A passport is necessary and a visa may be required. Refer to your travel agent or the Department of Immigration and Border Protection for further details. Duty free purchases may be made for travel to and from Christmas Island.
Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, just south of Java, is an Australian territory. This tiny dog-shaped island was named on Christmas Day, 1643 by an English sea captain. Today it's a lush, off-the-beaten-path tourist destination famed for its caves and coral reefs.
At only $5 a ticket, it is an absolute bargain – and the range of choc tops available is more expansive than any cinema on the mainland! (Although keep in mind that all produce costs a lot to get to the island, so be prepared to pay the very reasonable $6 each for your frozen treat!)
The official line remains resolutely unchanged - that safety precautions were taken, there was no evidence of radioactive contamination afterwards, and that the death rate among Christmas Island veterans is statistically normal.
Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean, 1500 km west of the Australian mainland and 2600 km from Perth. Although it is an Australian territory, Christmas Island's nearest neighbour is Indonesia, which lies about 350 km to the north.
From the Australian mainland
Virgin Australia flies to Christmas Island directly from Perth, with connections to most Australian capital cities. The flight takes about three hours and can be booked directly with the airline or through a travel agent.Changing sovereignty
The Australian and New Zealand governments purchased the Christmas Island Phosphate Company in 1949, and administrative responsibility for the island shifted from the UK to the British colony of Singapore. In 1958, the island was excised from Singapore and sovereignty was transferred to Australia.The Territory of Christmas Island is an Australian external territory comprising the island of the same name. Christmas Island had a population of 1,843 residents as of 2016, the majority of whom live in settlements on the northern tip of the island. The main settlement is Flying Fish Cove.
The island is safe all times of the day in the populated areas, locals usually leave their houses and car unlocked. There are no poisonous or dangerous animals/insects on the island. The most likely danger is large waves at cliffs and coastal waters during the monsoon(October - February).
Internet access on Christmas Island is provided by satellite. There is currently no internet available via the mobile phone network. There is an internet cafe at the Visitor Information Centre, or you can pick up a prepaid voucher for the wifi hotspots located in township areas.
Things to do on Christmas Island
- Red crab migration.
- Birdwatching.
- Diving.
- Walks.
- Beaches.
- Snorkelling.
- Turtle watching.
- Photography.
There are two Christmas Islands that are of particular interest to DXers. The DXCC entity of Christmas Island (VK9X) is an Australian-administered island located in the Indian Ocean south of Indonesia. Christmas Island in central/south Pacific is part of the DXCC entity of Eastern Kiribati (T32, ex VR3).
The Christmas Island red crab, Gecarcoidea natalis, is a species of terrestrial crab endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Red crabs aren't the kind of crabs you get at a seafood restaurant. Their meat are made up of 96% water and they are just too small and don't have good flavor to be considered edible.
What is the population of Christmas Island?
Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean, 1500 km west of the Australian mainland and 2600 km from Perth. Although it is an Australian territory, Christmas Island's nearest neighbour is Indonesia, which lies about 350 km to the north.
The World's 10 Most Expensive Plane Tickets
- New York to Hong Kong with Lufthansa for $43,535 round trip.
- Los Angeles to Dubai with Emirates for upwards of $30,000.
- San Francisco to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways for $28,090 round trip.
- New York to Beijing with Korean Air, for upwards of $27,000.
- Hong Kong to New York with Cathay Pacific for $26,572 round trip.
Christmas Island began appearing on the charts of English and Dutch navigators from the early 1600s. But it wasn't until 1643 that Captain William Mynors of the British East India Company named the island after sighting it on Christmas Day.
Red crabs aren't the kind of crabs you get at a seafood restaurant. Their meat are made up of 96% water and they are just too small and don't have good flavor to be considered edible.
