West Island: Travel guide, prices and free housing · 2026
Residents time their entire week around the Rumah Baru jetty ferry, catching the connecting settlement bus to cross between islands before the afternoon cutoff.
- Single ticket
- $2.50
- Local SIM card
- $20
- $1 today
- $0.70
- Single ticket
- $2.50
Passengers pay individual fares in cash when boarding settlement buses and the inter-island ferry.
- SIM card
- $20
- 1 day
- Airport, West Island Settlement, Rumah Baru
- 3 days
- West Island Settlement, Home Island, Direction Island
- 7 days
- Rumah Baru, Home Island, Direction Island, Airport
Daily life across West Island centers on the administrative settlement, where lagoon ferries and island buses dictate local routines.
Daily life in the settlement depends on maritime connections through the Rumah Baru jetty. A public ferry runs scheduled passenger crossings between West Island and Home Island, alongside regular departures toward Direction Island. A dedicated settlement bus meets the vessels at the jetty to link arriving passengers with local stops. Missing a scheduled crossing cuts off movement across the atoll until the next service runs.
Read on
New arrivals arrange local connectivity in person through the settlement post office or retail shops. Buyers present a valid passport and residential address proof to purchase mobile cards tied to networks like Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone. Reception drops sharply outside central clusters, which leaves outlying coastal points without cellular service and requires residents to plan online work around central hubs.
- Rumah Baru Jetty
- Settlement Bus
- Island Post Office
- Cellular Coverage
- A scheduled ferry service connects West Island to Home Island and Direction Island.
- Local buses link settlement stops directly to the Rumah Baru ferry jetty.
- Purchasing a mobile connection requires presenting a passport and proof of address.
- Mobile network reception remains limited across parts of the island.
Money
- Single transit ticket
- $2.50
- SIM card
- $20
Up to 50% of exchange programmes, internships and other IEC services can be paid with points.
2 sources · As of September 13, 2026
Getting there and staying
- 01Obtain mobile connectivity at the post office or retail shops with passport and residency proof.
- 02Withdraw Australian currency for local transactions.
- 03Board local transit to travel toward your lodging.
4 sources · As of November 3, 2026
Visa and practicalities
Choose a passport
Set your passport — processing time, fee and documents differ between passports.
- Purchasing a local SIM card requires providing valid passport identification and proof of address.
How can travelers reach other islands from West Island?
Public ferries provide passenger transit between West Island and Home Island. Additional scheduled ferry connections run to Direction Island. Passengers transfer to the water crossing via the departure terminal at Rumah Baru.
Source: Ferry Timetable - Cocos Keeling IslandsHow does public transport operate on West Island?
A community bus system links residential stops across the West Island Settlement with the Rumah Baru ferry jetty. Bus operations coordinate directly with the passenger ferry timetable. This setup provides transfers between island lodgings and maritime transit routes.
Source: Ferry Timetable - Cocos Keeling IslandsWhere can visitors purchase a mobile SIM card on West Island?
Travelers can buy local SIM cards at the post office or at select retail outlets on West Island. Providers offer prepaid plans that support data top-ups online or through local shops. A valid passport and documentation proving address are required at the point of sale.
Source: Cocos Islands Internet & SIM Cards — Connectivity Guide | 360 NationsWhat is mobile network coverage like on West Island?
Major cellular carriers provide coverage on the island, offering prepaid packages for visitors. Signal reception varies across the atoll, and mobile data access may become limited in certain areas. Verifying network reach for specific providers before relying on mobile data is recommended.
Source: Cocos Islands Internet & SIM Cards — Connectivity Guide | 360 NationsGetting here
When to go and itineraries
- 08:30Cocos (Keeling) Islands AirportArrive on the runway corridor and collect luggage before heading into the settlement.
- 10:30West Island SettlementWalk through the central residential streets and pick up communications supplies at the local retail outlets.
- 13:00Rumah BaruBoard the regional bus connection to the ferry jetty to watch boats crossing the lagoon.
- 15:00Home IslandTake the passenger ferry across the channel to visit the neighboring settlement.
Cities of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Places in West Island
Can’t find the place you need? Search understands any language. Open search