Country Navigation

Profile

Facts
Security
Weather

General Info

Yachting Essentials
Timezone
Money
Communications
Transport
Diplomatic Missions
Events
Education
Emergencies
Links

Courtesy Flag Discounts

YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE-5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

Formalities

To gain access to Noonsite’s Country Formalities information: New users please Register Here. Existing users please Log in Here.

Courtesy Flag Discounts

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE-5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

Main Ports - Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Direction Island Port of Entry

Home Island

West Island

Courtesy Flag Discounts

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE-5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

Comments

Leave a comment Cancel reply

You must Login or Register to submit comments.

Lynda Lim says:

October 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM

Feedback received from the World ARC Team in September/October 2025:

The Ferry Service – When we were there we didn’t have or hear of any issues with the ferry, we took it from West to Home Island and back to West Island and quite a few participants took it between Direction and Home/West Island without any problems. It’s cheap particularly for Cocos and compared with hiring a water taxi, air-conditioned and convenient.

The Water Taxi costs $100 pp each way between Home Island and Direction Island, regardless of how many people go in one trip. It’s a tiny motor boat which would fit a maximum of three to four people and can be a wet and uncomfortable ride.

Fuel wasn’t available on Home Island – jerry cans had to be taken over to West Island and then Tony from Salty’s Café facilitated a water taxi to bring them back as full jerry cans are not allowed on the ferry.

Local activities and events may affect the opening hours of shops on Home Island so check with the locals if you can.

Rachael
World Cruising Club

Login or Register to reply
maryannewebb says:

April 19, 2022 at 10:06 PM

Now Covid travel restrictions are lifting we are starting to plan our exit from Australia and were very much hoping to stop via Cocos Keeling. This makes for a predictable weather window to travel the first big hop to cross the Indian Ocean. Noon site suggests that permission is granted on a ‘case-by-case basis’ – but I just posted an application and it was declined. Application forms are setup to expect you to fly in and out from WA, but I completed them anyway and added comments to clarify our situation.
Has anyone managed to get an approval?
Any thoughts? Tips?

Login or Register to reply

Sue Richards says:

April 22, 2022 at 8:03 AM

Hi MaryAnne, thanks for the question. I’ve made contact with the Authorities in Cocos and will let you know what they come back with.
gofar says:

April 24, 2022 at 5:24 AM

Following as we are in similar situation.

Data Entry2 says:

November 12, 2017 at 1:59 PM

Posted on behalf of Paul Stephens aboard s/v Tin Tin:

Getting to West island to clear in/out was less easy especially as there was no consensus on the ferry timetable. I have since laminated one and attached to the notice board. There is a ferry from Direction to Home island on Saturday a.m. at 10:00 but the connections don’t really work to get back again.

So it’s best to dinghy the 1.5nm to Home island giving the chance if the last ferry back from West island at 16:00. Ferry is AU $3.50 single or $5.00 return. The bus meets the ferry for $0.50… everything shuts at 15:00 on Saturday and there was no cafe or bar open. The Community Centre was helpful with Wi-Fi, and the shop reasonably stocked.

Login or Register to reply
Data Entry2 says:

September 5, 2015 at 1:46 AM

Using broadband radar over-layed on the Navionics Gold electronic charts, we found that the chart was precisely accurate. There is an error in the positioning of the entrance waypoint on the plan of Direction Island in the Indian Ocean Crossing Guide.

The plan shows the waypoint to be at the seaward end of the leading lines to West Island but, when plotted, it is 0.28M east of the leading lines. The waypoint is still a perfectly safe place to head for, although the boat will be closer to the land than the plan suggests.

In September 2015 there is now buoyage (unlit) to help you into the anchorage: From the IO Crossing Guide waypoint, head S and then SE towards the first tall post with a red can top. Leave that post to port and then turn towards the anchorage. If you have good light, you’ll see a band of reef ahead of you.

Identify the smaller post with a green triangle on top as this marks the area of deeper water over the reef. Keep the post close on your starboard side. We found the depths to be either equal to or more than those marked on the Navionics Gold chart. There are lots of small reefs in the anchorage but they are all deep until close inshore.

Anchor west of the jetty to keep out of the ferry/recreation zone.

Login or Register to reply

Offline Access (Downloads)

This feature is only available to Premium members. You need to Login or Register to access port and formalities downloads.

Special Offers for Noonsite Members

This feature is only available to Basic and Premium members. You need to Login or Register to access special offers.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands - Money

Sep 11, 2025

View Special Offers for Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Australian dollar (AU$) made up of 100 cents.

An ATM is available during opening hours at the Community Resource Centre on West Island, which dispenses $100 at a time at a cost of $2.50 per transaction. There’s also an ATM on Home Island, located at Shamroks supermarket.

Changing currency is very difficult, so best arrive with plenty of Australian dollars.

Read and Post Related Comments

If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).

Next Section: General Info: Communications

Cocos (Keeling) Islands was last updated 5 months ago

Related to following destinations: Cocos Keeling

Home
Site Policies
Advertising
About Us
Contact
Partners

© 2000-2026

error: Content is protected !!

Search the site

Log in to your account

Username or Email Address

Password

Remember Me

Lost your password?

Become a Noonsite Member

As a free user of Noonsite you are restricted to viewing 3 country formalities per month. You have viewed 0 formalities this month – but can view the countries you have accessed to date as many times as you want.

Become a Noonsite Member and you can view unlimited formalities each month and enjoy additional member benefits. Membership fees help our team keep country formalities information up-to-date in support of cruisers worldwide.

Find out more about membership levels and Become a Noonsite Member.