Christmas Island Guide
Christmas Island is a little piece of paradise located some 2,600 kilometres northwest of Perth. Its closest neighbour is Java and, due to its incredible range of animal and marine life, the island is known as 'the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean'.
Holidays at the Christmas Islands are jam-packed with things to excite and intrigue you. Take advantage of Christmas Island tours to discover some of the natural wonders of the island, including serene beaches ideal for relaxation.
Over 60 per cent of the island consists of national park and there are ample opportunities to discover the diverse range of protected flora and fauna.
Discover natural beauty
Enjoy bird-watching, hire a bike or a car, or simply take a walk along one of the boardwalks through the jungle. Stop at Hugh's Waterfall or the blowhole to admire the volcanic landscape.
Christmas Island – the summit of a submarine mountain – is surrounded by a narrow coral reef, making it a popular dive and snorkel site. Fascinating caves and sheer drop-offs within 200 metres of the shoreline attract the most athletic of divers.
At 360-metres tall, Christmas Island's highest peak rises out of lush rainforest and looks down onto an 80-kilometre coastline of limestone and volcanic layered sea cliffs.
Any self-respecting Christmas Island travel guide will recommend a game of golf at the nine-hole Christmas Island Golf course, set high on the island amongst tropical rainforest and palm trees, with only sea birds and land crabs as spectators.
Join a crab colony
There are an incredible 180 species of crab on the island, most notably the Robber Crab and Red Crab. The annual migration of the Christmas Island crabs is a sight to behold.
At the beginning of the wet season both male and female red crabs make their way down to the sea for breeding, following the same paths each year and creating a brilliant 'red sea' effect as they travel en masse to the water.
Some roads are closed for the migration, which lasts up to 19 days, and 'crab crossings' have been tunnelled under roads to provide unrestricted access to all parts of the island.
Flights to Christmas Island operate every other day from Perth and thrice-weekly from the nearby Cocos Islands. There's plenty of Christmas Island accommodation options, including the Christmas Island Resort, set in the picturesque Waterfall Bay.
Arrange a fishing trip through your accommodation if you want to chase down some massive tuna, wahoo and sailfish.
Find unexpected delights
While it may not quite reach the heights of Paris or New York in terms of shopping or fine dining, there are still some unexpected delights to savour on Christmas Island.
Souvenir shopping is a breeze at the Christmas Island Gift Shop, where humourous crab-themed magnets and coasters remain eternally popular with visitors. Those after a tasty treat are well catered for too, with the island boasting a surprisingly decent range of cafes and restaurants.
The Rumah Tinggi Tavern and Restaurant and Barracks Cafe are popular with locals and visitors alike and with duty-free alcohol and a friendly local populace to enliven proceedings, it's not uncommon to end a raucous evening on the island with a round of karaoke.
