Christmas Island Things to Do Tips by xuessium

If you are a first time visitor to the island, then it's almost imperative that you will end up here to:

- Arrange tours
- Settle accommodations (if you haven't got one prior to arrival)
- Get your questions answered
- Loan bicycles and golfing equipment
- Buy souvenirs
- Use the Internet (A$8 for 1 hour; you could spread the 1 hour over a couple of days) [It's the ONLY place with public Internet access]

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Directions: The Visitors' Centre is opposite the only supermarket down at Settlement.
Website: http://www.christmas.net.au/

It would really be strange if you travel half the world (or in my case, just 2 hours) and not snorkel/dive in Christmas Island.

The island has been marketing itself with the above moniker and I believe the island pretty much stays on the world map when it comes to diving opportunities.

The island is extremely close to the deep Java Trench - the waters around the island are rich with unique oceanic fauna. Shallow waters with fringing reefs quickly plunge dramatically 5000m into the depths.

Brightly coloured reefs house a kaleidescope of fishes and marine organisms extremely close to shore, especially around Flying Fish Cove. More than 200 types of corals flourish in the waters.

Grab chances to meet manta rays and sharks (white tips and greys) at close proximity. Every Oct-Apr, Whalesharks, the world's largest mammal (and no relations to the real sharks) visit the island. Swim real close to them.

Dolphins and turtles can also be sighted (in fact, a school of playful dolphins were toying with my dive group when we were out at West White Beach) and folks who love fishing, can try their luck to hook a Tuna or the prized Wahoo.

'Nuff said.

The best time for diving & snorkeling is Apr-Oct when the waters are calm.

As far as I know, there are only 2 dive operators:
CHRISTMAS ISLAND WET 'N' DRY ADVENTURES (Hama & Lin)
Ph: 61-8-91648028; Email: diving@christmas.net.au
(English & Japanese)

CHRISTMAS ISLAND DIVERS (I went with them. A$50 for a day out)
Owned and managed by Nick Duff
HP: 61-419 759617; Email: nicholasrduff@hotmail.com
(English only)

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Christmas Is is home to about 180 types of crabs. 20 of them have evolved into land crabs, allowing them to live the majority of their life on land, scavenging among fallen leaves and burrowing into the soil for homes, only to return to the sea for spawning.

RED CRAB
The most famous of the land crabs is the Red Crab (Gecarcoidea natalis). Endemic to Christmas Is, their migration is one of the ecological wonders of the world, carpeting the island with a fabric of red. Generally bright red, though there are the occasional orangy or purplish varieties. They're active scavengers in the day (and not at night as do most crabs) and feed on fallen leaves, fruits, flowers and seedings...and true to their scavenging character, are open-minded to feeding on dead comrades as well.

They've been acknowledged as a major determinant of forest structure and composition and thus, play a crucial role to the ecological stability of the island. (The future of the Red Crabs is now clouded by the joint effect of human impacts and the infestations of the Yellow Crazy Ant, an accidental introduction into Christmas Is)

Migration usually coincides with the raining season, starting around late Oct and ends about early Jan. However, the drier weather pattern had resulted in late starts in the migration for 2006 and I was rewarded with them still in the midst of migration. Unfortunately, I never did catch sight of them spawning; fellow travelers at another location were luckier.

RED CRAB CYCLE:
Nov-Dec
1. Adult males and females move down to dip in the ocean and mate
2. Females retreat to freshly dug burrows (by the males) for 12-13 dys to develop up to 100000 eggs
Dec-Jan
3. Females release eggs into the sea on the turn of a pre-dawn tide
4. Eggs hatch immediately. Larvae live in sea for 1 mth
5. Larvae become gill-breathing megalops
6. Megalops leave water, moult into air breathing small crabs and migrate inland

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I did an island day tour with Lisa (Preston) from Christmas Island Travel Pty Ltd to explore the highlights of the island. Rate: A$65 (circa Jan 2007)

Some of the places I visited were:
Margaret Knoll - A lookout with panaromic views of the east coasts of the island. At the edge of the inland cliff, it is 1 of the best sites to observe many birds as well as Fruit bats. Also look out for the limestone pinnacles, ugly remnants of the effect of mining on the island landscape.

The Blowholes - Spectacular display of nature when large swells strike the rugged southern coastline. There is an elevated walkway and viewing platforms. Prepare to get wet!

Portions of the Christmas Island National Park - Great for nature hikes/walks.

Territory Day Park - Excellent picnic site with the Nursery Lookout a great spot to catch an aerial view of Flying Fish Cove. There is a nature trail here too.

Ethel Beach - Small sand beach with coral reef - good for reef snorkelling and diving.

Lily Beach - Small coral rubble beach and small bay exposed to pounding swells. Popular with picnickers and swimming is possible depending on water condition.

From one of the hillstops, I also spied the new detention barracks that the Australian government had built for asylum seekers.

Regretfully, I was not able to make to the Dales on the western-side of the island where there is a waterfall and permanent water sources as the roads to the Dales was closed due to the red crabs migration.

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Phone: 61-8-91647168 Fax: 61-8-91647169
Address: PO Box 580, CI, Indian Ocean, Australia 6798
Directions: The agency is at The Barracks, Settlement.
Website: http://www.citravel.com.au

For folks interested to know more about the island, there are 3 trails worth some exploring.

For historical buffs, you could try:
- THE SETTLEMENT HERITAGE TRAIL
- THE POON SAAN-DRUMSITE HERITAGE TRAIL
(See Travelogue pages for more details)

These 2 trails are best done via cycling as the 20 stops for each are spread across quite some distance. While it's possible to walk to connect all of them, it can be tough-going come harsh sun or crummy rain. Driving simply blurs you through all the stops without allowing you to appreciate them properly.

For nature lovers, you could try:
- TERRITORY DAY PARK NATURE TRAIL
Done on foot within the Territory Day Park (Stop 4 of the Poon Saan-Drumsite Heritage Trail). Go through 20 stops as well to fully appreciate the Tropical uniqueness of a Christmas Island rainforest. Footpaths accessible for certain stops and bare grounds for the others. Allows 30 minutes for the entire trail.

I tried this on sandals as it was an impromptu decision though looking back now, I would have preferred it done with boots (or shoes). I was rather apologetic that I kept crushing the burrows of the red crabs (which you will see aplenty in the forest) despite my best to avoid them...and was most fearful that I will get a nip here or there from the irate crabs. (HA!)

Plenty of flora to take note of: Strangler Figs, statuesque Pandanus Plants, Arenga Palms and a host of others. Read the plaques next to each stop to understand the ecology of the forest better. Fauna in the forms of crabs and birds are most evident.

Tip 1: There are plenty of fruit trees in the Park. Come fruiting season (Nov-Jan), lovely mangoes, starfruits and breadfruits are ripe for the picking!

Tip 2: Come to the Territory Day Park to catch a sight of Settlement from atop the hill. Lovely view!

Tip 3: Check out the colonies of Christmas Island Fruit Bats nesting in the trees.

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DISCLAIMER: I did not experience both. I am putting them just for reference.

BIRDING
There is an annual birdweek on Christmas Island.
(The tentative dates for 2007 is 1-7 Sep 2007)

Christmas Island is home to plenty of endemic locals and provide a great rest-stop for transitional migrants.

FISHING
The waters off Christmas Island is teeming with fish. Try to catch the much-prized Wahoo while you are at it. There is a fishing shop at The Barracks called "Shorefire", that caters to the needs of fishing enthusiasts.

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Website: http://www.christmas.net.au/