The best seven days of your life
Australia’s most remote ISLAND FESTIVAL features a program of EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES for just 30 people – from wildlife encounters to diving, hiking, foraging and feasting.
THIS YEAR’S inaugural has been INDIAN OCEAN FEST designed to celebrate Christmas Island, 63 per cent of which is made up of national park. The pilot program, to be held from 21 to 28 June, will celebrate the CHRISTMAS ISLAND MARINE (proclamation pending), which means there is even more PARK protected wonderland to explore. The exclusive event is aimed at just 30 travellers who have an interest in exploring the island’s colourful aquatic, wilderness and cultural elements.
OCEAN ADVENTURES
Watching the dancing colours under the water during a diving or snorkelling tour with conservation experts will give you an immersive understanding of the importance of protecting our oceans and seafloor environments such as the reefs, seagrass, seamounts and canyons.
The Indian Ocean Fest itinerary includes exceptional aquatic experiences where participants are almost guaranteed to see untouched corals, tropical fish, dolphins and reef fish just a few metres from shore. Although whale sharks congregate at Christmas Island from November to March, you may encounter pelagics like rainbow runner fish, trevally, wahoo and tuna.
Christmas Island has some of the longest drop-offs in the world, making it a magnet for free divers as most walls are only 20 metres from the shoreline. Fans of free-diving champion David Mulheron will be thrilled to have the AIDA-qualified instructor on hand to conduct an introductory workshop that will give them the courage BREATHTAKING to free-dive in the seas around the island.
Fest participants will take part in a significant beach clean-up coordinated by TANGAROA BLUE FOUNDATION, helping to trace the journey of plastic and debris that can travel vast distances to wind up on Christmas Island. At the workshop by Eco PLASTIC JUNK TO ART Crab Industries participants have the chance to turn flotsam and jetsam into take-home treasure. The Indian Ocean Fest coincides with the island’s annual which will see screenings of ocean-themed SEAWEEK films as part of TOUR. THE OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD
WILDERNESS, WALKS & WILDLIFE
Lace up your hiking boots for a series of carefully curated wildlife walks and encounters to discover everything from otherworldly coconut crabs, to rare Abbott’s booby birds and giant Christmas Island frigate birds. The adventure experiences also include an excursion to blowholes where water erupts from a rock shelf and to a sapphire pool dubbed ‘the Grotto’ carved into limestone and dripping with stalactites.
Be one of 30 visitors to join experienced guides for close-up wildlife encounters, walks through protected wetlands and stands of Tahitian chestnuts and to cool off under a magical waterfall in Hughs Dale. Look up high in the veils of the branches to try and spot elusive birds and butterflies and, when darkness falls like a curtain, look up and see the stars as nature intended.
The component was WILDERNESS, WALKS & WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS put together in partnership with AUSTRALIA, who want to teach PARKS visitors about the diverse wildlife, from whale sharks to manta rays, turtles, dolphins, rare migratory birds and mammals and yes, of course, those iconic red land crabs that require the ocean to breed.
There will also be exclusive opportunities to learn about the island’s natural assets from scientists, writers, mainland adventurers, photographers and conservationist experts such as Heidi Tait, CEO of Tangaroa Blue Foundation, who was named as one of the most ‘influential women in ocean conservation’ in the July 2018 edition of Ocean Geographic.
CHRISTMAS ISLAND ON A PLATE
As the Indian Ocean Fest’s confirmed dining partner, FERVOR will take diners on a journey from the ocean to the forest, working with local producers, hunters and gatherers to present everything from pop-up picnics to degustation dining experiences as part of PLATE. In line with Christmas CHRISTMAS ON A Island’s growing eco-tourism focus, Fervor’s mantra is to hero sustainable local produce and native foraged ingredients.
In addition to the experience, FOREST FORAGING & FEASTING which utilises ingredients such as bunga kantan (laksa flower), wild lime and papaya from the FARM, visitors to the Indian HIDDEN GARDEN Ocean Fest will also get to celebrate the island’s cuisine, which has its roots in Malaysia, China and Australia at the STORIES WITH SPICE event. The dinner will feature street-food favourites such as satay and roti canai with cooking demonstrations and local stories as told by the ‘Aunties and friends’.
Restaurant is the Indian Ocean Fest hub for the RUMAH TINGGI week-long celebrations and will host breakfast, daily briefings, workshops and sunset drinks. For foodies, the eating out options during the Indian Ocean Fest include: playing ‘Castaway’ with a fivecourse seafood and Champagne feast on a deserted beach at sunset; an al fresco dinner under a glittering square of night sky above; and a bespoke cocktail mixing experience using foraged ingredients before feasting in the farm forest under the banana palms.
Plan your visit: A ticket to the festival costs $6990, which includes return flights from Perth, accommodation, food and experiences. Visit indianoceanfest.com.au