The Settlement

Introduction

The Settlement is the capital of Christmas Island and is sometimes called Flying Fish Cove as well. It is located in the northeast of the island and there is a small harbour which serves tourists with yachts. About a third (roughly 500 people) of the island's total population lives here. There is not a great deal to see or do, but the town does have some basic places to stay, as well as a supermarket.

Events and Festivals

Public hoidays include New Year's Day, Australia Day, Chinese New Year, Labour Day, Good Friday/Easter, ANZAC Day, Territory Day, Christmas/Boxing Day, Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji.

Weather

As The Settlement is located close to the equator, the weather on the island is tropical. There is little variation regarding the temperature. March and April average around 28 °C during the day, July to September around 26 °C. At night, temperatures hover around 22 °C in most of the year.

December to April is the wet season, with February being the wettest month. July to September sees much less rain, coinciding with the cooler and sunnier months. This obviously is one of the better times to visit, weatherwise.

Tropical storms and even cyclones can hit or pass The Settlement during the wet season.

Getting There

By Plane

Planes land at Christmas Island Airport (XCH), just southeast of The Settlement. National Jet Systems flies twice weekly in from the Cocos Islands and Perth.

There are also weekly flights from Singapore by Austasia Airlines (using SilkAir charter) and from Kuala Lumpur by Australian Indian Ocean Territories Airlines (using Malaysia Airlines charter).

Keep Connected

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

External Links