Within Gunungsitoli, shared angkots (minibuses) operate from the Faekhu Passenger Terminal and cover most of the city. Fares are low but routes can be confusing; for shorter hops, ojek (motorbike taxis) are quicker and easy to find outside the market. Negotiate the fare before you get on.
For day trips within the north of the island, renting a motorbike gives you far more flexibility than waiting for public transport. Guesthouses can usually arrange a rental. Roads in the north are generally paved and in reasonable condition; the route south deteriorates in places but is passable year-round. Driving in Nias requires patience — roads are narrow, and livestock has right of way.