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Home Island

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The village of the Cocos Malay people across the lagoon from the airport, with the Clunies-Ross mansion still standing among its gardens.

Fly to Home Island All of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Arrival
Cocos (Keeling) Islands · CCK
To the island
By ferry across the lagoon, about 9 km from West Island
Private jets
CCK on West Island, with 24 hours' prior permission
Best time
June to October

The city

The old settlement of the atoll.

Alexander Hare settled on Home Island in 1826 and John Clunies-Ross soon after; in 1886 Queen Victoria granted the islands to the Clunies-Ross family, who ruled them until Australia bought their land in 1978. In 1984 the Cocos Malay community voted, under United Nations supervision, to integrate with Australia.

The island is calmer than West Island and family and faith set its days; visitors are asked to dress modestly and keep alcohol to their lodgings. The ferry crosses from West Island six days a week; June to October, after the wetter autumn months, bring the steadiest weather.

  • Oceania House The Clunies-Ross mansion, built from 1886 to 1893 of Scottish brick and tile, now a guesthouse with tours of its rooms and gardens.
  • Pulu Cocos Museum The island's own museum, in the village where the Cocos Malay community lives.
  • A Cocos Malay cultural tour Husking coconuts and weaving baskets with island families, in a language close to Malay and Indonesian.

Arriving

Land on West Island, cross by boat.

Home Island has no airstrip. Aircraft land at Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airport on West Island, and the ferry crosses the lagoon from Monday to Saturday.

Business & First Class Scheduled flights QantasLink flies from Perth on Mondays and Fridays, the Friday flight direct in just over four hours. Every passenger, even from mainland Australia, clears customs and quarantine on arrival. Business & First fares Private Jet Private jets Private jets land on the 8,009-foot asphalt runway at CCK with prior permission, requested at least 24 hours ahead. Jet A1 needs 36 hours' notice, the airport has no rescue and firefighting service, and beds must be booked before the flight. Charter a jet
Approximate flying time by midsize jet
  • Jakarta 2 h 00
  • Singapore 2 h 30
  • Mauritius 5 h 50
  • Mumbai 5 h 55
  • Istanbul 12 h 05 long-range jet

When to go

June to October.

Figures are for West Island, across the lagoon. Days stay near 28 to 30 degrees all year; March to May are the wettest months, and rain eases from August to October as the trade winds blow.

  1. 29° J 208 28°
  2. 30° F 180 28°
  3. 30° M 242 28°
  4. 30° A 255 28°
  5. 29° M 192 28°
  6. 28° J 201 28°
  7. 28° J 192 27°
  8. 28° A 124 27°
  9. 28° S 105 26°
  10. 29° O 99 26°
  11. 29° N 132 27°
  12. 29° D 152 27°
Best months weather2travel.com, long-term averages for West Island

Elsewhere in Cocos (Keeling) Islands

More reasons to come.

All of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Flying to Home Island?

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A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.

Business & First Private Jet