Ashmore & Cartier Islands Tourism

The Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands comprises West Middle and East Islands of Ashmore Reef Cartier Island and the 12 nautical mile territorial sea generated by those islands. The islands are uninhabited small low and composed of coral and sand with some grass cover.

The Territory is located on the outer edge of the continental shelf in the Indian Ocean approximately 320 km off Australia's north-west coast and 144 kilometres south of the Indonesian Island of Roti. The Jabiru and Challis oil fields are adjacent to the Territory.

In early May 1996 Indonesian and Australian officials at the request of the Indonesians visited the Territory with the objective of satisfying Indonesian officials that the Territory does in fact include islands generating a 24 nautical mile boundary. This has important implications for negotiations between Australia and Indonesia on the maritime boundary.

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Ashmore & Cartier Islands Tourism