Christmas Island’s narrow reef supports bountiful marine life, including 88 coral species and more than 600 species of fish. It’s an underwater wonderland for divers, with clear warm waters, coral reefs and spectacular wall dives. Soft corals, feather stars and gorgonian corals grow along vast walls which plunge into a seemingly bottomless abyss. The fish community is distinctive because the island is a meeting place for Indian and Pacific Ocean fish species. It’s one of the few locations in the world where you’ll see Indian and Pacific Ocean fish swimming side by side. Some of these species interbreed to produce hybrids. Christmas Island has more hybrid fish than anywhere else in the world, making it a marine hybridisation zone of international significance. In addition to the hundreds of species of tropical fish, dolphins inhabit the island’s waters and whale sharks regularly visit during the wet season. Whale sharks generally first appear when the red crabs are spawning at the start of the wet season — they converge to supplement their plankton diet with crab larvae. Locations like Flying Fish Cove, Ethel Beach, Dolly Beach, West White Beach and Winifred Beach offer scuba divers and snorkellers a rewarding marine experience. At Flying Fish Cove and Ethel Beach shore diving is possible depending on the time of the year. There is excellent fishing, with sailfish, tuna and wahoo among some of the fish to be caught. You’ll find boat ramps at Flying Fish Cove and Ethel Beach.

This enormous, beautiful cathedral is located by the river and was designed by the architect Konstantin Ton. You can recognise the cathedral by its copper domes that dominate the skyline.

Nestled near the Desert Botanical Garden, the Phoenix Zoo is home to a diverse range of animals from all over the world, with a special focus on the wildlife of the Sonoran Desert. The zoo features expansive exhibits where you can observe native creatures like coyotes, mountain lions, and desert tortoises up close. For a more immersive experience, the zoo offers interactive opportunities, including camel rides, stingray touch tanks, and a petting zoo where kids can brush and feed goats. In addition to its animal encounters, the Phoenix Zoo hosts daily educational programs and seasonal events such as ZooLights, where the park transforms into a winter wonderland of sparkling lights.