Christmas Island Things to Do

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Day Tour: Island Highlights

by xuessium

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 -...

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Christmas Island Visitors' Centre

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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Heritage and Nature Trails

by xuessium

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 TRAILDone 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...

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Fishing and Birding

by xuessium

DISCLAIMER: I did not experience both. I am putting them just for reference.BIRDINGThere 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. FISHINGThe 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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See crabs, LOTS of them!

by xuessium

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 CRABThe 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...

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The Galapagos of the Indian Ocean!

by xuessium

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...

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View and appreciate the famous local wildlife

by Steelkite

You gotta visit Christmas Island for the infamous red and robber crabs

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Have a drink at the local

by suzyq40

The highlight of the trip was the Golden Bosun, a small pub on the Island, being duty free, drinks were pretty cheap

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Ok I am a Freshman In High school and I'm doing a report on Christmas Island. So far I have looked on 50 web sites and haven't... 

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A: I think I am about one of the only people on this site to have actually gone to Christmas Island. It is a very small island, part of Australia, but closer to Indonesia... 

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