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Indian Ocean Experiences

Bird & Nature Week Christmas Island

  • Available from: August 29 2023 - September 05 2022

From: $2,500 USD

Duration: 8 days/7 nights

Type: Groups, Shared.

Departs: August 29, 2023

Interests: Birds.

Gain privileged behind the scenes access to the incredible birdlife on Christmas Island during the annual Christmas Island Bird & Nature Week.

  • Led by experienced guides specialising in bird research, you will work alongside working scientists as they band birds, collect data and highlight their subjects of expertise – all in a safe, low impact and educational atmosphere.

  • Activities may include banding the Christmas Island Goshawk, monitoring Brown Bobbies and atlassing the island's many species of crabs.

  • Nightly presentations by experts before dinner, will provide comprehensive information about conservation projects on and off the island, and topics relevant to maintaining and improving the ecology of the island.

About Indian Ocean Experiences:

Proudly calling herself a local, Lisa Preston founded Indian Ocean Experiences in 2011, being one of the first operators to offer expertly guided land experiences across Christmas Island, centred around sustainable and conservation focussed touring. As specialists in tailor-made itineraries across passion points such as birdwatching, diving, photography, geology and culture, the team prides itself on delivering genuine experiences for guests, connecting with passionate locals who love sharing their stories.

Prices are based on per person twin/double share unless advised, subject to availability. Price includes return flights from Perth with Virgin Australia to Christmas /and Cocos (Keeling) Islands as optional add-on, 7 nights accommodation at VQ3 Lodge, 6 days of guided touring including transport, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners, return airport transfers and welcome pack sponsored by Christmas Island Tourism Association. Other accommodation options are available on request. A non-refundable deposit of $300 AUD per person is required on confirmation, with final balance due 1 July 2022. Currency fluctuations may affect prices as quotes based on AUD. Prices are current at time of posting (1/12/2021) and may differ when you book your travel.

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Itinerary

Tour day-by-day

  • Bird & Nature Week Activities

    Please note that the numbers for the event are capped to keep the group manageable and the experience intimate for guests. The group is broken down into smaller groups and rotated through a different activity each day. The flow below is an indicative itinerary.

    Join the dedicate researchers and natural history experts for a week long immersion with the following activities.

    Day 1: 
    Guest Arrival & Welcome Dinner

    Day 2:
    Day Tour - Bosuns and Boobies
    Evening Talk - The ecology of Christmas Island
    Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

    Day 3: 
    Day Tour - Naturalist Tour
    Evening Talk - Threatened species
    Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

    Day 4:
    Day Tour - Goshawk banding
    Evening Talk - Cat control and eradication
    Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

    Day 5:
    Day Tour - Tracking Abbott's Boobies at sea
    Evening Talk - Tracking Boobies and Frigatebands
    Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

    Day 6:
    Day Tour - Dolly Beach and Hosnie Springs (RAMSAR Wetland) walking tour
    Evening Talk - National Park research and conservation
    Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

    Day 7:
    Free Time: Relax, shop, enjoy the township
    Breakfast included

    Key Details

    Accommodation: VQ3 Lodge. Other accommodation options available on request.
    Fitness Requirements: Good mobility and stability essential as walking is required.
    Flights: Virgin Australia operates flights to Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands twice per week ex Perth. Return flights are included as part of this package.

    About Christmas Island's Birdlife

     

    Christmas Island is one of Australia's best birdwatching destinations. An internationally renowned seabird rookery, the island attracts about 80,000 nesting seabirds every year. You will have the opportunity to see the world's rarest booby and frigatebird There are 23 breeding or resident species of birds on Christmas Island, including nine species of seabird (two species and two subspecies are endemic) and 14 land birds (three species and four subspecies are endemic).

    Birds can be seen and heard all over the island at any time of day and most will let you get quite close to observe them.Target species include the mesmerising Golden Bosun, Christmas Island Hawk-Owl, Abbott’s Booby, Red-footed Booby, Brown Booby, Christmas Island Frigatebird, Christmas Island Goshawk, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Christmas Island Emerald Dove and Christmas Island Imperial Pigeon. This experience also involve looking for more elusive birds, including rare or visiting vagrants. To view the full Christmas Island birdlist, please click here.

  • Optional Extension - Cocos (Keeling Islands)

    September 6-9, 2022 

    Cocos Island Add-on starts from $1,200 AUD

    Why not extend your Bird and Nature Week adventures to include the Cocos (Keeling) Islands! The Cocos (Keeling) Islands play an important role in the routes that shorebirds take during their annual migration, with 39 breeding or resident species of birds on the atolls.

    The Cocos Islands have one endemic sub-species, the Cocos Buff-banded Rail, and due to a successful translocation program, is now able to be seen foraging on the edge of the vegetation around the picnic area on Direction Island. 

    North Keeling National Park supports many of the vagrant species as it is remote to the other 26 islands. Cocos (Keeling) has boasted several new sightings for Australia in the last few years, including Mugimaki Flycatcher and Common Teal. 

    Expand Full Itinerary:

    Tuesday 6 September
    Arrive & settle into hotel - dinner at Saltmakers - Pizza + Dessert
    Wednesday 7 September
    7:00am - Pick up from accommodation
    7:30am - Ferry to Home Island
    Breakfast will be served on foreshore of Home Island
    Group will be split into 2 to allow for use of buggy's
    One group will walk to the museum and explore the gardens of Oceania House, the other group will visit the cemetery - then change
    10:30am Depart Home Island on the ferry to West Island. Visit the Big Barge Art Centre for morning team
    12:00pm - Return to accommodation to change into swimmers for Canoe Tour
    1:00pm - Pick up from accommodation for Canoe Tour exploring South Island. Lunch will be served out on one of the remote islands
    5:00pm - Return to West Island in time to change for dinner
    6:00pm - Dinner : Tropika Restaurant
    Thursday 8 September
    7:00am - Pick up from accommodation
    7:30am - Catch ferry to Direction Island
    Breakfast and lunch will be served on Direction Island. Swim, snorkel, historical walks and information
    2:00pm - Ferry back to West Island
    3:30pm - Option to play golf across international runway - pay your own fees
    6:30pm - Dinner at Saltmakers
    Friday 9 September
    8.00am - Check out of accommodation
    Breakfast at Saltmakers Café
    10.00am - Check in at airport

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