Welcome to Christmas Island, the wildlife paradise right on mainland Australia’s doorstep that many have heard of yet few have visited.
Located just South of Indonesia, Christmas Island is just a short flight from Perth. With dense jungles, beautiful sandy beaches and crystalline blue waters, Christmas Island is a tropical paradise. The most famous of Christmas Island’s tourist attractions is the unique annual red crab migration which occurs every year between the months of October and January. Truly a sight to behold, millions of these crabs make their way from the depths of the jungle down to the ocean to spawn, creating a spectacle that is rightfully one of nature’s greatest events.
As well as the annual crab migration, there are plenty of opportunities to spot unique wildlife all year round. A haven for bird-watchers, Christmas Island has an abundance of lookouts perfect to spot frigate birds, boobies and the golden bosun, amongst others.
Down in the crystal clear waters that offer comfortable year-round temperatures of 27⁰C, things get even more spectacular with brightly coloured fish darting amongst the pristine coral reefs. Snorkelling and scuba diving is breath-taking at any time of the year, and spinner dolphins and even whale sharks can be spotted between November and April.
Full of natural wonders, this remarkable island still feels like an undiscovered and unspoilt paradise. With glorious wildlife and a depth of culture and history to discover, Christmas Island is a place where unique travel experiences collide to create a trip you’ll never forget.
Christmas Island stands over 350 metres above sea level and plunges steeply to a depth of 5000 metres, all within 5km of the islands shoreline. The Island has several plateaus all of different altitudes – think of it as looking like a layered wedding cake. The lower section consists of the Settlement and Kampong areas, joining a large steep hill towards Poon Saan, Silver City and Drumsite areas.
The weather is tropical with temperatures from 25-30 degrees Celsius every day of the year. The usual wet season starts from November to March and during this time, the nights can be cooler and the days more humid. The dry season is from April to November and usually offers perfect days and nights!
Migrating Red Crabs
The timing of the Red Crab migration is linked to the onset of the first rains; usually some time from late October to December. Adult male red crabs lead the migration, with the females departing their burrows in the jungle shortly after. The females plan to release their eggs into the ocean at the turn of the high tide, during the last quarter of the moon. This is another contributing factor and has an impact on when the migration commences. You can be sure to see the red crabs year round, but if you want to experience the sea of red, plan for late in the year. Call us for the latest crab migration information.
Diving
Diving is very popular with some of the longest drop-offs in the world. Being on the edge of the Java Trench, there are incredible wall dives with tropical fish, coral, dolphins and whale sharks seasonally (usually Nov-Apr). Choose from a single day trip or explore further with multiple dive trips during your stay.
