At a Glance

Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands are the most western part of Australia. Cocos is a chain of 27 islands that form around the ring of an extinct volcano and offer the quintessential tropical holiday destination with gorgeous white sandy beaches, most of which are uninhabited and offer the quintessential tropical paradise vacation. Christmas Island is a world famous Australian outpost in the Indian Ocean surrounded by jagged cliffs, punctuated by coral beaches, feeding on to tropical reefs teeming with marine life. Most famous for its 90+ species of crabs, like the Christmas Island Red Crab and the Robber Crab, the bird life on Christmas Island cannot be missed either. Birds are everywhere – all the time! Christmas Island boasts one of the most beautiful birds on the planet – the golden morph of the White-tailed Tropicbird, or Golden Bosun. Their mesmerising aerial acrobatics and distinctive call can be heard all around the island. 

Nearby

A trip to Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands can include:

• ● Perth (all flights are via Perth)

When to visit

The ideal time to visit Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands is during the south-east monsoon season between April and November. At other times of the year, the weather conditions are monsoonal, very humid and quite wet. At the beginning of the wet season, from October to November, the red crab spawning on Christmas Island usually occurs. This also coincides in some years with the appearance of whale sharks that can be snorkelled with almost from the beach. The timing of these events is not guaranteed but it's a popular time of year to visit and a good reason to come back a few times. 

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Climate

Christmas and Cocos have tropical climates and it is warm all year round. The wet season extends from around December to April. Temperatures vary from an average high of around 28°C in April and an average low of around 22°C in August. Humidity ranges from 80 to 90 per cent year-round but is generally lowest during the middle of the year.

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