Dolly Beach is one of Christmas Island's most beautiful and secluded beaches: a palm-fringed crescent on the south-east coast with a coral reef, shallow rock pools and a freshwater stream, reached by 4WD and a forest boardwalk of about 1.8 km (Parks Australia, Tourism Association). Marine turtles nest on the beach, robber (coconut) crabs roam the forest edge, and camping is permitted with a Parks Australia permit, making it a popular overnight trip.

Underwater, the reef flat and shallow lagoon inside the reef provide easy snorkelling on calm days, with hard coral, small reef fish – damsels, butterflyfish, wrasse, surgeonfish and parrotfish – and turtles in the water, particularly around nesting season. The rock pools at low tide are full of small fish, crabs and molluscs. The freshwater stream running onto the beach adds to its appeal.

Dolly Beach is not dived by the operators and is too remote for carrying scuba gear, so it is best thought of as a snorkelling and wildlife site. It is included in this database because it is a named coastal site visitors seek out. The south-east coast faces straight into the trade winds, so for most of the dry season the reef edge is pounded by waves; calm wet-season days or light-wind spells are best.

The beach also collects plastic debris carried by currents from South-East Asia, and Parks Australia and volunteers carry out regular clean-ups. Suits fit walkers, campers and snorkellers who want a remote tropical beach with almost no one else around.

Fly from Perth (about 4 hours, two to three flights a week, some via Cocos Islands) and hire a car – there is no public transport. Dolly Beach is about 30 minutes' drive from The Settlement on the south-east side of the island; a 4WD is essential. From the car park follow a Grade 3 track of about 1.8 km, mostly boardwalk through the forest, to the beach.

Carrying scuba gear is impractical – snorkel only. Camping is allowed with a permit from Parks Australia.

On the east coast, which takes the full force of the south-east trade winds from roughly April/May to November, when 15–25 knot winds and wind swell usually make it rough and undiveable by boat. It becomes the fallback coast in the wet season (December–March): when the north-west monsoon swell closes the north coast, the east side is often sheltered and calm. Dive it on light-wind days or during the monsoon.

Beyond the fringing reef currents can be strong and the reef edge is washed by surge whenever there is any easterly swell. Visibility is typically 20–30 m and drops after rain and during red crab spawning (Oct–Jan), when Ethel and Greta Beaches are spawning sites.

Snorkel the shallow reef and rock pools inside the reef at high tide in calm conditions, staying well inside the reef edge.

No dive operator – self-guided snorkelling by walkers and campers.