Consulate

There is a Nauru consulate in Brisbane at 99,Creek Street.
Tourist visas take 5 working days to issue & cost A$100.
You need an onward ticket & hotel reservation.

Pardon my ignorance. Although Ive never been there, I think I know a bit about Nauru, and respect the people, but....why would a tourist want to go there?

Unbelievable.
A travellers forum & the only response I get is one saying don't travel.

No, I didnt say dont go, just that it is an unusual destination for tourists. As I said, "Although Ive never been there, I think I know a bit about Nauru, and respect the people, but....why would a tourist want to go there? " - This is borne out by the fact that no-one else replied. Nauru isnt renowned as a place to visit unless you had a specific reason to.Over recent years, Nauru's economic downfall, makes it even less like a candidate for visitors.Im sure it would be inrteresting, just not easy nor very comfortable

BTW the ConsulateGeneral used to be in Melbourne in the magnificent "Nauru House", but was forced to move when the building (and others in Melbourne) were taken away from the Nauruan Government due to extreme financial difficulties.

I think you've answered your own "why would any-one want to go there?" question by saying it would be interesting.
& what's so uncomfortable about getting on an plane?

We have just come back from Nauru - and would thoroughly recommend going.
First visas - we booked on line with Our Airline (very easy), then emailed the Menen (no reply so phoned and they emailed our reservation confirmation). So armed with these edocuments Our Airline put us in touch with the Nauru folks in Brisbane. they emailed - almost by return - the permission to get a visa.
Our Airline needed the visa letter before checking us in. On arrival our passports and letters were taken by immigration and we collected the passports with visas later that day after the early arrival. Despite being told the cost would be au$100 on collection we were told the visas were free as UK citizens and in the Commonewealth (also we were tourists).
So that bit worked very well, big thanks to OurAirline - who incidentally were on time in both directions and did a great fly over the isalnd as we arrived, great views.

Second, why go - to see another aspect of the Pacific islands, not just a place of sandy beaches. But highlights for us:
- a walk round the island - took us about 4 hours, and able to get a good idea of the place
- we met up with a guy working in the phosphate mines and he gave us a great tour of the works and the Japanese fortitifications
- we tried to catch the island bus, but hailed the teachers' bus instead, and they took us to the Menen.
- we went to mass, assisted by the Menen, and got another short tour of another part of the island
- everyone we met was very helpful and friendly - maybe because we are Brits?

OK not glamourous but if you travel for interest and to learn we would say go.

MandMike,
thank you very much for this useful information - I will travel to Nauru in November this year and have the airticket allready!

I bet they're not too busy in there!

I booked a ticket online (easy, I agree) and jumped on the plane from Honiara to Nauru last month without a visa or any kind of invitation, and they let me in. I told them I was a tourist and didn't know I needed a visa. They asked where I planned to stay (I told them Menen, as it is one of only two options). After checking that the hotel had a room available (also a no-brainer, as there are hundreds of rooms), they let me in. They told me to come to the Immigration Department (a shack alongside the airport runway) the following day, when I would be given my visa. By the time I left three days later, I still had no visa, and had paid nothing towards it.
Not suggesting anyone intentionally tries to circumvent the rules - just for info.

Needless to say, my three-day trip to Nauru was excellent. It was a buzz just to be there.

Hi Dowson and MandMike,
how much did you payed for the room at the Menem?
Thanks
stoephi

83 Aussie dollars.
That was the cheapest room available, I think, i.e not an "Ocean View" room. But I actually had a room right on the corner, so I got an Ocean View for a Garden View price! Ask for Room 352......

Thank you!