Welcome to

Christmas Island

Visitor Guide

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Welcome to Christmas IslandChristmas Island is a natural wonder — a remote tropical island famous

seabird breeding sites – a birdwatcher’s paradise.

dream.

InformationChristmas Island Tourism Association

and Visitor Information Centre

Tel: + 61 (0)8 9164 8382

www.christmas.net.au

Christmas Island National Park

Tel : +61 (0)8 9164 8700

Christmas Island Police (Australian Federal Police)

Hospital and ambulance

Tel: +61 (0)8 9164 8333

Contents About Christmas Island The locals ................................... 5 Climate ....................................... 5 Currency .................................... 5

Flights ......................................... 6

Tours ........................................... 6

Phone and Internet .................... 7

Hire cars ...................................... 7 Yachts ......................................... 7

Christmas Island history Christmas Island map Tourist map ................................. 10 Christmas Island National Park Geology ...................................... 12 Plants .......................................... 12

Getting around Birds ........................................... 14 Crabs ........................................... 16 Red crabs .................................... 18

Turtles ......................................... 21 Wonderful wetlands ................... 21 National Park staff at work In general .................................... 22 Weeds ......................................... 22

Walks

Other places of interest .................................................... 27 Suggested itineraries .................................................... 28 Safety Information .................................................... 36

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AboutChristmas Island

985km

Perth

2950km

Singapore1350km

Australia

Kuala Lumpur1570km

2600km

Christmas IslandCocos (Keeling)Islands

Indonesia

Malaysia

The locals

Climate

the middle of the year.

Currency

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photo:

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Visitor Information Centre

Visitor I

holiday.

Flights

Accommodationfrom

Tours

the underwater wonders of the island’s fringing coral reef and

Eating and shopping

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Phone and internet access

carriers with roaming agreements in place with Telstra.

Getting around

machinery also uses the roads.

Hire carscompanies.

Yachts

Christmas Island cultural events

held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar when the moon is at its brightest.

photo:

photo:

Christmas Island Visitor centre photo:

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Christmas Island’s history

1688

crabs.

1857

1887

and in a nearly pure form.

1888

1891

1897

1898

1900

1908

1942

1949

1950s

1 October 1958of £2.8 million.

1970s

1977

1980

1986 & 1989

2006

a former phosphate lease in the island’s north west.

Histo

ry

1 Octobe

111919898111 6 &

History

WWII history including a restored gun emplacement.

of war camps in Indonesia.

Territory.

photo:

Crab migration 1915 photo:

photo:

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island’s uniquely structured rainforests and two wetlands of

Geological origins

plateau.

Plants

Christmas Island’s unique plant life.

Christmas Island

National Park

Major vegetation types On the island’s central plateau and terraces where soils are deep you’ll

forest its bare understorey.

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Fern Tectaria devexa photo:

Tree roots photo:

Rain forest photo: Wendy Vis

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BirdsChristmas Island is one of the world’s truly spectacular tropical seabird

in colonies in trees on many parts of the coastal shore terraces. You

as the island’s fauna emblem.

daily to their ocean feeding grounds.

which are listed as threatened species.

fringed sunsets. The Christmas Island imperial pigeon is another

as it forages amongst the forest canopy for ripe fruit.

.

Bird’n’Nature Week

and the island’s marine and terrestrial ecology.

Bird

s

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tmas island

Bird'n’Nature W

eek

Golden Bosun photo: photo:

Red footed Booby photo:

photo:

photo:

Brown Booby photo:

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Crabs

endemic blue crabs that inhabit wetlands and the large robber crabs

Road to recovery for robber crabs

to locate the carcasses of these gentle giants as part of a study of

around them.

Did you know?

are the biggest land crustaceans on earth. Christmas Island has the world’s largest and best

robber crab sanctuary.

the name robber crab as they

Robber crabs are slow growing

70 years old.

Cra

bs

photo: © photo: © Blue crab . photo: ©

Red hermit crab photo: © Yellow eyed crab photo: ©

Grapsus crab photo: ©

Robber crab photo: © Robber crab photo: ©

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Red crabs nutrients and shaping and maintaining the structure of the rainforests.

(spawning) in the early morning.

Where to view the migration

good places to watch female crabs spawn.

Look after our red crabs!

special crab crossings and bridges on some roads to allow them to

Please help us reduce red crab deaths by obeying road closure and

Did you know? The beginning of the red crab

synchronised with the lunar cycle. It

(when the eggs are cast into the sea)

on the Christmas Island Tourism

websites.

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Red crab spawning photo: Red crab migration photo:

Red crab photo:

Red crabs at dawn photo: photo: © Tracy Wilson photo:

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Marine life

.

Turtles

Wonderful wetlands

(Inocarpus fagifer)growing in trees and endemic plants such as the arenga palm (Arenga listeri) and Ridley’s orchid (Brachypeza archytus).

birds.

Ma

rine

life

Batfish photo:

photo:

Coral reef photo: photo:

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National park staff at work

Weeds

in the island’s forests.

species or intact rainforests.

plants and animals.

Rehabilitating

the rainforest

Phosphates.

Did you know? around the world – but especially on oceanic islands

and forest birds. Control of cats and rats is an

Na

tion

al p

ark

staff

at w

ork

Did you know? They were introduced to Christmas Island somewhere between 1915 and 1934. They form high density colonies

red crabs and the health of the rainforest.

Re planting photo:

photo: photo: Golden Bosun photo:

Crazy ants photo:

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Inside the national park

2WD 100 m | 1 min each way

| 1 hr each way |

and picturesque sandy beach with a coral reef and a freshwater stream.

wish to camp. Please do not disturb the animals or their nests.

2WD

spray seawater high into the air when large swells pound against the

Walks

photo:

photo:

| 1 hr each way

great place for lunch.

| 30 min each way

the area.

400 m | 3 min each way

| 2 hr each way

and rugged coastline. When you reach Perpendicular Wall you will be

West White Beach photo:

Winifred Beach photo:

photo:

Wa

lks

The Blowholes photo: Wendy Vis

2WD

(steep terrain)

Perpendicular wall photo:

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2WD

and animals.

along this coast.

| 30 min each way

| 1 hr each way

Outside the national park

2WD | 1 hr each way

| 10 min each way

Waterfall photo: ©

photo: ©Tierney

photo:

300 m | 15 min each way

down the staircase.

Turtles nest all year round on this beach. High numbers of red crabs

the animals or their nests.

Other places of interest

island’s main boat launching ramp is located here.

Tai Jin House

emplacement and buildings from WWII.

Centre for opening hours.

South Point (2WD access)

be seen soaring below in the wind. There are two Chinese temples in

photo:

photo:

photo:

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Greta Beach photo: Wendy Vis©

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Suggested itinerariesS

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sted

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Add two or more days:Add some sports – play golf, go scuba diving, go

deep sea fishing, go snorkelling.

Day 1

Walking Tour of Settlement,

taking in the

Christmas Island Exhibition

at Tai Jin House, and the

Historical Trail (supporting

brochures available at the

Visitor Information Centre).

Drive to the Blowholes via

the North South Baseline,

then the East West Baseline

Continue to Hugh’s Dale

finishing at Martin Point for a

spectacular sunset.

Add a dayAdd a day

Add a day

Day 2

Drive to Territory Day Park,

and complete the Territory

Day Park Nature Trail –

consider extending the walk

to include the Smith Point

Walking Trail.

Drive to the Grotto and Mar

Chor Nui Nui Temple, finish

the afternoon with a snorkel

and barbecue at Flying Fish

Cove.

Day 3 Full dayDrive to Greta and Dolly

Beaches, enjoying the trek

through the Rainforest to

Dolly – pack a picnic lunch.

Return via Margaret Knoll.

Day 4

Drive to Lily Beach, and

walk along the Boardwalk to

Ethel Beach.

Take your swimmers and

enjoy a paddle in the

shallows.

Drive to South Point, taking

in the historic railway

station, temple and stay for

the sunset.

Day 5

Enjoy some birdwatching

from the Golf Course

Lookout.

Drive to the Dales and walk

to Anderson’s Dale, via

Hugh’s Dale.

Finish the afternoon with a

snorkel at Flying Fish Cove.

Day 6 Full dayPack a picnic lunch, then

drive to Winifred Beach

(tide dependant) or West

White Beach, and walk

the nature trail to the

coast – depending on sea

conditions enjoy a snorkel

at either Winifred or West

White Beach.

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The Sunset &

VQ3 Lodge

P: +61(0) 8 9164 7500

F: +61(0) 8 9164 7400

M: +61(0) 439 21 5500

www.sunset.cx

www.vq3lodge.cx

The Sunset has a perfect location with ocean frontage.

VQ3 Lodge is one street back from the ocean with views from the superior

rooms on the upper level.

Both hotels are only a short walk from taverns, cafes, supermarket,

restaurants and the island’s main shopping area in Settlement. Unwind with

a soothing swim in The Sunset’s private pool.

All rooms have an en-suite, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, complimentary

WIFI, tea & coffee making facilities, microwave, TV, toaster & bar fridge.

VQ3 Lodge has a communal kitchen & laundry facilities for the use of all

guests from both properties. Guests of VQ3 Lodge are welcome to use the

swimming pool and BBQ facilities at The Sunset.

Ad

ve

rtising

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Eco Adventures Pte Ltd317 Outram Road#02-61 Concorde Shopping CentreSingapore 169075+65.6538.4441info@adventures.com.sg

ChristmasI S L A N D

© Inger Vandyke

more than just crabs, birds and marine life ...

StayingRates start from $285 per night for the Deluxe

Room or $570 per night for the Executive Suite.

Availability is strictly limited, so please book in

advance.

DiningServing a combination of Western, Italian,

Asian and Fusion cuisine, the Waterfall

atmosphere to suit any occasion.

Breakfast 6:00 - 9:00AM (Monday to Friday)

6:00 - 9:00AM (Weekends)

Dinner 6:00 - 9:00PM (Monday to Sunday)

Friday Pizza night.

Sunday Don’t miss out on our famous

Waterfall Restaurant every Sunday

from 6:00PM.

Bookings can be made on

Ph (08) 9164 8888.

Adults: $35PP, Children $17PP.

Night ActivitiesKaraokeEach Wednesday and Friday nights, The

Christmas Island Resort Bar hosts Karaoke

where everyone is welcome to test their singing

talents or just come along to enjoy the friendly

atmosphere.

NightclubThe CI Resort Nightclub is open every Saturday

night from 10:00PM hosting both local and

Perth DJ’s blasting your favourite tunes until

the late night. Entry is free to all, but valid ID is

required for entry (18+).

For enquiries and bookings,

Ph: (08) 9164 8888 or visit www.ciresort.com.au

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Experience all that Christmas Island has

help you get the most out of your visit

to our island

Private and specialised tour itineraries and

group tour co-ordination options available upon request.

For enquiries or to make a booking please contact:

E: lisa@indianoceanexperiences.com.au

T: +61 8 9164 7475 | M: + 61 (0) 439 215 667

www.indianoceanexperiences.com.au

Servicing the local community with:

Bill paymentPostpak packagingBanking & financial servicesStationery - Office and SchoolPrepaid mobile phones recharge cardsStamps and stamp collecting productsGift ideas and greeting cards plus much morePost office boxes for rent (if available)

Licensed Post Office

Opening Hours8:00am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday (except Wed.)

:00am to 5:00pm Wednesday :00am to 1:00pm Saturday

Incoming mail to Christmas Island arrives once a week, it will be available after being cleared by Customs & Quarantine Officers.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND WA 6798

412 Canberra Place Christmas Island Australia 6798T: 9164 8495 | F: 9164 8494

We are the only dedicated travel wholesaler in Australia offering affordable and value for money holiday packages to Christmas Island. Our friendly and knowledgeable consultants will work with you to

create a memorable holiday for you!

Flights Accommodation Vehicle HireTravel Insurance A wide selection of Island tours

Tailor made packages to suit your requirements are also available!

For reservations and more information, please contact:T: 08.9322 9561Toll Free: 1300 884 855E: reservations@islandexplorer.com.auwww.islandexplorer.com.au

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CHRISTMAS ISLAND!

Safety Info:

don’t risk your life

safely.

It is easy to become lost in the rainforest so

someone where you are going and when

breathable clothing.

shoreline

Please use commonsense when swimming or wading at any beach – they can be

rips and undertows. No beach on the island

beaches is only recommended at Flying

warning signs.

and narrow and become slippery when

Protecting the

national park

Ph: 08 9164 8700

interfere with wildlife.

1

ere with wildlife.