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Why is Dick Smith shouting flights to Christmas Island?

If you fancy helping build one of Australia’s newest eco-resorts on Christmas Island, then Aussie entrepreneur Dick Smith may just fork out for your flights.

If you fancy helping build one of Australia’s newest eco-resorts on Christmas Island, then Aussie entrepreneur Dick Smith may just fork out for your flights.

Ok, so the offer doesn’t apply to just anyone. Tradesmen and tradeswomen specifically are being invited to volunteer to come and be part of the project.

Scheduled to open in June this year, Swell Lodge will be made up of eight glass-fronted, solar-powered, luxury eco-chalets set along a 500-metre coastline stretch of Christmas Island.

Swell Lodge Christmas Island KarryOn

They’ll need to be able to carry out general building work includes laying out sites, mixing cement, cladding, rendering and tiling.

Not only that, but they’ll preferably be “easy-going” with a love for the outdoors and available for at least two weeks.

“We’re so excited to be close to opening Swell Lodge. We’re offering free food, accommodation and a rewarding adventure for the right volunteers,” owner Chris Bray said.

So what’s Dick Smith got to do with it?

He is apparently a “firm supporter” of Chris and his wife Jess for their love of expeditions, their pioneering spirit and dedication to conservation.

chris and jess on christmas island swell lodge karryon

“Chris and Jess Bray are no strangers to taking on challenges. This is a wonderful adventure which I believe will be incredibly successful,” he said.

“I have been to many places on this earth and Christmas Island is one of the most fantastic.”

Christmas Island has been hailed the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, known for the annual migration around 50 million red crabs. Sir David Attenborough has described the spectacle as one of the ten greatest natural wonders on earth.

Image credit: Australian Geographic

Image credit: Australian Geographic

As a result, the destination is focusing on sustainable tourism as a way of growing the local economy, particularly as it moves away from mining and detention.

Swell Lodge is the first ecologically sustainable accommodation to be approved in an Australian Federal National Park, with the development proposal meeting the stringent environmental standards for approval.

“(The) eco-style accommodation will allow travellers to immerse themselves in one of Australia’s most extraordinary national parks,” acting director of national parks Judy West said at the time.

“Swell Lodge will be a win-win for Christmas Island National Park and tourism to the island.”

Interested in chipping in? Then email contact@SwellLodge.com for more details.

Do you have the skills necessary to help out?