on January 13, 2007
The main roads are nicely paved - you can get around fairly easy on a car. In fact, almost nobody walks - everyone, locals and tourists alike, drives, even between short points!
You'll need a 4WD to get to some of the rougher spots in the National Parks and to some of the outlying coves and beaches.
Bicycles can be hired from the Christmas Island Visitor Centre down at Settlement.
Christmas Island is rather hilly - making walking just that little tougher. While walking from Kampong on one end of the Flying Fish Cove to Settlement on the other end, is sweetly manageable (a 20-25 minutes walk), it is just that tougher to climb UPHILL to Poon Saan-Taman Sweetland-Silver City. (Drumsite is still further uphill) There are no stairs or paths! You'll have to walk up from Kampong-Settlement via the paved roads and it CAN be a little dangerous around blind spots in the road as it winds and curves up the hill. (There is a shortcut though, which I learned from the locals and I will place it as a separate tip)
NOTE: Many of the roads would be closed during crab migration season, making getting around the island a lot more of a hassle. The closure changes day by day, depending on the migration paths of the crabs. Check the road signs for the latest closures.
The easiest way to get around for non-drivers is to HITCHHIKE! While not officially encouraged, the locals are friendly and wouldn't mind sending you to your destination if you are going their way. It also provides marvelous chances to chat with them and learn a little more of the people on this little island.
