Map showing the location of Cocos (Keeling) Islands from Perth on mainland Australia.
Getting Here
The Island group is located in the Indian Ocean (Lat. 12° 12" S, Long. 96° 54" E), approximately 2,950 km north west of Perth, 900 km west- south-west of Christmas Island and 1,000 km south-west of Java Head. It is one of Australia's most distant and isolated Territories.
The Cocos (Keeling) group comprises two separate atolls, consisting of 27 separate islands, the land area of which totals some 14 sq km. The southern inhabited atoll has 26 islands, and the northern atoll, North Keeling Island (a single horseshoe shaped island), is located 24 km to the north of the main group (Lat. 11° 50" S, Long. 96° 49" E).
The atolls are connected by a submerged ridge at a depth of 700-800 m. Together they comprise a single feature rising from an ocean floor at a depth of about 5,000 m.
Getting to Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Flights operated by National Jet Systems depart from Perth Western Australia for Cocos and Christmas Island. Contact Qantas for bookings.
Travel to Cocos Islands from Australia is administered as International Travel and quarantine, immigration, visa and passport controls apply.
North Keeling Island is located 24 km north of the southern atoll group.
For visitor information, contact:
Cocos Island Tourism Commission
Tourism Officer P/O Box 31
Cocos (Keeling) Island
Indian Ocean 6799
Ph/fax: + 61 (08 9162 6790)
Email: info@cocos-tourism.cc
Web: http://www.cocos-tourism.cc
Getting to Pulu Keeling National Park
Access to Pulu Keeling National Park, on North Keeling island, can be hazardous as it involves swimming, from a boat across the reef, to the shore.
Permits are required to access the Park. Visitors must be guided around North Keeling Island by either Park Staff or a permitted tour guide.
The hire of a vessel large enough to safely access Pulu Keeling National Park can be very expensive. As the vessels are reasonably large, the cost can be shared between groups of up to ten people.
The journey from the main Cocos atoll to North Keeling Island takes 1 ½ hours. Visitors get taken by inflatable boat to as close to the shore as is safe, and they must then swim through the surf over the reef to land on the island. Depending on weather conditions, the island can be inaccessible.
Before going ashore visitors footwear and clothing will be checked by the guide to minimise the accidental introduction of weeds and pathogens.
Good sun protection, stout footwear and plenty of drinking water and food is necessary for an enjoyable stay ashore.
See also
Key
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