Do people visit Christmas Island?

Soon after, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in Chinese indentured laborers, Sikh overseers, and a small number of Malays — the beginning of the island's diverse cultural mix. Even today, the 50-square-mile tropical island remains unspoiled by mass tourism.



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From spotting endangered seabirds to snorkelling with turtles and dolphins, there's a lot to delight wildlife lovers in this natural paradise. Throw in beach and jungle walks, world-class diving and year-round festivals, and you'll never be short of things to do.

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There are numerous holiday homes available for short-term stays on Christmas Island. They are a great option for families and larger groups, and having your own kitchen means you can make your holiday budget go further by not eating out.

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Since the detention centre was built on the island in 2006, the island population of about 1,500 locals has jumped dramatically. Mr McDonald says the cost of living is now estimated at about 180 per cent above that on the mainland. An iceberg lettuce at the local store can cost as much as $12.

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That means you can score a great deal on popular duty-free items such as fragrances, leather goods, electronics, jewellery, watches and sunglasses. It also means Christmas Island has some of the cheapest alcohol in Australia – perfect for treating yourself to a beer or a gin and tonic as the sun goes down.

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Hiring a car is the best way to get around the island, letting you explore the many walks and sights at your leisure. We recommend pre-booking as vehicles are limited.

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Christmas Island is around a four-hour direct flight from Perth on Australia's west coast. Some scheduled flights from Perth first fly to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, a 95-minute flight from Christmas Island. Hire cars, shuttle services and taxis are available at the airport.

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Use common sense when swimming or wading at any beach – they can be subject to large waves and swell, strong rips and undertows. None of the beaches on the island are patrolled by lifesavers. Swimming at beaches is only recommended at Flying Fish Cove under calm sea conditions.

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The cuisine of Christmas Island can best be described as an eclectic combination of traditional Australian cuisine and Asian cuisine, particularly meals from Malaysia and Indonesia.

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Walking is the best way to explore Christmas Island's extraordinary forests, wetlands and beaches. There are walking trails for all preferences and abilities, ranging from relaxing rainforest boardwalks to rugged hikes into deserted beaches. Many walks have lookouts offering spectacular views of the coastline.

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Language. English is the official language on Christmas Island. However, more than half of our residents speak a language other than English at home. While on the island, you might hear people conversing in Mandarin, Malay, Cantonese, Min Nan, Tagalog and a variety of other languages.

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Christmas Island Dry Season (May – Sep) The dry season brings with it lower humidity, beautiful picturesque sunsets, blue skies and of course less rain!

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You might like to carry a wrap or sarong to cover bathing suits, bare arms or revealing clothing. Swimwear is perfectly acceptable on the beach, but public nudity is not allowed anywhere on Christmas Island. You are welcome to visit the island's Chinese temples and take photos if you like.

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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.

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Christmas Island has a network of well maintained roads ranging from Sealed Roads within the residential area, Formed Unsealed Roads which form the primary mining haul road and 4 wheel Drive Roads that access areas within the National Park.

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Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Christmas Island. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

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Christmas Island became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958 – a day still celebrated on the island as Territory Day.

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Working at Christmas Island is a challenging but immensely rewarding experience for anyone who wants to make a difference in a unique and highly fragile wilderness environment. Our current job vacancies are advertised on the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.

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Therefore maintaining good nutrition is essential but almost impossible to do for many residents because of the inflated cost of food. Conversely because of the GST free status on Christmas Island the price of alcohol and cigarettes is extremely affordable.

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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.

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Electricity on Christmas Island On Christmas Island the power plug sockets are of type I. The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.

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