DECEMBER 2017VIRGIN AUSTRALIA 081CKI became an Australian territory
in 1955. The islands are made up of
two coral atolls, which encompass 27
islands, although only two of them
are inhabited: West Island — the main
tourist hub, home to about 100 people —
and Home Island, or Pulu Selma, where
the predominantly Islamic Cocos Malay
community resides.
Most tourist activities make use of
the beautiful clear waters, home to 500
species of fish, as well as huge numbers
of hawksbill and green turtles. Then
there’s Kat, a much-loved local dugong,
who can be found snacking on seagrass
in the outer lagoon. Twice a week, a ferry
departs West Island for the uninhabited
Direction Island — its 300-metre white-
sand Cossies Beach is regarded as one
of Australia’s best. Charles Darwin
praised the area’s beauty after visiting in
1836, lauding its location “under the blue
vault of heaven”. http://www.zephyrkitetours.com;
http://www.cocoskeelingislands.com.au.COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS
EXTERNAL TERRITORYLife is in sync with nature on the Cocos
(Keeling) Islands (CKI), some 2750
kilometres north-west of Perth. Water
pursuits are tide-dependent and seasons
are named after sailing terms: the trade
winds run from May through to October,
and the doldrums, marking calmer
weather, last from November to May. It’s
blissful year-round, with air and water
temperatures rarely dropping below an
inviting 24 degrees. But those who know
the islands warn against dismissing them
as just another sun-drenched getaway.
“People often think it’s just a tropical
island paradise, but there’s actually a
lot more to it than that,” explains Jen
Phillips, who is the owner of Zephyr Kite
Tours, which ofers diving, kite surfing
and stand-up paddleboarding on the
islands. “Plus, it’s all at your fingertips.
You can kite surf of the lagoon, play
golf across from the airport runway, and
fish and snorkel straight of the sand —
everything is accessible.”