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R E G I O N A L • T R A V E L • G U I D E
AUSTRALIA'S COCOS KEELING & CHRISTMAS ISLANDS |
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| Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas Islands: two tiny, unique and virtually unknown parts of the planet that are linked to Australia for purely practical purposes. They may have the bureaucracy, but that's as close as they get to the world's biggest island. |
| HISTORY |
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The Cocos (Keeling) Islands have a strong history of British influence. They were first sighted by Captain William Keeling in 1609. In 1825, trader John Clunies Ross stopped off and planted cereal and vegetable crops then, in 1836, Charles Darwin visited the atoll while aboard the HMS "Beagle". He spent 10 days recording evidence to support his theory of coral atoll formation. In 1857 the Islands were declared part of the British Dominions, and were ruled by administrations in Ceylon and Singapore before Queen Victoria granted them to the Clunies Ross family who had settled there. Their 'rule' continued until the late 1970's when they sold the islands to Australia, who transferred management back to the local Malays. Now an Australian Territory, the islands are still governed by local people.
For centuries, Christmas Island's rugged coastline provided a natural barrier to explorers although both the British and Dutch were known to have visited as early as seventeenth century. Captain William Mynors of the East India Ship Company named the island when he arrived on Christmas Day, 1643. During the 1872-76 HMS Challenger expedition to Indonesia, naturalist Dr John Murray carried out extensive surveys and the British annexed the island in 1888. The Clunies-Ross brothers from Cocos-Keeling Islands established a settlement at Flying Fish Cove then, like Cocos, the island fell under British Singaporean rule some time later. Phosphate mining developed as a major industry and led to Australia's involvement. By the late 50's, Australia had taken control of the mine and the island and governs to this day.
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| Dive Destinations: |
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These two regions have very little to do with the rest of Australia. The geography in both is completely different to the rest of the continent and, especially for Christmas, is quite unique.
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| COCOS KEELING |
| The Cocos (Keeling) Islands span two small oceanic atolls. They are 24 kilometres apart, 2768km northwest of Perth and 3685km west of Darwin. North Keeling has just one isolated island, populated solely by sea birds, but South Keeling has 26 tiny, green spits of land. The islands' residents live across two main islands, West and Home, which sit opposite each other on either side of a turquoise lagoon. All other islands are accessible and typical Indian Ocean idylls.
Home island is the base of a unique Malay community which traces their ancestral roots to east Africa, China, Java, Borneo and Malacca. The people are Muslim and a local dialect is spoken. West island is populated mostly by ex-pat Australians on contract to various government bodies. This island has the airport and all main tourist facilities.
Life focuses on the atoll lagoon which is surrounded by 52 kilometres of fringing reef and makes the islands ideal for diving and snorkelling. As the atoll is quite exposed, pelagic species are attracted here from the open ocean.
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| CHRISTMAS ISLAND |
Located 2600km north-west of Perth, her closest neighbour is Indonesian Java, just 360km away. It is this proximity to South East Asia and the equator that has resulted in a unique and diverse range of flora & fauna. The Christmas Island National Park covers over 60% of the island and is managed by Parks Australia North. The island's isolation has meant that certain plants and animals are indigenous while others are considered to be endangered elsewhere. There almost as many endemic species here as in the Galapagos Islands.
The population of Christmas island is a unusual mix of Chinese, Australian and Malay which has created an interesting variety of lifestyles with a harmonious mix of religions, cultures, foods and entertainment.
Day to day life rotates around the ever decreasing mining company, a refugee centre which is currently being built and the possibility of a space station. However, nature is the principal influence with endemic plants, birds (the Abbots booby) and of course, the famous annual red crab migration. Marine life is prolific and, as there is no fishing industry, the reefs are completely pristine.
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| FACT FILE: |
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Entry: Visa and entry rules are based on Australian. Everyone except New Zealanders needs a visa. Most airlines will issue an Electronic Travel Authority with their ticket. There may be a small fee depending on your nationality.
Flights: From Europe to Perth, the most frequent flyers to Australia are Singapore Airlines, followed by Qantas, BA, Malaysian and many other carriers. From Perth, National jet Systems have a twice weekly flight that loops to Christmas and Cocos, or vice versa. There is also a weekly flight from Bali to Christmas Island with AustAsia Airlines.
Information: contact either of the two tourist boards - www.christmas.net.au or www.cocos-tourism.cc
GENERAL:
Language: English
Money: £1 = $2.4 AU
Electricity: 240 volts
Health: No inoculations but care should be taken to avoid Sunburn and heat stroke. Mosquitos are prolific especially in the Christmas rainforest.
DIVING:
Seasons: year round in both places. Christmas whaleshark season is Dec - April.
Visibility: 5 metres to 40 or more
Water temperatures: 26 - 28º C.
Deco chambers: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Fremantle, Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney.
Disclaimer: All facts were checked at time of publication but things change! Check with relevant authorities for updates.
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