There are some questions that come to mind when one hears about Christmas Island for the first time. These are where is it, how to spend a vacation on Christmas Island and why is it called Christmas Island.
The small island, which is just a speck on the world map, sits about 250 miles south of the coast of Central Java, and a large 1,650 miles from Perth, the nearest Western Australian city. Technically, it is a territory in Australia, but you would not know from its location. Stuck away out in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christmas Island is actually the above-water tip of an old mountain. And a dramatic tip at that.
About 50 miles in circumference, Christmas Island is ringed by 60-foot cliffs, broken intermittently by small coves, beaches, and attractive limestone grotto. Despite the beach areas, you may avoid swimming too far: just a hundred feet from the seashore, the floor of the Indian Ocean drops 3 miles clean to the down. Just the thought of treading over that much water will make your stomach flip.
That being said, this remote island, with its rich wildlife and limestone caves, is suitable for travelers. Read on to find out how to spend a vacation on Christmas Island. Now, let us see why is it called Christmas Island.
Christmas Island got its name from Captain William Mynors. He was an English seafarer who stumbled upon thus unknown piece of land on Christmas day in 1643. Though until the late 1800 the island was not surveyed properly.
Today, most of the island’s Malay and Chinese populations are descended from imported labor, who were brought here in the 19th and 20th centuries to work the local phosphate mines.
Learn how to spend a vacation on Christmas Island
To reach Christmas Island, you will need, you must fly in from Perth or Fiji. Now, the question that strikes everyone’s mind is what airlines fly to Christmas Island? So, the answer is Virgin Australia runs flights twice a week from the Perth Airport and Fiji Airways once a week from Fiji.
Fortunately, if you are flying in from any of these places, there is no need of visa to enter Christmas Island. With just 2,000 permanent inhabitants on the island, facilities are somewhat restricted.
A small variety of restaurants and shops are offered, but then again, no one comes here. The most vital thing is to choose a car rental service, as that is the only means of transportation around this island. You can hire a four-wheel-drive vehicle for about $60 a day.
Move straight to the Jungle
You can start your Christmas Island tour by heading straight to the jungle. With a warm temperature and high rainfall, Christmas Island is favorable to fostering all kinds of wildlife. About two-thirds of this Island is designated as Christmas Island National Park, featuring well-designed trails that are quite popular among the bird watchers.
No matter where you go in the jungle, you will enjoy several sightseeing spots. Hugh’s Dale waterfall is attractive and can only be reached through hiking in the rain forest. Like something out of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, along the way you will pass through Tahitian chestnut trees with clumsy buttress roots. You must be careful where you keep your step, as the floor is full of small red crabs.
Once you reach the falls, go ahead and enjoy a shower under the freshwater. The water is not just clean for drinking, but it is regarded to be scared and holy by local Buddhist monks.
Swim with whale sharks in the Christmas Island Beaches
Most of the people visit this place for seeing the Christmas Island beaches. As the island is so small and has remained as it is for long you can find varieties of colorful fishes swimming around the Island’s tropical reef. On a typical dive, you might enjoy swimming with the world’s biggest fish, the whale shark, which visits Christmas Island often from November to April.
You will also encounter all types of Marine life: Whale Sharks, Dolphins, Manta Rays, Sea Turtles, and about 88 species of coral.
It Should Be Called Crab Island
Not only does Christmas Island boast the highest diversity — and density — of land crabs of any island in the world, it’s also home to a staggering natural phenomenon. Each October, right after the start of the wet season, 120 million red crabs begin their sideways tiptoeing journey from the depths of the forest out to sea.
As a result, huge tracts of the island appear to come alive with bright red, roving, shell-covered bodies. The sheer volume of crabs makes this a must-see event (certain roads are even shut down to allow safe passage for the crabs), and many refer to it as one of the world’s natural wonders.
Christmas Island Weather
Christmas Island is situated only 10 degrees south of the Equator and provides a year-round tropical climate with dry and wet seasons. Here, the temperature is warm throughout the year with average lows of 22 degrees Celsius and average highs of 28 degrees Celsius and humidity levels between 70 to 90 percent. The wet season continues from December to April. It is suggested to pack a light jacket, though showers at this time do not last for long.
Things to do on Christmas Island
Christmas Island red crab is one of the major attractions on this island. Annual crab migration is one of the popular attractions here, in which around 60 million red crabs make their way from the forests to the coast at the starting of the wet season. It is one of the greatest natural wonders on this planet. Usually, the migration time is during late October and November. This island is home to the world’s largest crabs, i.e. the robber crab, popularly known as the coconut crab. It is about 3.3 feet wide and can live for 100 years.
Go wild over the Christmas Island Australia
About two-thirds of this island is the national park. It is covered with thick monsoonal rain forest. Several 4WD tracks, boardwalks, and walking trails can lead you deep in the forest to attractive waterfalls, clifftop places, and awesome beaches. Some of the top spots include the Dales, where you follow a course of a freshwater stream to a small waterfall below which you can stand and enjoy. You can hire a vehicle through a visitor information center, or you can join a troupe also.
Enjoy walks through nature
The huge national park covers about two-thirds of its whole area. Christmas Island is a natural paradise with interesting plant life and animals. All the way from the rain forest canopy layer to the forest floor, an ecosystem has evolved over the years without any contact from the outer world.
Enjoy your stay at the remote Swell Lodge
Surrounded by a dense forest on one side and ocean on the other side, Swell Lodge is as exclusive and remote as it gets. The single glass fronted Eco-chalet provides panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness and snorkeling trips, tasty meals, and guided walks to make sure you experience your stay on Christmas island like a pro.