A day on Direction Island is about as close as you can get to having your own tropical island escape.
Just a short ferry ride from West Island or Home Island, you’ll find powder-white beaches, turquoise lagoon waters, coconut palms and some of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands’ best snorkelling.
With no shops, crowds or phone reception, a Direction Island day trip is a chance to slow down and enjoy the island at your own pace.
Spend the morning exploring underwater, enjoy a long picnic lunch beneath the palms, then spend the afternoon swimming, fishing or simply doing nothing at all.
Here’s how to make the most of a day on Direction Island.
Getting to Direction Island
Direction Island Ferry
The easiest way to get to Direction Island is by ferry from West Island or Home Island. The ferry runs on Thursdays and Saturdays, with no need to book ahead — simply turn up with $5 cash for the return journey.
Be sure to check the ferry timetable before you go.
Tip: With just two public ferry services each week, we recommend planning your visit to Direction Island early in your trip. That way, if your plans change or the weather doesn’t cooperate, you still have another opportunity to visit.
Boat tours
A local boat tour is another great way to experience Direction Island — and it’s much more than simply a water taxi.
Tours can take you to some of the best snorkelling spots in the northeastern corner of the atoll, including the manta ray station, Prison Island and Broccoli Patches. They will also pick you up at the end of the Rip, giving you a fun and cruisy way to experience one of Direction Island’s most famous attractions.
Tip: Most boat operators are happy to drop you at Direction Island after your tour on Thursdays or Saturdays, allowing you to spend the afternoon exploring the island before catching the ferry home.
Morning: Arrive and settle in
Once you arrive, it’s time to find your patch of paradise.
There are several pondoks (shelters) along Cossie’s Beach where you can spread out a picnic, escape the midday sun and settle in for the day. You can also find your own shady spot beneath the coconut palms and enjoy the view across the lagoon.
The shared pondoks are also a great place to meet fellow travellers — or even get chatting with a local family and learn a little more about life on Cocos.
Then, once you’re settled, it’s time to get in the water.
Late morning: Choose your adventure
For experienced snorkellers, one of the highlights of a Direction Island day trip is the Rip at the southern end of the island.
This fast-flowing snorkel takes you through clear lagoon waters and past vibrant coral and colourful tropical fish. It’s an exhilarating way to see the underwater world of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands — and one of the reasons Direction Island is a favourite with experienced snorkellers.
Prefer calmer waters? The coral bommies just offshore from the beach are a great option. Here, you can explore shallower water and look for tropical fish and marine life without the current of the Rip.
Tip: There are no lifeguards on Direction Island, so always swim within your abilities and check conditions before entering the water. Fins are essential for the Rip.
Lunch: BBQ or picnic
After a morning in the water, you’ll probably have worked up an appetite.
There are no shops or cafés on Direction Island, so you’ll need to bring everything you want to eat and drink for the day. Pack a picnic, grab a shady spot and settle in for a long, lazy island lunch.
If you’d rather cook, there are wood-fired BBQs available to use. Dried coconut palm fronds can provide tinder, but remember to bring your own lighter or matches.
Tip: Don’t feel like packing your own picnic? Salty’s and Cocos Picnics can prepare pre-ordered picnics for you to take to the island.
Afternoon: Explore, fish or simply slow down
There’s no need to rush through your afternoon on Direction Island.
Follow the island’s heritage trail to discover more about its military history and the role the island has played over the years.
If you’ve brought a fishing rod, head west of the jetty and try your luck from the beach. The area around the Rip is protected, so be sure to follow local fishing regulations and signage.
Or, of course, you could do absolutely nothing.
Go for another swim. Snorkel a little longer. Read a book beneath a coconut palm. Take a nap in the shade. There’s no itinerary you have to follow on Direction Island.
Tip: There is no phone reception or Wi-Fi on the island. Take it as an invitation to put your phone away and properly disconnect for a few hours.
Before you leave
Eventually, your island day has to come to an end.
Before you pack up, take one last swim, stroll along the beach or simply soak up the view across the lagoon. Then make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to walk back to the jetty and catch the ferry home.
And remember: Direction Island is beautifully undeveloped, which means there are no bins. Please take all your rubbish with you when you leave and help keep this special place pristine.
What to bring to Direction Island
Direction Island has eco-toilets, wood-fired BBQs and shared pondoks, but otherwise it’s wonderfully undeveloped. There are no shops, cafés or other facilities, so make sure you bring everything you’ll need for the day.
Pack:
- Plenty of drinking water
- Lunch and snacks
- Snorkelling gear, including fins if you plan to snorkel the Rip
- Towel
- Reef shoes
- Sunscreen, hat and other sun protection
- Mosquito repellent
- A rubbish bag to take everything home with you
- A cooler bag or esky to keep food and drinks cold
Tip: Some accommodation providers offer eskies for guests to use during their stay. If yours doesn’t, a small cooler bag or esky is well worth bringing with you to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
A day well spent
A Direction Island day trip doesn’t need to be packed with activities. That’s part of its appeal.
Snorkel the Rip, explore the island’s history, share a picnic beneath the palms, cast a line or simply spend the afternoon doing very little at all. With turquoise water on one side and white sand on the other, Direction Island makes it easy to slow down and enjoy island life.
So pack your esky, grab your snorkelling gear and leave some room in your day for doing absolutely nothing.
Direction Island is waiting.
