Western Australia

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Twenty-seven islands, and barely enough land between them to notice

The Cocos Islands are so small and scattered that most of what defines them sits underwater, coral reef and lagoon stretching further than any single island itself. West Island anchors daily life for most visitors, a quiet base for exploring the wider atoll by boat. Fishing here is genuinely excellent, the surrounding waters barely touched compared to almost anywhere else in the country. Days move slowly on islands this remote, and that turns out to be most of the appeal.