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Tips for travelling to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands

 
                 
                 
 

Getting To Cocos
National Jet Systems fly twice weekly to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands on Monday and Thursday. Flights depart from Perth International Airport. Please visit National Jet Systems for all flight schedules to Cocos and Christmas Islands. Extra flights are available during the school holidays.

Baggage allowance on all flights to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands is 20kg only, with 5 kg hand luggage. Strict excess baggage fees apply. Qantas Frequent Flyer points can be used to fly to the Cocos Islands, however frequent flyer bookings are normally booked out well in advance.

Getting Around
The local bus runs around West Island, including stops in the town centre, the ferry jetty and outside Cocos Seaview.

The ferry runs between West Island and Home Island several times daily, as well as special trips to Direction Island on Saturdays.

Bus and ferry timetables are available from the Tourism Office in the town centre.

Car hire and bike hire are also available if you wish to explore West Island.

Passports & Banking
No passport is required for Australian citizens, although some form of photo identification is necessary. No entry visa is required.

Local currency is the Australian dollar. There are no ATM facilities, but Visa, Bankcard, & Mastercard are accepted at most shops. The only bank (Commonwealth Bank) is open on Wednesdays from 7:30am -1pm.

 
Climate
Cocos has a mild tropical climate. Temperatures through-out the year range from a beautiful 20 to 32 degrees Celsius.

The weather for most of the year is dominated by trade winds from the South-East of approx 15 knots. Rain occurs most often during the night, with an annual rainfall of approx. 2000mm. Tropical cyclones can occur between November and April, although this period is mainly hot and sultry, with light winds.
  
                 
 
What To Bring
Casual, comfortable clothing is all that you need in the Cocos Islands. Make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottle, beach towel, and your bathers. A lightweight rainjacket can be handy.

Shoes for reef walking and beach combing are a great idea (old sneakers work well). Reef booties are also available from the local dive shop and supermarket.

If you are planning a trip to Home Island then please respect Cocos Malay culture and dress conservatively, covering your knees and shoulders.

We recommend that you bring plenty of snack food or special food like gourmet cheeses that you may like during your stay. These items are often difficult to obtain on Cocos. Please ensure that all food items you bring with you have been bought from a major supermarket to comply with Quarantine requirements on arrival.
 
Shopping
The supermarket carries a good range of products. Ask Karen for the opening times as they vary.

The Cocos Islands Duty Free Shop is open daily and carries a range of perfumes, electrical items, toys, clothing, souveneirs, jewellery and postcards.

Cocos Tackle and Dive is open daily and stocks a large range of diving, snorkelling, and fishing gear as well as clothing, postcards and souveneirs.

The Cocos Island Surf Shop is open daily and stocks a range of clothing, surf-wear, rashies, souvenirs, and postcards.

The Cocos Islands Telecentre is open daily and provides internet, phone, fax, photocopying and printing services, as well as renting DVDs and access to a smal library.

The Cocos Islands Post Office is open most days and provides Australia Post services as well as postcards, stationery and magazines.
  
Eating Out
There are only three small restaurants on Cocos. Tropika Restaurant on West Island provides daily western style meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a selection of buffet and a la carte meals.

Dorreys Café is the new place to eat overlooking the Ocean, Hours are shown on door.

Bunga Melati on Home Islands offers traditional Malay cuisine, and is open on Wednesday nights to coincide with the return ferry service to West Island. It is also opened for lunch on requests. Bookings are required.

If you want to enjoy a picnic by yourselves, there are several great areas around the island, each with their own bbq. You can also relax around the Cocos Seaview bbq area, or take one of our picnic sets to a remote corner of the Island. Catch a fresh fish, or crack open a coconut while you're there.
      
                 
© Cocos Seaview 2005