The Dales and Hugh's Dale Waterfall

The Dales, a series of lush watered valleys on the wilder western coast of Christmas Island, form one of the island's loveliest and most tranquil natural corners, protected within the national park. Fed by permanent freshwater springs, a rarity on the island, they shelter a distinctive rainforest of towering pandanus palms, their stilt-like roots arching over clear streams. A beautiful boardwalk trail winds through this cool, green oasis, alive with birdsong and crabs, to the delicate Hugh's Dale Waterfall, where spring water tumbles gently over mossy rock in a perpetual, soothing cascade. The walk ends near the coast, where the streams meet the sea. Peaceful, verdant and enchanting, the Dales are a refreshing rainforest escape and a gem of the island's wild interior.

What you actually see

• Hugh's Dale Waterfall - the delicate permanent spring-fed cascade.
• The pandanus rainforest - the arching stilt-rooted palm forest.
• The boardwalk trail - the winding path through the green oasis.
• The freshwater streams - the clear spring-fed waters.

When to go

April to October, the drier season, brings the most comfortable conditions for the boardwalk walk, though the spring-fed waterfall flows year-round; the rainforest is lush and green in every season. Cooler mornings are pleasant for the shaded trail.

Honest expectations

The Dales are reached by rougher western-coast tracks and explored on a boardwalk trail, so a little effort is needed, and Hugh's Dale is a gentle, delicate cascade rather than a thundering fall. As a lush, tranquil rainforest oasis of pandanus palms, clear streams and a permanent spring-fed waterfall, though, the Dales are a genuinely enchanting and refreshing corner of the island.

Nearby

The national park, Flying Fish Cove and the island's coast lie around it.