discover cocos keeling islands
Two spectacular island destinations, one incredible trip.
A two Island escape
like no other
With connecting flights to Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands, why not extend your trip and holiday on two of Australia’s most beautiful tropical islands.
Located just an hour-and-a-half away from Christmas Island, Cocos is made up of 27 idyllic palm-fringed islands surrounded by a warm crystal-clear lagoon teeming with wildlife.
A naturist’s dream, this unspoilt paradise offers a mix of ocean adventures from exhilarating kitesurfing, snorkelling, diving and some of Australia’s best sport fishing, along with island hopping, birdwatching and endless white-sand beaches to simply slow down and relax.
Virgin Australia offers two flights each week from Christmas Island to Cocos, with options to transit back through Christmas Island or return to Perth direct.
What to do on cocos keeling islands
The Cocos Keeling Islands are located 900 km from Christmas Island.
With just 144 visitors at any one time, you’re more likely to see a turtle in the lagoon than another pair of fins.
It’s a simple, laid-back way of life on Cocos. A place where time seems to slow down with idyllic natural surrounds and friendly locals who love to host. Of the 27 islands, just two are inhabited – West Island and Home Island. The rest are waiting to be explored. The Cocos Keeling Islands have a total population of 600 people, including around 450 Cocos Malay.
MARINELIFE
The azure waters surrounding the Cocos Keeling Islands form one of the largest protected marine sanctuaries in the world, covering 467,054 square kilometres. With visibility at 25-30 metres on average, the crystal-clear lagoons offer a chance to get up close with blooming coral underwater gardens, over 500 species of vibrant fish, majestic manta rays, fat hawksbill and green turtles, and bottlenose dolphins.
AQUATIC ADVENTURES
From incredible scuba diving and the iconic motorised canoe safari, to fishing charters, boat tours and snorkelling adventures, the aquatic adventures on Cocos are an oceanic dream. Tours are seasonal and run by local families, which is part of what makes them so special. Spaces do book out, so be sure to book well ahead.
CULTURE & HISTORY
Home of the Cocos Malay people, Home Island offers a cultural world away from West Island. Experience the unique Cocos Malay culture, which follows the Sunni branch of Islam. Cultural tours are available.
FISHING
The clear turquoise waters and diversity of species in and outside of the surrounding lagoons make Cocos Keeling Islands a fishing paradise. Local tour guides offer boat trips into the lagoons where you can hunt for XL bone fish, giant trevally, permit, milkfish, humphead wrasse, bluefin, napoleon, triggerfish, sailfish and more.
EXPLORE WEST ISLAND
Covering a 10 km stretch end-to-end, West Island is best explored by car. Or if you're game, by bike. Explore palm jungle tracks, while away hours on endless white-sand beaches or spot tropical marine life at Trannies and Pulu Maraya. For birdwatchers, West Island has some amazing spots to see special vagrant species. And you can’t forget the beautiful blue-tailed endemic skinks on neighbouring islands Pulu Belan and Pulu Belan Madar.
BIRD WATCHING
The Cocos Keeling Islands are a birder’s paradise. The islands are known for special sightings of vagrant species from Asia, Europe and even Africa, with several resident species found nowhere else in Australia. The rich biodiversity and isolated environment of the Cocos Keeling Islands provides the perfect milieu for migratory birds
KITESURFING
The Cocos Keeling Islands are one of the best places in Australia for kitesurfing. With shallow warm lagoons and trade winds from dawn to dusk, the Cocos Keeling Islands are one of the best places on earth for kitesurfing. The kitesurfing season runs from May-June to September-October.
DINING
Dine under the stars, try traditional Cocos Malay cuisine or pick up made-with-love takeaways. Choose from a handful of small, family-run eateries and join the locals for a cold one at the Cocos Club.
dive with cocos dive
HOW TO visit christmas & cocos keeling islands
Two islands, one trip! To get the most from Australia's Indian Ocean territories, we recommend booking a 14-day itinerary spending seven nights on each island.
Virgin Australia flies to Christmas Island direct from Perth on Tuesdays. The same aircraft then flies on to Cocos Keeling Islands, before returning to Perth. On Fridays, there are direct flights from Perth to Cocos Keeling Islands, with the same aircraft then flying on to Christmas Island.
Flights between Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands are less than 90 minutes.
To book, select multi-city and follow this suggested itinerary:
Perth to Christmas Island (Tuesday)
Christmas Island to Cocos Keeling Islands (Following Tuesday)
Cocos Keeling Islands to Perth (Following Tuesday)
Alternatively, you can book a 10 day trip with seven nights on Christmas Island and three nights on Cocos, or vice versa.
To book, select multi-city and follow this suggested itinerary:
Perth to Christmas Island (Tuesday)
Christmas Island to Cocos Keeling Islands (Following Tuesday)
Christmas Island to Cocos Keeling Islands (Friday)
Packages to visit both Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands are also available through Indian Ocean Experiences and BKB Holidays.
CHRISMAS ISLAND ITINERARIES.
How to experience the best Christmas Island has to offer... from wandering to secluded stretches of paradise and encountering those bucket list wildlife moments, to taking the plunge to depths you’ve never ventured.