Best Time to Visit Flying Fish Cove

July to October: the dry months

This is the stretch to aim for. August is the driest month, with just 17 mm of rain on about four days. September is close behind. Days are warm but not heavy, and you get the most sun of the year. It's still humid, though, so don't expect crisp air.

These months suit nearly everything. You can snorkel and dive off the cove and the nearby reefs, walk the rainforest trails in Christmas Island National Park, and visit the blowholes along the coast without getting soaked. Seas are usually calmer for boat trips. Hiking the Dales or the Territory's coastal tracks is far more pleasant when the ground isn't running with water.

November to April: the wet

From December to April, it rains on 21 to 24 days a month. March is the wettest, with 181 mm. Skies are often grey, and sun drops to under four hours a day. Nights stay warm at 26 to 27°C, so it feels sticky even after dark.

The island's red crab migration is the big reason people come in this season. Millions of land crabs leave the forest and head to the sea to breed. The timing depends on the rains and the moon, and it changes each year. It usually happens between October and December, so check with Parks Australia before you plan around it. Roads can close to let the crabs cross, which is part of the fun.

If you don't mind rain, you'll get quiet trails and few other visitors. Just keep plans loose. Travelling with kids? The wet months are a harder sell, but the crabs can win them over.

May, June and crowds

May and June are a good middle ground. Rain eases to 99 mm in May and 87 mm in June, and June is rated Good. You'll get a mix of showers and sunny spells without paying for it in damp days.

Christmas Island is small and remote, so you won't see big crowds at any time. Flights are limited, which keeps numbers low. The dry months are the busiest, and Australian school holidays in July can make flights and rooms tighter. If you want the quietest visit, go in June or early November, when the weather is decent and fewer people are around.