Christmas Island Crab Spawning & Cocos Island Experience

Arrive on Christmas Island and transfer to your accommodation and settle in before an Aussie-style barbecue dinner in the evening. Overnight: Christmas Island. Meals included: D.

A continental breakfast in your room, then set out on a Christmas Island orientation tour through Golf Course Road, Ma Chor Nui Nui Temple, The Grotto and the vibrant communities of Poon Saan and Drumsite. After lunch at a local café, visit Territory Day Park and the Bird Rehabilitation Facility hosted by Parks Australia. Wind down at the hotel before dinner at a local restaurant. Keep an eye out for the red crab migration – it may add an unexpected twist to the day. Overnight: Christmas Island. Meals included: B/L/D.

Continental breakfast in your room, then head to The Dales and Hugh’s Dale Waterfall. Walk through rainforest trails carved by freshwater springs, watching for three unique crab species along the way, with morning tea at the waterfall. A picnic lunch at a scenic spot follows — location chosen to accommodate the red crab migration. Return to town for rest, with an optional afternoon snorkel at Flying Fish Cove. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Christmas Island. Meals: B/L/D.

Continental breakfast, then head to The Blowholes on the island’s south coast. Morning tea before walking the shaded Boulder Track, where the forest floor is covered in red crabs, with a stop at the 'Grandfather' Banyan. A picnic lunch at the historic South Point Temple is followed by a visit to the Old Railway Station. Back at the hotel for rest, then (if conditions align) a red crab spawning information session over drinks and nibbles. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Christmas Island. Meals included: B/L/D.

A 3am start for the red crab spawning at Flying Fish Cove, timed to the pre-dawn spawning window. A cooked buffet breakfast at 5am, then back to the hotel to rest. Picnic lunch around midday, then head to Lily Beach and follow the boardwalk to Ethel Beach, watching for nesting brown boobies and roosting seabirds and exploring tidal rock pools. Back at the hotel by 3.30pm, dinner at a local restaurant. The daily itinerary is adjusted around red crab migration activity. Overnight: Christmas Island. Meals included: B/L/D.

A leisurely continental breakfast, then a day of flexible exploration – either revisiting a missed adventure or trying something new, high- or low-impact, tailored to the group’s interests. Morning tea and a picnic lunch in a scenic spot before heading back to the hotel. The afternoon is yours: a swim in the hotel pool or an optional snorkel at Flying Fish Cove. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Christmas Island. Meals included: B/L/D.

Continental breakfast, then a 4km round-trip walk to Dolly Beach (the only white sandy beach on Christmas Island) through a shaded jungle trail with sections of boardwalk. Relax under the palms, watch robber crabs, or dip in the natural tidal spa pool. On the way back, stop at Greta Beach, an important turtle nesting site, to help collect plastic debris that has washed ashore. Picnic lunch and pool time at The Sunset, then a private two-course farewell dinner. Overnight: Christmas Island. Meals included: B/L/D.

Cooked breakfast by the pool at your hotel, then a leisurely township tour with stops at Tai Jin House’s historical display, the Post Office, the Tourism Centre and various shops for souvenirs. Lunch at a local café, then transfer to the airport for the afternoon flight to Cocos. On arrival, staff from your accommodation meet you and settle you in. Your first evening on Cocos is at leisure – options include pizza at Salty’s Café or dinner at Tropika Restaurant. Overnight: Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Meals: B.

Breakfast at your own pace on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands – options include the supermarket for supplies, Surfer Girl for a cooked breakfast, or the continental buffet at Tropika. For the keen, take the early ferry to Home Island for a self-guided walk through the local museum, the ‘Kampong’ village and the foreshore to Oceania House. In the afternoon, join the guided motorised canoe tour of the southern lagoon – snorkel in pristine waters, hop between islands, and watch for the rare Christmas Island blue-tailed skink. Overnight: Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Meals included: None.

An optional self-guided day-trip to Direction Island. Check the ferry schedule on arrival, as it leaves early. Pack all food, drinks and water the night before; there are no shops or eateries on Direction Island. The island has toilet facilities and a Wi-Fi hotspot, but nothing else. Swim in the lagoon, snorkel the reef, or follow the marked trails to the Sydney–Emden display, which commemorates the 1914 First World War engagement between HMAS Sydney and SMS Emden – Australia’s first naval battle. If Direction Island doesn’t appeal, other Cocos activities can be arranged locally. Overnight: Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Meals included: None.

A full day at leisure. Explore the islands at your own pace, book optional activities locally, or simply relax on the beach. Overnight: Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Meals included: None.

The tour ends after breakfast (at own cost). Transfer to Cocos airport for the return group flight to Perth.