Not to miss

Yaren

Yaren is understandably low on most travellers' agendas, but the beaches aren't far away, and neither is the open ocean if you're planning a deep-sea fishing trip. You can while away a few minutes by looking at the two Japanese guns and the numerous bunkers and pillboxes left after WWII.

You could also walk around the machinery dump, or sit in your hotel room and watch Television New Zealand. The hotel does have a bar, casino, shopping and a restaurant serving Thai, Chinese and Indian food.

Anibare Bay

This is by far Nauru's best beach, but it will pay to be a little cautious as the currents here can be quite dangerous, suddenly surging and sweeping you away from shore. Anibare Bay has the requisite sand, equatorial sun and shady palm trees begging to be snoozed under.

Cantilevers

The first shipment of 2000 tonnes of phosphate left Nauru in 1907. By 1908 vast industrial architecture began to be installed. Between the world wars, the first of two huge cantilevers was built on the coast, enabling phosphate to be loaded onto ships more efficiently. After WWII demand for phosphate rose and by the 1960s a second cantilever was in operation.

Command Ridge

Command Ridge, where the Japanese kept watch in the 1940s, is Nauru's highest point and still holds some rusted WWII guns, including two large rotating six-barrel weapons that once fired 40kg (90oz) shells. There's also a communications bunker - you can enter if you have a flashlight or lantern and if you look closely you'll see some Japanese writing.

Former Presidents' House

Check out the view from the ruins of the once-splendid former Presidents' House, burned down in 2001 by a local mob who were furious at the government's mismanagement of funds. Ponder any potential lessons on the exploitation of finite natural resources. Think about purchasing a box of matches.