Direction Island How to get to Direction Island
The public Cocos Islands ferry runs to Direction Island twice per week – on Thursday and Saturday – departing from both West Island and Home Island.
No booking is required, simply bring $5 in cash per person for the return journey and pay onboard.
Alternatively, local tour operators offer half-day lagoon tours that can start or finish on Direction Island on ferry days. These trips are a great way to see more of the atoll, including sandbars and snorkelling spots.
Tour availability is limited, so it’s best to book in advance before arriving on Cocos.
Direction Island Planning the perfect day trip
While Direction Island is beautifully undeveloped, it does offer a few basic facilities to make your day comfortable including eco toilet facilities wood-fired BBQs and shaded pondoks (shelters) for picnics and relaxing.
There are no shops or food outlets on the island – just nature at its best. Be sure to come prepared.
What to pack:
- Plenty of food and drinking water
- Reef shoes, fins and snorkel if you plan to jump in the lagoon
- Suncare and beach towels
Arriving on a Friday? The West Island supermarket closes at 3pm and reopens after the ferry to Direction Island departs on Saturday. It is also closed on Sunday. Make sure to head to the shop when you land if you need supplies.
What to do on Direction Island
Whether you’re after relaxation, adventure, or a little bit of both, there’s more than one way to enjoy a day on Direction Island.
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Snorkel the world-famous Rip, a natural drift snorkel teeming with colourful fish, coral, and reef sharks.
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Prefer calmer waters? The shallow coral bommies near the beach are perfect for beginner snorkellers and kids.
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Wander the heritage trail and learn about the island’s fascinating role in World War I, including the famous Battle of Cocos.
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Bring a rod and try your luck fishing. Just remember that fishing is only permitted north of the jetty.
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Relax on Cossie’s Beach, voted Australia’s Best Beach, with its soft white sand and palm-fringed shoreline.
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Fire up one of the wood-fired BBQs, or bring a picnic and enjoy lunch under the shade of a pondok.
Snorkelling the Rip
Direction Island is home to the Rip, a world-famous natural drift snorkel where you can spot an astonishing array of marine life. Expect to see vivid reef fish, bright corals, reef sharks, giant wrasse, and colourful parrotfish.
The current here is strong and fast-flowing. It’s what makes the drift snorkel so exciting, but also potentially dangerous. There are no lifeguards, so please assess your ability to snorkel in deep, open water.
Always wear swim fins and consider going with a local skipper who can drop you at the starting point and collect you at the end of your drift.
If the Rip isn’t for you, don’t worry. The shallows off the beach are full of coral bommies, making them perfect for beginner snorkellers and younger children. The water here is calmer, but still teeming with marine life.
