Flying Fish Cove
The island’s only harbor and main settlement. You can snorkel right off the beach to see coral reef walls, and restaurants and the visitor centre are nearby.
Flying Fish Cove, also known as “The Settlement,” is where the British landed on the island in 1888. It is the island’s administrative and commercial center. Just a short swim from the small beach in the bay, a steep coral reef wall drops away, with fish and sea turtles everywhere. It is the most convenient snorkeling and shore-diving spot on the island, and whale sharks occasionally appear from November to April. Along the coastal road you can see colonial-era buildings, Chinese temples, and old facilities from the phosphate loading pier. The visitor centre is also here, where you can pick up a map and information on the red crab migration. Watching the sunset from the seawall in the evening is very pleasant.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Christmas Island Red Crab Migration
- Tai Jin House
- Territory Day Park
- Christmas Island National Park
- The Grotto
- Lily Beach
- Ethel Beach
- Margaret Knoll Lookout