Where do people live on Christmas Island?
Where do people live on Christmas Island? Today, about 1,300 people, or 80% of the population, live in Flying Fish Cove, the capital city and main port town where much of the action happens. “The Cove is the heart of the community on Christmas Island.
Does Christmas Island have police?
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) provides community policing services to Christmas Island. In addition to normal police functions, the AFP carries out other duties such as immigration, processing aircraft, visiting ships and yachts, and coordinating emergency operations.
Can you drink tap water on Christmas Island?
Carry plenty of drinking water. Local tap water is safe to use. Always follow directions from park rangers – their directions are for your safety.
Can you walk around Christmas Island?
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.
Does Christmas Island have an airport?
Christmas Island International Airport Check-in counters are open two and a half hours before departure. Baggage carousels are located in the Arrivals Hall.
Are Christmas Island residents Australian citizens?
The local government is the Shire of Christmas Island. This council has 9 members, half the members are elected every two years. Christmas Island residents who are Australian citizens also vote in Commonwealth elections for the Northern Territory's Lingiari constituency of the House of Representatives.
Can you work on Christmas Island?
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.
What animals are found on Christmas Island?
- Abbott's booby.
- Brown booby.
- Christmas Island emerald dove.
- Christmas Island frigatebird.
- Christmas Island goshawk.
- Christmas Island hawk-owl.
- Christmas Island imperial pigeon.
- Christmas Island thrush.
What is Christmas Island used for?
The Christmas Island detention centre holds around 30 men seeking asylum mixed in with about 200 men exiting prisons from across Australia after serving sentences of varying length for crimes of varying severity.
Can you drive on Christmas Island?
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.
Can you drink alcohol on Christmas Island?
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.
Is it expensive to live on Christmas Island?
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.
What language do they speak in Christmas Island?
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.
Is Christmas Island a good place to live?
Island life: While Christmas Island is a pleasant place to live most of the time, residents say it has its challenges. For example, flights to the island from mainland Australia are expensive.
How do people get to Christmas Island?
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.
Who owns Christmas Island?
Christmas Island became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958 – a day still celebrated on the island as Territory Day.
Can you take food to Christmas Island?
Bringing food to Christmas Island is quite an easy process. You can check in a Styrofoam box which are easy to get from grocery stores and farmers markets. You can bring pretty much anything except for prawns. Please ENSURE you keep a receipt of your purchases to show customs upon declaration.
Are there still refugees on Christmas Island?
Christmas Island now empty as all detainees brought to Australian mainland, border force says. The Christmas Island detention centre has been emptied, with all remaining detainees brought to the Australian mainland, the Australian Border Force has revealed.