Australian Wildlife Journeys (AWJ) is excited to announce Indian Ocean Experiences, covering Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, is the latest addition to the collective.
Indian Ocean Experiences, led by Owner & Manager Lisa Preston, shares the remarkable natural wonders, history and culture of Australia’s Indian Ocean Islands. Best known for the epic annual migration of 60 million red crabs from the forest to the ocean commencing at the onset of the wet season, generally November or December, Christmas Island’s Jurassic style rainforest, jagged cliffs, coral beaches, and tropical reefs provide refuge for 90 species of crab and diverse wildlife encounters above and below the water.
Regarded as one of Australia’s best birdwatching destinations with 80,000 nesting seabirds visiting each year, Indian Ocean Experiences offers shared and tailor-made birdwatching experiences across both Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, providing access to numerous endemics and subspecies, including one of the world’s most beautiful seabirds, the Golden Bosun. Christmas Island is also home to the world’s rarest booby and frigatebird, the Abbott’s Booby and the Christmas Island Frigatebird, whilst the Cocos Buff-banded Rail is only found on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Coconut-lined castaway beaches, rugged coastlines, dense tropical jungles, serene waterfalls and wildlife largely unafraid of humans, provide photographers dream vistas and subjects at every turn. In addition to terrestrial experiences, Christmas Island boasts over 60 dive sites and some of the biggest drop-offs in the world, with visibility regularly up to 50 metres providing a lens to an underwater world of marine mammals, 650 species of tropical fish, manta rays and 88 species of coral. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands provide world-renowned diving and snorkelling, with the Cocos Lagoon home to an estimated 15,000 Green Turtles and 15,000 Hawksbill Turtles (listed as critically endangered worldwide).
In conjunction with Christmas Island National Park, Indian Ocean Experiences offers a hands-on Citizen Science program in February & July, contributing to the conservation of Christmas Island’s endemic Blue-tailed Skink and Lister’s Gecko, along with beach clean-ups, tree planting and other rainforest rehabilitation activities.
“I am delighted that Christmas and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, both of which have extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunities, will be destinations featured by Australian Wildlife Journeys,” says Lisa Preston. “There is no doubt our shared values of small group, sustainable and conservation focussed touring make for a wonderful partnership going forward – we look forward to sharing the beauty of our islands, and our unique wildlife, both terrestrial and marine, with more travellers from around the globe.”
About Australian Wildlife Journeys
Australian Wildlife Journeys is a group of Australia’s leading independently operated wildlife tourism experiences, showcasing wildlife encounters in the wild, combined with warm hospitality. A high level of guiding expertise and focus on interpretation that connects with guests, encourages self-reflection and contributes to a better future for Australia’s wildlife through ‘conservation actions’ underpins the group. Australian Wildlife Journeys is part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences of Australia program that promotes outstanding tourism experiences within a variety of special categories
Members of Australian Wildlife Journeys:
New South Wales: Boutique Wildlife Tours
Victoria: Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours
Tasmania: Premier Travel Tasmania, The Maria Island Walk
South Australia: Australian Coastal Safaris, Exceptional Kangaroo Island, Murray River Safari
Western Australia: Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo, Naturaliste Charters
Northern Territory: Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris
Queensland: FNQ Nature Tours, Pacific Whale Foundation Eco-Adventures Australia
National Territory: Indian Ocean Experiences
