Christmas Island’s red crab migration, described by Sir David Attenborough as one of the most spectacular annual migrations on the planet, is underway.

If you are looking for wildlife phenomena to add to your travel bucket-list, here is one that will startle. Millions of red crabs hiking from rainforest to beach! And, according to Christmas Island marketing manager Linda Cash, “The ever-present crabs take the most direct route possible from their burrows in the rainforest terraces down to the coast, turning roads, the golf course (where there’s a penalty stroke should your ball accidentally hit one!) and beaches into a crimson carpet.”

Sound unbelievable? The truth is this is a very real extraordinary occurrence! All phases of the crabs’ breeding migration involve millions of crabs and usually occur all over the island. Ultimately the island becomes red!

However, the crabs will only start their migration if there is enough time for them to complete their downward migration, mate and develop eggs before the next suitable spawning date. If the rains stop or fade, crabs will delay their migration. Or, if they have started migrating, they will stop moving and stay wherever they are until the rains begin again.

This year heavy rains have assured safe passage for the migrating crabs as they make their way from the island’s rainforest to the sea to spawn.

Rangers on Christmas Island have been busy over the past several weeks preparing the island for this annual phenomenon, clearing gutters and building bridges in their efforts to manage Australia’s most delicate traffic operation, helping 50 million crabs on their annual migration to the sea to spawn.

Although thousands of red crabs queuing to crawl under purpose-built grids is a spectacular sight for visitors to this tropical outpost, it’s the island’s only crab bridge which has become a major hit with tourists. The 5-metre high bridge is complete with specially-designed surface to prevent crabs slipping off, which spans the island’s busiest road.

“In recent years actions of the community has really complemented the great conservation efforts of the rangers to reduce number of crabs killed on the roads,” says Ms Cash, who adds “There’s a real appreciation of the importance of the crabs to both our fragile island ecosystem and our nature-based tourism industry.”

A small spawning event is expected to take place overnight, with the big event, expected to take place between 14-16 December, when the female crabs release billions of larvae into the sea, before they march back to their forest burrows.

Travel Tip:

• Virgin Australia fly twice a week to Christmas Island ex Perth.
• Garuda fly once a week on Saturday to Christmas Island ex Jakarta.

Worlds most startling wildlife migrations info:

For further information, or to plan a future trip to see this incredible wildlife phenomenon click here.

The Christmas Island community grew to become a fascinating melting pot of cultures. Today, visitors are welcomed and encouraged to join in, learn more and experience the thriving, contemporary Christmas Island “feel” in the many amazing foods, festivals and places.

• Video footage courtesy of Christmas Island Tourism Association
• Timelapses courtesy of Kirsty Faulkner