the island and be made aware of the various sights, which you can then visit as you tour the island.

Displays inside the Nauru museum tell the story of Nauru while a model map provides a useful overview of the island.

Displays inside the Nauru museum tell the story of Nauru while a model map provides a useful overview of the island.

A model of the island provides a good overview of the different sites which can be visited. The friendly docent, who has a wealth of knowledge relating to Nauru, will ensure you receive the full story of the island before he lets you depart.

 

A close-up view of a traditional 'Tribal Mat'. About the size of a place-mat, these were worn around the waist by woman with the distinct pattern indicating their tribe.

A close-up view of a traditional ‘Tribal Mat’. About the size of a place-mat, these were worn around the waist by woman with the distinct pattern indicating their tribe.

The story of the Tribal Mats, which are uniquely Nauruan, is especially interesting. If you wish to contact the museum via email, you can do so at: naurugovinfo@gmail.com

Moqua Caves

A surprising find on Nauru, the completely hidden Moqua Caves in Yaren.

A surprising find on Nauru, the completely hidden Moqua Caves in Yaren.

Hidden away, off the main road, near the airport, the Moqua Caves are a series of underground caves which are filled with water from the underground lake known as Moqua Well.

This is a favourite place for locals looking to cool off on a hot day. The water, which is slightly salty, is refreshingly cool. Bring your swimmers!

Meneng District

A view of the southern end of Anibare Bay from the Menen Hotel.

A view of the southern end of Anibare Bay from the Menen Hotel.

Located on the southeast coast of Nauru, the Meneng district is home to the Menen Hotel (see the ‘Accommodation‘ section for more details), the largest hotel on the island and the place where most visitors stay. The hotel is located at the southern end of Anibare Bay.

Anibare District

A view worthy to be the cover photo for this guide. Limestone pinnacles, rising from the reef at the northern end of Anibare Bay.

A view worthy to be the cover photo for this guide. Limestone pinnacles, rising from the reef at the northern end of Anibare Bay.

Located on the east coast, the 2-km long Anibare Bay is the longest beach on Nauru. Considered the best beach on the island, the bay was formed by the underwater collapse of the east side of the volcano that underlies Nauru.

The bay is the most photogenic on the island (especially at sunrise) with a cluster of towering, limestone pinnacles rising from the reef at the northern end of the bay.

A WWII Japanese "pillbox" overlooks Anibare Bay.

A WWII Japanese “pillbox” overlooks Anibare Bay.

Located midway along the beach is an abandoned Japanese, WWII-era ‘pillbox’ (a concrete dug-in guard post). The Japanese occupation of Nauru lasted for a period of three years, from the 26th of August 1942 until the 13th of September 1945.

The only harbour on the east coast, Anibare Harbour was created in 2000 as a commercial fishing port.

The only harbour on the east coast, Anibare Harbour was created in 2000 as a commercial fishing port.

I did attempt to paddle and snorkel in Anibare bay during high tide but the presence of coral and sharp limestone rocks makes any swimming dangerous.

Although quite deep, the enclosed Anibare harbour provides the only safe swimming place on the east coast and is very popular with local kids.

Although quite deep, the enclosed Anibare harbour provides the only safe swimming place on the east coast and is very popular with local kids.

The best place to swim on the east coast is inside the protected walls of Anibare Harbour where the water is deep and protected from currents. The harbour was built as a safe harbour for the small fleet of fishing boats with a fish market located at the harbour.

Always best to follow the locals, who swim within the protected walls of Anibare Harbour.

Ewa District

Located opposite the Capelle & Partner complex, Ewa beach is an ideal place to enjoy your takeaway meal or coffee from the Tropicana cafe.

Located opposite the Capelle & Partner complex, Ewa beach is an ideal place to enjoy your takeaway meal or coffee from the Tropicana cafe.

On tiny Nauru, all roads lead to Ewa, and specifically, the Capelle & Partners complex which includes the largest supermarket on the island, a bottle shop, the Buns in the Sun bakery, the Tropicana café, the Ewa Lodge and the fishing gear shop. This is a busy corner of the island, with the facilities attracting a constant stream of locals.

A view of Ewa beach.

A view of Ewa beach.

Aiwo District

The ruins of Cantilever #1, which was bombed by the Germans during WWII.

The ruins of Cantilever #1, which was bombed by the Germans during WWII.

If you enjoy photographing rusty, industrial relics, you’ll love Aiwo. Sitting on the reef are the ruins of Phosphate Cantilever #1 which was bombed by the Germans during WWII. North of this is Phosphate Cantilever #2, which was built after the war and is still operational.

Covid-19 panic shopping even hit remote Nauru with locals buying up supplies of rice at the Civic Centre.

Covid-19 panic shopping even hit remote Nauru with locals buying up supplies of rice at the Civic Centre.

If Nauru has anywhere which could be considered ‘downtown’ then its Aiwo district. Located a short drive from the airport and Yaren, Aiwo is home to the Civic Centre, where you’ll find the one post office and bank on Nauru.

Friendly Nauru youth, on a shopping trip to Civic Centre.

Friendly Nauru youth, on a shopping trip to Civic Centre.

During my visit, the government announced that it would suspend shipping services to the island as part of its Covid-19 lock-down. This resulted in panic buying of rice, with locals purchasing huge supplies of rice from the Civic Centre supermarket.

Topside

The interior, high plateau area of Nauru is known as Topside. It is here that the island has generated its past wealth through phosphate mining, which has seen 80% of the island strip-mined

While the landscape has mostly been destroyed, there are a few interesting sights worth exploring, including reminders of the Japanese occupation and the very attractive oasis which is Buada lagoon.

In addition to the sights listed below, its worth driving to the mine sites to see how phosphate is extracted and processed (refer to the ‘Phosphate Mining‘ section for more on this).

Buada Lagoon

Tiny Buada lagoon has an average depth of 24 metres, with a maximum depth of 78 metres.

Tiny Buada lagoon has an average depth of 24 metres, with a maximum depth of 78 metres.

Located on Topside is the charming, green oasis of Buada Lagoon, which is surrounded by lush, tropical trees. If I lived on Nauru, I would live on the shores of Buada lagoon.

At just 0.13 km2, this tiny, landlocked, body of water (a large pond really!) is an endorheic lake, i.e. there is no outflow from the lake.

For centuries, prior to the arrival of Europeans, the tribes of Nauru used the lagoon for breeding milk-fish. Young milk-fish were caught in the surf and transferred to the lagoon. While many died, large numbers survived and were harvested once they reached a certain weight. An ancient version of a fish farm!

Command Ridge

One of the Japanese WWII-era, double-barrelled anti-aircraft guns on Command Ridge.

One of the Japanese WWII-era, double-barreled anti-aircraft guns on Command Ridge.

At 65 metres, Command Ridge is the highest point of Nauru. During the Japanese occupation, this was used as a lookout post. It’s possible to climb the overgrown ridge to reach a large double-barreled anti-aircraft gun which is still on its original mount.

A view of the hiking trail on Command Ridge.

A view of the hiking trail on Command Ridge.

The guns are very well concealed on the ridge. There are no signs pointing the way and I would never have found them without having a local guide.

A tunnel, which was originally used to provide access to the interior of the gun.

A tunnel, which was originally used to provide access to the interior of the gun.

If you have an interest in WWII history and relics, Nauru offers plenty of sights of interest. For more detailed reading, a detailed description of the various WWII sites has been published by Stan Gajda, who spent time working on the island back in the 1980’s and used his spare time to explore the WWII history of Nauru.

Japanese Prison 

Abandoned prison cells of the Japanese WWII prison.

Abandoned prison cells of the Japanese WWII prison.

Hidden away, just off the road which leads to Buada Lagoon, is an abandoned Japanese WWII-era prison. With a complete lack of signage and a concealed entrance, which is through a gap in the trees, I would never have found the prison without my trusted guide, Ima, leading the way.

Nature is slowly reclaiming the abandoned prison cells of the Japanese WWII prison.

Nature is slowly reclaiming the abandoned prison cells of the Japanese WWII prison.

The various prison cells were used to incarcerate enemies of the Japanese in World War II and was no doubt the scene of war time atrocities against the Nauruan’s, which would explain why my guide, Ima, was not comfortable spending time here.

Accommodation

While on Nauru, I stayed in one of the seaside rooms at the Menen hotel.

While on Nauru, I stayed in one of the seaside rooms at the Menen hotel.

There are precious few rooms available on Nauru and of those available, currently (2020) many are rented out on a long-term basis to the Australian government and private companies for the purpose of housing expatriate support staff who work at the Refugee Processing Centres or elsewhere.

The Australian pilots, who fly for Nauru Airlines, are housed at the excellent Ewa Lodge. A part of the Capelle & Partners enterprise, the Ewa Lodge offers the best accommodation on the island, if you can secure one of their few rooms. It’s worth contacting the company directly as they allocate five rooms for short term visitors.

Menen Hotel

The entrance to the Menen hotel, with a wing of 'Shipping container' rooms visible on the right.

The entrance to the Menen hotel, with a wing of ‘Shipping container’ rooms visible on the right.

The one sure bet on Nauru is the government owned, 119-room, Menen Hotel, which has been serving the people of Nauru since 1969. A hotel, whose star has faded, the Menen is the largest property on Nauru and one of the only properties where a room can be secured at short notice.

Built during the heyday of the Phosphate boom, the hotel today is old and tired and in need of a complete renovation, and in some cases a complete rebuild.

The Government-owned Menen Hotel celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.

The Government-owned Menen Hotel celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.

Anywhere else, the Menen Hotel would be avoided, but on tiny and remote Nauru, where options are very limited, visitors have little choice but to stay here and management (or the Government) are under no pressure to improve the offering.

My old and tired, but spacious and comfortable, room at the Menen hotel, which cost A$185 per night.

My old and tired, but spacious and comfortable, room at the Menen hotel, which cost A$185 per night.

Overlooking the beach in Meneng district, the 119 rooms are basic but comfortable, but at A$185 per night – not cheap. The hotel restaurant is one of the best on the island while the hotel bar, the Reef Bar, is the only bar on the island, although you can also enjoy a drink in the beer garden at the excellent The Bay restaurant.

The view from my balcony at the Menen hotel.

The view from my balcony at the Menen hotel.

I enjoyed my stay at the Menen, and would recommend the hotel, purely because it’s the only real option for a short-term visitor.

Through the hotel reception, I was able to organise a rental car (see the ‘Rental Car‘ section below) and an island tour with the wonderful Ima (see the ‘Sightseeing‘ section for details).

The hotel also has one of the few ATM’s on the island which is convenient.

Payment for the rooms needs to be made in cash or by bank transfer to their Bendigo Bank account – no credit cards are accepted. 

While visitors are (normally) accommodated in the two seaside wings of the hotel, much of the sprawling property has been developed into a small village of ‘shipping container rooms’ which are used to house support staff for the Refugee Processing centres.

The containers, which are stacked two-high, in long rows, are also used to accommodate regular visitors, should the seaside rooms be unavailable.

'Shipping container' accommodation at the Menen hotel is used to house Australian staff working at the Refugee Processing Centre.

‘Shipping container’ accommodation at the Menen hotel is used to house Australian staff working at the Refugee Processing Centre.

Menen Hotel Contact Details:

  • Reservations Manager: Mr Hansolo Boutu
  • Website: No website.
  • Address: 
    Menen Hotel
    Republic of Nauru
    PO Box 298
  • Telephone Numbers: +674 5578020 / +674 5578021 /+674 5578022
  • Email: menhotreservation@yahoo.com

Note: Response to emails can take time and can require following up.

Ewa Lodge

The rooms at the Ewa Lodge are located on the 1st floor of the Capelle & Partners building.

The rooms at the Ewa Lodge are located on the 1st floor of the Capelle & Partners building.

It seems that everything that is done by the team at Capelle & Partners is done to perfection and their accommodation option, the Ewa Lodge, is no exception.

Their modern, contemporary and stylish rooms (of which there are about 20) are the best on the island.

Unfortunately, the secret is out and many companies rent their rooms on a long-term basis to house their employees.

When the Australian pilots of Nauru Airlines stay overnight on the island, they stay at Ewa Lodge.

A room at the Ewa Lodge.

A room at the Ewa Lodge.
Source: Capelle and Partners

The good news is that five rooms are reserved for short-term guests, so it’s worth contacting the Accommodations Manager, Ms. Janelle Duburiya, to enquire about availability.

The lodge is located on the 1st floor of the Capelle & Partners building, above their supermarket, the largest on Nauru.

Also conveniently located downstairs is their bakery, ‘Buns in the Sun‘, and their café, ‘Tropicana café‘ (both of which are covered in the ‘Eating Out‘ section below).

Across the road is Ewa beach, which offers a sandy stretch of white-sand.

The different businesses of Capelle and Partners. Source: Capelle and Partners.

The different businesses of Capelle and Partners.
Source: Capelle and Partners

Having spent time with the team at Capelle & Partners, it is clear that they see the tourism potential of Nauru, and are busy developing that potential.

Just as importantly, this small, local, family-run conglomerate has the resources to be able to develop and offer services which will allow visitors to maximise their travel experience while on Pleasant Island.

Ewa Lodge Contact Details: 

  • Accommodations Manager: Ms. Janelle Duburiya
  • Website: http://capelleandpartner.com/ewa-lodge-accommodation/
  • Address:
    Capelle & Partners
    Occidental Building
    Ewa Beach
    PO Box 5
    Republic of Nauru
  • Telephone Numbers: +674 5571055 / +674 5571000 / +674 5571001
  • Email: cpreservations@capelle.com.nr

Goodworks

The newest accommodation option on Nauru, Goodworks offers apartments which are housed in shipping containers.

Located in Aiwo district, a short drive from the airport, Goodworks offer shared apartments for AUD$110, and studio apartments for AUD$130.

The hotel also has cars available for rent.

Budapest Hotel

Located on beautiful Anibare beach, the rooms at the Budapest Hotel are currently fully occupied, providing accommodation to Refugees.

Located on beautiful Anibare beach, the rooms at the Budapest Hotel are currently fully occupied, providing accommodation to Refugees.

Located on Anibare beach, a short drive south of Ewa Lodge, the rooms at the very utilitarian Budapest Hotel are currently booked out on a long term basis, housing refugees who are awaiting processing.

One of the very basic, but functional, rooms at the Budapest Hotel.

One of the very basic, but functional, rooms at the Budapest Hotel.
Source: http://budapesthotelnauru.com/

At the time of my visit, the Indian management were busy renovating the property and advised that the hotel will not be open to short-term visitors anytime soon.

When it does re-open, this 2-story hotel, which was inaugurated in 2017, offers 30, relatively basic rooms in two buildings which have been built with a focus on functionality rather than aesthetics.

Budapest Hotel Contact Details: 

  • Managers Name: Tariq
  • Website: http://budapesthotelnauru.com/
  • Address:
    Island Ring Road
    Anabar
    Nauru
  • Telephone Number: +674 5583697
  • Email: tariq@radianceintl.com.au

OD-N-Aiwo Hotel

The 3-storey OD-N-Aiwo Hotel is the tallest building on Nauru.

The 3-storey OD-N-Aiwo Hotel is the tallest building on Nauru.

As with the Budapest Hotel, the old and tired rooms at the OD-N-Aiwo Hotel are fully booked on a long term basis, housing support staff from the Refugee Processing Centre.

At the time of my visit, the completely disinterested receptionist advised the hotel was currently closed to short-term visitors.

This three-storey complex, which is located in the heart of the downtown area in Aiwo district, has the distinction of being the tallest building on Nauru.

The lobby also features some funky displays which are worth a peek.

A model of an old Air Nauru plane hangs from the ceiling of the reception at the OD-N-Aiwo Hotel.

A model of an old Air Nauru plane hangs from the ceiling of the reception at the OD-N-Aiwo Hotel.

Located 2 minutes from the airport, the hotel is a short walk from the Civic Centre which is the main commercial centre on Nauru, offering a supermarket, post office, bank, the main Digicel store.

OD-N-Aiwo Hotel Contact Details: 

  • Website: No Website
  • Address:
    PO Box 299
    Aiwo District
    Republic of Nauru
  • Telephone Numbers: +674 444 3591 / +674 444 3720
  • Email: odnaiwo@yahoo.com

Airport Homestay

There is one Airbnb property on Nauru. Nauru Airport Homestay Poe offers private rooms in Yaren, next to the airport, for around A$115 per night. An ideal option for those in transit.

Eating Out

Fish 'n' Chips at the Anibare Restaurant at the Menen hotel, where the local fish was always excellent.

Fish ‘n’ Chips at the Anibare Restaurant at the Menen hotel, where the local fish was always excellent.

As with accommodation options, dining options on Nauru are limited.

This is an island of 10,670 souls, most of whom eat at home.

Due to the poor soil, almost all produce is imported, with Nauru Airlines operating a weekly cargo flight, every Friday, from Brisbane.

The Nauru Airlines cargo plane, a converted Boeing 737, arriving at Nauru airport.

The Nauru Airlines cargo plane, a converted Boeing 737, arriving at Nauru airport.

There are just two decent dining options on Nauru.

In order of preference, they are:

  1. The Bay Restaurant
  2. Anibare Restaurant

Apart from these two options, there are a string of cheap and cheery Chinese restaurants, with the best of them being the Oriental Restaurant, which is located on the ground floor of the OD-N-Aiwo Hotel.

While on the island, I ate local reef fish most evenings, which was always fresh and tasty.

Restaurants

The Bay Restaurant

Owned by Capelle & Partners, The Bay Restaurant (Tel:+674 557 1111) is the best restaurant on the island.

Located on the Island Ring road in Anibare bay, this popular restaurant is the ‘go-to’ place for expats looking for a night out.

With a spacious, leafy beer garden out the back, the restaurant is especially popular during happy hour when bottles of Australian beer can be purchased for $4.50 each.

The menu includes lots of international favourites including pizza, hamburgers and chips (A$10), curries, fresh Fish and Chips, Club sandwiches and much more.

The friendly, enthusiastic staff provide a very good level of service, which isn’t always assured on Nauru.

Anibare Restaurant

The dining room at the Anibare Restaurant, where the chairs are covered in the national colours.

The dining room at the Anibare Restaurant, where the chairs are covered in the national colours.

Named after the long bay on which the Menen Hotel is located, the Anibare Restaurant offers surprisingly good meals.

I always ordered the fresh fish of the day and was never disappointed.

Oriental Restaurant

A not-so-busy Oriental Restaurant at lunchtime.

A not-so-busy Oriental Restaurant at lunchtime.

Of the many cheap eats on Nauru, almost all of which are Chinese, the Oriental Restaurant at the OD-N-Aiwo Hotel is worth a mention.
Offering a menu of predictable favourites, this is the place to come when you have a craving for Sweet and Sour Pork or Special Fried Rice.

Cafés

A Flat white coffee and a freshly made cupcake at the Tropicana café.

A Flat white coffee and a freshly made cupcake at the Tropicana café.

The best coffee on Nauru is served at the Tropicana café, which is part of the Capelle & Partners conglomerate.

Tropicana Café

The Tropicana café claims to offer the best coffee on Nauru.

The Tropicana café claims to offer the best coffee on Nauru.

Another offering from the busy folks at Capelle & Partners, the Tropicana café is located in their supermarket complex in Ewa.

Apart from very good coffee, the café offers a menu of favourite takeaway food and drinks, which makes this a popular stop for locals at lunchtime.

Always armed with an amazing smile, Doris is one of the friendly staff members at the Tropicana café.

Always armed with an amazing smile, Doris is one of the friendly staff members at the Tropicana café.

The café offers fast foods, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, sushi, hot meals and freshly baked cakes which are prepared next door by the team at the ‘Buns in the Sun’ bakery.

The lunchtime crowd at the Tropicana café.

The lunchtime crowd at the Tropicana café.

Bakeries

Staff at 'Buns in the Sun' preparing fresh bread rolls.

Staff at ‘Buns in the Sun’ preparing fresh bread rolls.

The award for ‘Best Bakery on Nauru‘ goes to… ‘Buns in the Sun‘.

Part of the Capelle & Partners conglomerate, this excellent bakery, which is located at their supermarket complex in Ewa, was established using equipment supplied by Bakers Delight, the large Australian-owned bakery franchise chain which has outlets throughout Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The friendly, well-trained, young, international team of bakers produce the best bread on the island.

They also bake the best meat pies and sausage rolls on Nauru, which make for a great lunch which can be enjoyed across the road from the bakery, on the wonderful white sands of Ewa beach.

Bars

The outdoor area at the Menen Hotels' Reef Bar.

The outdoor area at the Menen Hotels’ Reef Bar.

There is just one bar/club on Nauru, the Reef bar at the Menen Hotel.

It was very quiet every night I stayed at the hotel, with just a few patrons sitting outside on the garden furniture drinking beers.

The bar opens each evening around 6:30 pm, or whenever the staff show up for work.

Visa Requirements

My Nauru tourist visa.

My Nauru tourist visa.

All visitors to Nauru must obtain a visa in advance, unless they hold a passport from one of 15 countries.

To check the current requirements, please refer to the Visa Policy of Nauru.

The most current source of information regarding the Nauru visa application process can be found on the Nauru Tourism website.

The A4-size Nauru arrival form, which is comprised of three separate declarations for three different departments.

The A4-size Nauru arrival form, which is comprised of three separate declarations for three different departments.

Online Visa Application Process


My 'Visa Grant Notice' letter, which took Nauru immigration one month to issue.

My ‘Visa Grant Notice’ letter, which took Nauru immigration one month to issue.


Visas can be obtained online, which is very convenient since there are just four diplomatic missions around the world.

A description of the online visa process is included here.

For a country which was once named Pleasant Island, times have changed with the ‘welcome mat’ having been removed.

The only unfortunate aspect of planning a visit to Nauru is completing the Visa Application process, with seems to be unnecessarily long.

Application Form

Click here to download the Nauru Visitor Visa Application Form

Journalist Visas

Due to a number of global media reports, which have focused on the Refugee Processing Centres, and created a negative image for the country, Nauru Immigration screen all visitors to ensure they are not journalists.

The current visa fee for a journalist is A$8,000, which is non-refundable.

Apparently, it only took a few refusals to stop media organisations from applying for them.

If you are applying for a visa, you will be required to show proof of your occupation – which should not be ‘Journalist’.

Nauru Consulate Brisbane

Visas are issued by the Consulate of Nauru in Brisbane.

Contact details:

  • Address: Level 3, 99 Creek Street , Brisbane, QLD 4000
  • Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
  • Telephone: +61 07 3220 3040
  • Email: nauru.consulate@brisbane.gov.nr

Nauru Immigration Contact Details

The following email addresses should be used for contacting Nauru Immigration:

Visa Application Requirements

In order to apply for an Online Visa, you should first email Nauru Immigration and ask them to confirm the current requirements.

When I contacted them (January 2020), I received the following reply:


Nauru Visa Application Requirements.

Nauru Visa Application Requirements.


Visa Processing Timeline

Following is a timeline of my Visa application.

From the time I submitted all my documents, it took Nauru Immigration one month to process my application and issue my ‘Visa Grant Notice‘ letter (pictured above).

  • 21st of January: I submitted all required documents to Nauru Immigration via email.
  • 4th of February: After receiving no response to my submission email, I emailed Nauru Immigration, asking them to confirm that they had received my application. I received no response to this email.
  • 10th of February: I emailed Nauru Immigration again, asking them to confirm that they had received my application. Rajeev responded asking me to re-confirm my itinerary and to provide proof of my occupation, which had to be stated on an official document. I reconfirmed my itinerary and provided an official document which stated my occupation.
  • 14th of February: I emailed Rajeev to enquire as to when my visa would be issued.
  • 17th of February: I received an invoice from Nauru Immigration for A$50 which was the Visa application fee. This was paid via bank transfer to an account at Bendigo Bank using instructions provided by Nauru Immigration. Credit cards cannot be used to pay the visa application fee.  
  • 18th of February: I finally received my Visa Grant Notice, which I then presented at the airport upon arrival on Nauru in exchange for my Visitor Visa, which was stamped into my passport.

Following is a copy of the Visa fee payment invoice with the bank accounts details for Nauru Immigration.

Nauru Visa Fee Payment Invoice.

Nauru Visa Fee Payment Invoice.

Getting There

Nauru International Airport Terminal.

Nauru International Airport Terminal.

Air

The Nauru International airport terminal building.

The Nauru International airport terminal building.

The only way to arrive on Nauru is by air, with all flights arriving at Nauru International Airport (IATA: INU) which is the only airport on the island.

Early morning departure from Nauru back to Brisbane.

Early morning departure from Nauru back to Brisbane.

Flight Connections

The only airline operating flights to Nauru is the national carrier, Nauru Airlines.

The airline offers (updated: August 2024) regular connections to Brisbane, Koror (Palau), Majuro (Marshall Islands), Nadi (Fiji), Pohnpei (Micronesia) and Tarawa (Kiribati).

The airline’s fleet consists of four Boeing 737-300 passenger aircraft plus one dedicated Boeing 737-300 cargo aircraft.

The Nauru Airlines check-in desks at Brisbane airport.

The Nauru Airlines check-in desks at Brisbane airport.

I flew on a return ticket from Brisbane to Nauru.

If you book a flight with the airline which involves a transit stop (e.g. Brisbane to Marshall Islands via Nauru), you will be admitted into Nauru without having to go through the tedious Visa process.

Nauru Airlines

Nauru Airlines route map - as of August 2024.

Nauru Airlines route map – as of August 2024.

Nauru Airlines offer regular connections to many destinations in the Central Pacific, including, of course, Nauru itself, from their base at Brisbane International Airport.

An especially useful connection, for those already travelling in the South Pacific, is the airline’s regular flight from Nadi (Fiji) which offers connections to the Central Pacific.

Email address of the airline’s Brisbane office: book@ourtravel.com.au

Transiting Nauru

Depending on your flight connection, you could have an overnight stay on Nauru which would count as a visit for those country-counters who simply wish to tick Nauru off of their ‘Countries Visited’ list without going through the visa process.

My boarding pass for my flight from Brisbane to Nauru.

My boarding pass for my flight from Brisbane to Nauru.

My flight experience with Nauru Airlines was very pleasant. The crew were friendly and professional, with the Cabin crew being comprised of Nauruan’s and the pilots being Australian.

The airline uses Brisbane Airport as its maintenance and administration base which makes a whole lot of sense as all services are readily available there.

The only view on the 4.5-hour journey from Brisbane to Nauru is of the vast Pacific Ocean, with the occasional, remote atoll appearing below.

The only view on the 4.5-hour journey from Brisbane to Nauru is of the vast Pacific Ocean, with the occasional, remote atoll appearing below.

The flight time on the 3,341 km (2076 mi) trip from Brisbane to Nauru is 4 hours, 39 minutes. The entire flight is spent over the Pacific Ocean, with the occasional remote atoll punctuating the vast, monotonous expanse of blue.

These atolls are the dream destinations for the competitive travellers on websites such as Most Traveled People – adventurers who spend their time travelling around the globe, aiming to set foot in every country, and on every speck of land in the ocean.

Flight Costs

The booking screen from the Nauru Airlines website shows typical tickets costs.

The booking screen from the Nauru Airlines website shows typical tickets costs.

As a monopoly operator, Nauru Airlines is able to charge what they like, and since most passengers are travelling to the island on business, or government, expense accounts, airfares are not cheap.

Flights are sold in one-way segments and in different price categories.

The cheapest category is Pacific Super Saver, with a one-way ticket from Brisbane to Nauru typically costing A$679.

On certain days, this airfare might not be available with the next category of ticket, Pacific Saver, costing around A$950 one way.

It’s always best to book as far in advance as possible.

Brisbane Airport Accommodation

The Brisbane Airport Ibis hotel offers great rates and an unbeatable location directly opposite the international terminal, a short walk from your Nauru Airlines flight.

The Brisbane Airport Ibis hotel offers great rates and an unbeatable location directly opposite the international terminal, a short walk from your Nauru Airlines flight.

If staying in Brisbane before your flight to Nauru, I recommend staying across the road from the International terminal at the Brisbane Airport Ibis hotel.

The hotel offers comfortable rooms at reasonable rates with a wonderful breakfast served in the morning. The terminal is across the road from the hotel, making the Ibis a very convenient option for those travelling on the early morning flight to Nauru.

Destinations

Nauru Airlines Flight Schedule

The airline’s flight schedule is issued on a monthly basis.

An aerial photo at the Nauru Museum, clearly shows the runway extension which protrudes out over the coral reef.

An aerial photo at the Nauru Museum, clearly shows the runway extension which protrudes out over the coral reef.

Airport Transport

You can either walk or call ahead to your hotel to organise a transfer.

Sea

Forget it!

There is no way to reach Nauru by sea, unless you organise a berth on a container ship with a company such as Pacific International Lines (PIL).

Getting Around

There's never any rush hour on the Island Ring road, the islands' one long main road.

There’s never any rush hour on the Island Ring road, the islands’ one long main road.

Public Transport

A private bus on Nauru.

A private bus on Nauru.

There is no public transport on Nauru.

There are a few school buses and a few private mini-buses which transport refugees from their accommodation to the processing centres.

Walking/ Cycling

The distance from the most southern point of Nauru to the most northern point is just 9 km via the Island Ring road. The distance around the entire Ring road is 19 km (12 mi), making Nauru one country you could easily cover on foot in less than a day.

Rental Car

My rental car at Anibare Bay with the blue and white colours painted on the palm trees representing the colours of the AFL (Australian Rules football) team which the district supports.

My rental car at Anibare Bay with the blue and white colours painted on the palm trees representing the colours of the AFL (Australian Rules football) team which the district supports.

The best way to maximise your time on Nauru is to rent a car. Nauru is so small that it takes less than one hour to drive around it. The 19-km Island Ring Road circles the island and is paved, however this is not the case for most of the interior roads on Topside, which are gravel.


Trivia: An interesting piece of trivia is that the national sport of Nauru is AFL (Australian Rules Football). The sport was played by Nauruan school children in the 1930’s in schools in Victoria, Australia – the home of AFL. One of these school children was Hammer DeRoburt, the first president of Nauru who was a keen promoter of AFL in Nauru.

The sport today enjoys a high participation rate among Nauruans, and each district on the island follows one particular team in the Australian national league. They show their loyalty by painting the trunks of the palm trees, which line the Island Ring road in their district, with their team colours.


The good news is that you will not require a navigation device on Nauru. With one circular ring road following the coast, you simply keep driving until you return to your starting point. While distances are small and fuel consumption is minimal, unleaded fuel costs a whopping A$2 per litre!

The interior roads on Topside are gravel surfaced, having been built by the Phosphate mining company to provide access to mine sights.

The interior roads on Topside are gravel surfaced, having been built by the Phosphate mining company to provide access to mine sights.

The speed limit on the island is 50km/h but many locals would never dream of driving at such a speed. The pace of life on the island is slow and relaxed – no one is rushing anywhere!

Seat belts are optional, hand brakes are never needed on the flat coastal terrain and as for locking your car – where would any would-be car thief disappear to? It’s all very leisurely and relaxed.

When planes are present at Nauru airport, this portion of the Island Ring road, which doubles as the taxiway and apron at the airport, is closed to traffic.

When planes are present at Nauru airport, this portion of the Island Ring road, which doubles as the taxiway and apron at the airport, is closed to traffic.

One strange quirk on the island is that a small section of the Island Ring road forms part of the taxiway and apron area at the airport. Whenever a plane is present, the road is barricaded closed.  A second, newer road provides an alternative route around the perimeter of the airport, along the coast.

There are two contacts for rental cars on Nauru, Capelle & Partners and Ms Bena Fritz:

Capelle & Partners

This is one company which has all bases covered. C&P have a fleet of 8 Toyota Hilux vehicles which cost A$100 per day or 2 Toyota RAV4 vehicles for A$90 per day.

Contact Details for Capelle & Partners

My rental car alongside one of the Japanese WWII pillboxes (concrete dug-in guard post), which can be seen along the coast of Nauru.

My rental car alongside one of the Japanese WWII pillboxes (concrete dug-in guard post), which can be seen along the coast of Nauru.

Bena Fritz

I rented a car for A$80 per day through Ms Bena Fritz, who maintains a small fleet of 4WD vehicles. Bena, who was recommended by the Menen Hotel, dropped the car to me at the hotel and allowed me to leave the car at the airport when I departed.

Contact Details for Bena Fritz

  • Telephone: +674 54567187

 


That’s the end of my travel guide for Nauru. I look forward to hearing from anyone who uses this guide in planning a trip to Pleasant Island.  

Safe Travels!

Darren


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Further Reading

Other travel reports from the Pacific region:

 

Nuru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide 

Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide 

Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide 

Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide 

Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide Nauru Travel Guide