Guide to Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Discover Australia’s most remote and idyllic outpost, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands, or simply “Cocos” to locals, are 27 breathtaking islands in an almost perfect circle – only two of which are inhabited. Snorkel, boat, fish, kite surf or dive in the warm, crystal-clear lagoon which forms one of the largest marine sanctuaries in the world. Discover the unique Cocos Malay culture or simply relax on empty white-sand beaches. With just 600 residents and visitors capped at 144 at any time, these tropical islands offer a world away.
Top things to do on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Base yourself on beautiful West Island
West Island, where the airport is located, is where most tourists stay. You’ll find a supermarket, visitor centre, hire cars and watersports. Accommodation options include apartments, beach houses and self-contained studios.
Take a motorised outrigger canoe safari
Explore the southern islands on a Motorised Outrigger Canoe Tour. You'll see lots of marine life, including turtles, dolphins and tropical fish, with plenty of opportunities to snorkel and stroll on deserted beaches.
Discover the unique Cocos Malay culture
Visit Home Island, where a small Indigenous population of about 450 Cocos Malay people live. Gain incredible insight with Ossie's Cultural Tour, where you'll meet local elders to weave baskets, husk coconuts and even enjoy a meal cooked by Ossie's family.
Enjoy some of the world's best diving
Go diving with Cocos Dive to discover some of the 25 diverse and uncrowded dive sites. You could come face to face with green turtles, manta rays, dolphins, sharks, moray eels, wrasse, and if you're lucky, the Cocos pygmy angelfish.
Feel the thrill of kitesurfing
Try an exhilarating kitesurfing class, available from June to October when the southeast trade winds are blowing. The Cocos (Keeling) lagoon is the perfect place to start your training and have you surfing like a pro in no time.
Go island hopping
Fancy a visit to an uninhabited island? How about a stroll along an empty-except-for-you beach? Hop on a tour with Cocos Blue Charters to swim, snorkel and fish your way around the incredibly blue waters.
Bike along secret tracks
Wind your way through hidden jungle tracks on an e-bike with Phat Tours. Alongside your guide, you'll bike along the sandy beach and beneath bright green palm trees. Get ready to feel like a total island insider.
Tour a coconut plantation
Beautiful palm jungle, hands-on coconut husking and generous tastings of coconut treats – that's what you can expect at one of Australia's only coconut farms. Join farmer Tony Lacy on a tour and learn about the history of the crop on the islands.
Spend a day under the palms
Named Australia’s most beautiful beach in 2017, the palm-fringed, white sands of Cossies Beach on Direction Island is a must-do when visiting the island. Relax with a picnic in the shade of a coconut palm before swimming in the teal-hued waters.
Go birdwatching
Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a paradise for birdwatchers. The islands are the only land mass in a 900km (559mi) radius, which makes it the perfect place for migratory birds to replenish. Incredibly, the islands even draw birds from Africa and the Middle East.
