The Dales, Christmas Island The Dales, Christmas Island

1-3 hours
3.6 km
- Bush Walk Grade 2
  
  No bushwalking experience required. The track is a hardened or compacted surface and may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps. Walks no greater than 10km. Suitable for families with young children.

Hugh’s Dale Waterfall and Anderson’s Dale - one of the few permanent flowing water sites on Christmas Island

- Print Trail

Trails WA supports the seven principles recommended by Leave No Trace Australia for minimising your impacts when using the trails.

Learn more

The Dales is one of Christmas Island's iconic sites and one of the few places with permanent flowing water and stunning wet areas, providing significant habitat for endemic blue crabs and impressive stands of Tahitian chestnut trees. The drive through the Dales leads through rainforest to a scenic and tranquil area, which has two walking trails starting from the Dales 4WD car park.

The first is mostly a boardwalk leading to Hugh's Dale Waterfall which is 1km each way from the car park. Signage along the trail offers information on the island's plants and animals.

For the more adventurous, a second trail leads on from Hugh's Dale for about 800m to Anderson's Dale, a small gorge with a stream that flows to the sea. If you venture to Anderson's Dale, please be wary of sea conditions near the shoreline as large waves are common along this coast.

Christmas Island Tourism Association

(08) 9164 8382

Be trail ready for The Dales, Christmas Island

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

30 minutes each way

Length

1.5km to Hugh's Dale, 3.6km to Anderson's Dale

What To Pack

Group B (Bushwalks and/or longer trails) required.

Trail Start

Christmas Island National Park (3.5 hours flying time from Perth)

Get directions

Trail End

Christmas Island, Australia

Get directions

Bush Walk

Grade 2

No bushwalking experience required. The track is a hardened or compacted surface and may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps. Walks no greater than 10km. Suitable for families with young children.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Difficulty Notes

Hugh's Dale is considered easy, whereas the continuation to Anderson's Dale is considered moderate.

Facilities

Part of the Dales Walking Trail is a boardwalk.

Car Park

Best time of year

All year round

Trail Access

From Settlement - an unsealed road to the 2WD or 4WD car park

More tips for being Trail Ready

Complete The Dales, Christmas Island to earn badges and points!

Earn points and badges and become a "TrailsWA Expert" by completing trails and leaving reviews.

Earn 2 points towards
your TrailsWA level

1 trail goers have rated The Dales, Christmas Island as 5 out of 5!

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

steve bennett

Reviewed 24 Aug 2015, 8:47am

Excellent trail in a unique setting. You cannot go to CI without walking this trail.

Supported by great organisations

Trails are free and bring so many benefits to our community by providing opportunities to have fun, get fit, socialise, explore and challenge yourself. But they also have to be managed and maintained which only is made possible through terrific sponsors, donations and/or volunteering.

Christmas Island Tourism Association